CORNER AND EDGE PROTECTOR ATTACHMENT

Abstract

An attachment for protecting a substantially flat article comprising a first portion that includes a body and a plurality of finger-like projections and a second portion that includes a body portion and a plurality of finger-like projections is disclosed. The first and second portions define 90° angle. The attachment is formed from a foamed polymerized material, such as a resilient foamed material. The attachment is cut into the first and second portions. The first portion is placed on one side of the corner of the flat article. The second portion is turned over and the interlocking finger-like projections of the second component are fitted to the interlocking finger-like projections of the first portion. As a variation of the use of the disclosed invention the first and second portions may be cut at their corners to allow the first and second portions to be fitted to an edge of the flat article.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed invention relates generally to an attachment for protecting the corner of a substantially flat article, such as a mirror, a painting, a frame, flat panel televisions and monitors, or a slab of construction material, such as granite. More particularly, the disclosed invention is a corner protector attachment for such an article in which the attachment comprises a pair of mirror-image portions formed as a single piece of resilient, foamed material in which each of the portions has an array of interlocking, finger-like projections extending therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proper packaging and shipment of articles poses challenges in terms of weight, cost and practicality. These challenges are particularly noteworthy when flat articles, such as glass, picture frames, table tops and construction materials such as granite sheet, are being moved.

Packaging of these articles typically comprises cut and folded cardboard that is attached by tape. However, this approach frequently suffers from inadequate protection and further suffers failure due to the material becoming damaged or torn during shipment.

Efforts have been made to provide pre-made corner-supporting forms composed of material such as layered and structured cardboard. These and other examples of the known art represent improvements in packaging. However, known systems suffer from being incapable of universal application and thus have limited use.

Accordingly, as in so many areas of technology, there is room in the art of packaging for further improvement through the provision of a packaging system suitable for use on the corner of flat articles which provides effective protection by maintaining low manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed invention provides an attachment for protecting a substantially flat article that comprises a first portion that includes a body and a plurality of finger-like projections and a second portion that includes a body portion and a plurality of finger-like projections. The first and second portions define 90° angle. The attachment is formed from a foamed polymerized material, such as a resilient foamed material.

In use the attachment is cut into the first and second portions. The first portion is placed on one side of the corner of the flat article. The second portion is turned over and the interlocking finger-like projections of the second component are fitted to the interlocking finger-like projections of the first portion. The interlocking of the finger-like projections of the first portion and the finger-like projections of the second portion preferably define an interference fit.

As a variation of the use of the disclosed invention the first and second portions may be cut at their corners to allow the first and second portions to be fitted to an edge of the flat article.

The above advantages and other advantages and features will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the molded attachment according to the disclosed invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the molded attachment of the disclosed invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the molded attachment of the disclosed invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing one portion of the molded attachment of the disclosed invention fitted to the corner of an article to be protected and the other portion of the molded attachment in spaced-apart relation therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the two portions of the attachment in position on the corner of an article to be protected; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of modified versions of the two portions positioned along an edge of an article to be protected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following figures, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for different constructed embodiments. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.

With respect to FIG. 1, a plan view of the molded attachment according to the disclosed invention, generally shown as 10, is illustrated. In FIG. 2 the attachment 10 is shown from a side view. A perspective view of the attachment 10 is shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the attachment 10 includes a first portion 12 and a second portion 14. The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are attached to one another when manufactured and form the single, unified attachment 10. The first portion 12 includes a body 16 and a plurality of finger-like extensions 18. The second portion 14 includes a body 20 and a plurality of finger-like extensions 22.

It is to be understood that the configuration of the attachment 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is suggestive and is not intended as being limiting. For example, the attachment may have a greater or lesser number of finger-like projections. The finger-like projections may be of different dimensions than those illustrated and the spaces between the finger-like projections may be greater or lesser than those shown. In addition, the finger-like projections may have different shapes than those shown.

The attachment 10 includes a molded-in, break away notch 24. The notch 24 may be of the depth as illustrated or may be of other depths.

The attachment 10 of the disclosed invention may be composed of one of several materials but is preferably composed of a foamed material that when deformed recovers well to its original form. Other important characteristics are that the material must be inexpensive to produce, light weight, durable and easily molded using ordinary molding techniques such as injection molding. It is also desirable that the attachment 10 be formed from a material that may be readily cut with a sharp knife without deformation. More preferably the attachment 10 is composed of any material that provides good protection for the article to which the attachment 10 is fitted. Preferably the material is a resilient foamed material that is polymer-based. The resilient foamed material may be selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene and polyurethane. However, it is to be understood that any material that demonstrates resilience, cushioning and shock-absorbing characteristics may be selected for production of the attachment 10.

