PACKAGING
A container may maintain one or more items in a generally vertically aligned configuration as one or more items are removed from the container. For example, an engaging portion or member may be disposed on an inner surface of the container, and each item disposed in the container may include a protrusion. The engaging portion may be sized and configured to engage the protrusion of an item when the item is disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container. The items may tend to remain in the generally vertically aligned configuration within the container when other items are removed from the container because of engagement of the protrusion and engaging portion. The engaging portion may have a generally honeycomb configuration, and the container and the engaging portion may be primarily constructed from the same paper-based material such as cardboard.
The present application claims priority to and the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/746,204, entitled PACKAGING, which was filed on January 16, 2025, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND FieldThis invention generally relates to packaging and, in greater detail, to packaging multiple items in container.
Description of Related ArtProducts are often wrapped, packed, and placed within packaging such as cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes are frequently used because cardboard boxes may facilitate shipping and transportation. Cardboard boxes may also help protect the contents from damage because cardboard boxes may provide some cushioning and energy absorption. Single or multiple items may be disposed within a cardboard box, and cardboard boxes may allow items to be easily bundled and stowed.
Cardboard boxes are extensively used for packaging because cardboard is relatively inexpensive and may be recycled. Cardboard boxes are also often used for packaging because cardboard is lightweight and may not significantly increase shipping costs. Additionally, because cardboard boxes may be rather rigid structures, items may be securely held in place. Cardboard boxes are also commonly used for shipping because cardboard is relatively sturdy, durable, and economical to produce. Additionally, cardboard boxes may have different shapes and sizes depending, for example, upon the items to be placed inside the box.
Cardboard boxes are traditionally manufactured from paper-based materials and cardboard boxes may be mass-produced. For example, cardboard boxes may be prefabricated boxes that are constructed from materials such as paperboard, heavy paper-like materials, corrugated fiberboard, and the like. It is also known to construct cardboard boxes from recycled materials such as recycled paper. Cardboard boxes may also be customized or individually created for particular uses.
Cardboard boxes are typically constructed from layered paper materials. For example, conventional cardboard boxes may include two flat outer sheets with an inner layer that may provide cushioning, support, and/or insulation. The inner layer may have an undulating, wavy, or fluted configuration. The outer sheets and the inner layer are usually glued together.
Cardboard boxes may be used for shipping items, such as from a factory to a warehouse or retailer. Items may be removed from the cardboard box for sale or, in some situations, items may be displayed for sale in the cardboard box. Labor costs may be decreased if items are displayed for sale in the cardboard box. The items may also take up less shelf space and/or floor space if the items remain in the cardboard box when offered for sale. Cardboard boxes may also facilitate purchase of items in bulk. For example, if multiple items are disposed in a cardboard box, the transportation and storage of the multiple items may be easier if the items remain in the box.
The size and volume of the cardboard box may impact shipping costs and handling operations. Because transportation costs, in particular international transportation costs, may be primarily a function of volume rather than weight, it may be desirable to use the smallest-sized cardboard box possible. Disadvantageously, it may be difficult to place items in smaller sized cardboard boxes.
It is known to place multiple items within a cardboard box, but it may be difficult to remove items from the box. In particular, it may be problematic to remove one or more items because the items may be tightly packed within the box and portions of the items may overlap or interlock. Additionally, because there may be little or no extra room in the box, adjacent items may be in contact and that may interfere with removal of items from the box. Accordingly, items may be shipped in larger sized boxes to facilitate loading and unloading of the box. Disadvantageously, the larger sized cardboard boxes may require additional storage space, and the larger sized cardboard boxes may require the use of filler or packing materials. For example, filler materials such as packing papers, packing peanuts (often made from polystyrene), corrugated sheets, and packing foam may need to be used to fill the unused space of the larger box. Other materials, such as bubble wrap, Styrofoam®, shredded paper, and crinkle cut paper, may be used to fill the unused space. of the larger box. Therefore, a larger sized cardboard box may facilitate loading and uploading of the box, but the larger sized cardboard box may have one or more drawbacks.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA need therefore exists for packaging that may eliminate or diminish one or more of the above-described disadvantages, drawbacks, and problems.
One aspect is a container that may maximize the number of items that may be disposed in the container. For example, the container may be maximized to hold items such as tables. In an exemplary embodiment, the items may be tightly packed within the container.