The attachment 10 may be used to protect the corner of any one of a variety of substantially flat materials articles such as glass, picture frames, table tops and construction materials such as granite sheet, are being moved. In use, the attachment 10 is initially broken or cut into the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. Thereafter, the first portion 12 is positioned on the underside of the article A as shown in FIG. 4 such that the finger-like projections 18 are positioned along the sides of the article A. Once the first portion 12 is in its correct position against the corner of the article A the second portion 14 is positioned above the first portion 12, also as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Once the second portion 14 is correctly aligned with the first portion 12 it is lowered into position against the second portion 14 such that the finger-like projections 22 of the second portion 14 interlock with the finger-like projections 18 of the first portion 12. The compressive nature of the resilient foam from which the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are formed creates an interference fit between the finger-like projections 18 and the finger-like projections 22 as shown in FIG. 5. In this interlocked configuration the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are retained on the corner of the article A and will stay in that position for transport.

The attachment 10 of the disclosed invention may thus be fitted to the corner of flat articles having a range of thicknesses including, for example, those having a thickness of 4″ or more. On the other hand, if the article is relatively thin such that the finger-like projections 18 or the finger-like projections 22 extend too far once the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are interlocked the excess lengths may be cut with a hot knife or blade sharp.

In addition to its use to protect the corner of an article A the attachment 10 of the disclosed invention may be used to protect the edge of an article as illustrated in FIG. 6. With respect thereto the attachment 10 is cut into its first portion 12 and its second portion 14 as set forth above. Thereafter the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are each cut at their corner at a 45 degree angle. Thus cut the cut first portion 12 is placed on the underside of the article A. Once so positioned, the cut second portion 14 is attached to the cut first portion 12 so that the finger-like projections 22 of the cut second portion 14 interlock with the finger-like projections of the cut first portion 12 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In this manner the attachment 10 of the disclosed invention has a broad variety of uses.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An attachment for protecting a substantially flat article comprising:

a first portion including a body and a plurality of finger-like projections, said first portion defining a 90° angle;

a second portion including a body and a plurality of finger-like projections, said second portion defining a 90° angle,

whereby said finger-like projections of said first portion can interlock with said finger-like projections of said second portion to capture at least a portion of the substantially flat article therebetween.

2. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 1, wherein said first portion is a mirror configuration of said second portion.

3. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 1 wherein said first portion and said second portion are formed as a single piece.

4. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 1 wherein said first and second portions are formed form a polymerized material.

5. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 4 wherein said first and second portions are formed from a resilient foam selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene and polyurethane.

6. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 1 wherein said finger-like projections of said first portion form an interference fit with said finger-like projections of said second portion when said finger-like projections of said first portion are interlocked with said finger-like projections of said second portion.

7. An attachment for protecting a substantially flat article comprising:

a first portion including a body and a plurality of finger-like projections;

a second portion including a body and a plurality of finger-like projections, said second portion being a mirror configuration of the first portion,

whereby said finger-like projections of said first portion can interlock with said finger-like projections of said second portion to capture at least a portion of the substantially flat article therebetween.

8. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 7 wherein said first portion and said second portion are formed as a single piece.

9. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 7 wherein said first and second portions define 90° angles.

10. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 7 wherein said first and second portions are substantially straight.

11. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 7 wherein said first and second portions are formed form a polymerized material.

12. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 11 wherein said first and second portions are formed from a resilient foam selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene and polyurethane.

13. The attachment for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 7 wherein said finger-like projections of said first portion form an interference fit with said finger-like projections of said second portion when said finger-like projections of said first portion are interlocked with said finger-like projections of said second portion.

14. A method for protecting a substantially flat article comprising the steps of:

forming an attachment comprising a first portion including a body and a plurality of finger-like projections and a second portion including a body and a plurality of finger-like projections,

cutting said attachment into said first portion and said second portion;

fitting said first portion on the article; and

attaching said second portion to said first portion whereby said finger-like projections of said first portion interlock with said finger-like projections of said second portion.

15. The method for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 14 including the step of cutting at least some of said finger-like projections.

16. The method for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 14 wherein said first portion defines a 90° angle and said second portion defines a 90° angle.

17. The method for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 16 including the step of attaching said first portion to a corner of the substantially flat article followed by the step of attaching said second portion to said first portion.

18. The method for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 16 including the steps of:

cutting said first portion at its angle;

cutting said second portion at its angle;

attaching said first portion to an edge of the substantially flat article followed by the step of attaching said second portion to said first portion.

19. The method for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 14 wherein said attachment is formed from a resilient foam selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene and polyurethane.

20. The method for protecting a substantially flat article of claim 14 wherein said first portion is a mirror configuration of said second portion.