Another aspect is a container that may be sized and configured to contain one or more items, and one or more of the items may be generally aligned. For example, the container may be sized and configured to contain one or more tables, such as folding tables, and the tables may be generally vertically aligned or disposed within the container. The container may be sized and configured to allow one or more tables to be removed from the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the container may contain multiple tables, and one or more tables may be removed from the container individually or in combination. The tables that remain in the container after the one or more tables are removed may remain in generally the same position or configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of tables may be generally vertically aligned within the container, and one or more tables may be removed from the container. The tables remaining in the container may tend to stay or remain in the same configuration, such as the generally vertically aligned configuration. That is, in this exemplary embodiment, the tables remaining in the container may not tilt or substantially deviate from the generally vertically aligned configuration when other tables are removed from the container. In this exemplary embodiment, the tables remaining in the container may be disposed in a generally fixed position, which may be the generally vertically aligned configuration.
Advantageously, if the items remaining in the container remain in generally the same configuration when other items are removed from the container, that may facilitate removal of the remaining items from the container. For example, if a plurality of tables are generally vertically disposed in the container and the tables in the container do not tilt or fall over when other tables are removed from the container, the remaining tables may be easier to remove from the container. Additionally, the container may not be deformed or distorted by the tilted or slanted tables. Instead, the tables may be removed in generally the same or a consistent manner because the tables may be disposed in generally the same configuration within the container whether the container is completely full or partially full.
Still another aspect is a container may contain multiple items, and the same container may be used for shipping and/or display. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple items may be disposed in a predetermined configuration within the container, such as a generally vertically disposed configuration, and the items may be shipped, displayed, and/or offered for sale in the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the container may contain multiple tables and one or more of the tables may be removed from the container. The remaining tables may remain in generally the same position within the container. For instance, a plurality of generally vertically aligned tables may be disposed in the container, which may facilitate shipping of the tables. In this exemplary embodiment, the tables may be displayed and/or offered for sale in the same container and in the generally vertically aligned configuration. As one or more tables are removed from the container, the tables that remain in the container may tend to remain or stay in the generally vertically aligned configuration. The tables, in this exemplary embodiment, may slide out of the container and/or the tables may be lifted out of the container.
Yet another aspect is a container that may contain a plurality of items, such as tables, disposed in a configuration or arrangement, such as generally vertically aligned. When one or more tables are moved from the container, the tables may remain in the same generally vertically aligned configuration. Advantageously, the remaining tables may not fall over or lean against the side of the container, which may make the remaining tables easier to remove, less likely to be damaged, and may be more aesthetically pleasing. In addition, if the tables do not lean or fall against the side of the container, the container may be less likely to be damaged.
Still yet another aspect is the container may be sized and configured to hold one or more tables, such as folding tables. In this exemplary embodiment, the folding tables may be folded in half when disposed in the container. For example, the folding tables may be disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration within the container, and the tables may generally remain in the generally vertically aligned configuration when one or more tables are removed from the container. The folding tables may have a length such as about four feet, about six feet, about eight feet, etc. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will understand that other types of tables, such as round, square, and the like, may be disposed in the container.
A further aspect is a container may be sized and configured to hold a plurality of folding tables in a generally vertically aligned configuration, and the tables may remain in a generally vertically aligned configuration as one or more tables are removed from the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the folding tables may include one or more exposed portions. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the folding tables may include one or more outwardly extending portions, such as projections or protrusions. In an example embodiment, the folding table may include exposed and/or protruding portions, such as hinges. For example, the folding table may include one or more hinges, and at least a portion of the hinges may be exposed or protrude when the table is folded. It will be appreciated that other portions of the folding table may be exposed and/or protrude when the table is folded, such as portions of the frame, crossmembers, supports, legs, overlapping or interlocking portions of the tabletop, and the like.
A still further aspect is a container may include one or more engaging portions, and the engaging portion may be sized and configured to engage a portion of the table or other item disposed in the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portion may receive a portion of the table. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portion may help hold the table in a generally fixed or stationary position within the container by engaging or contacting a portion of the table. For example, the engaging portion may engage or contact a portion of the table by a friction, interference, and/or press fit. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portions, such as engaging members, may be sized and configured to receive, engage, and/or contact protruding and/or exposed portions of the table, such as the hinges of a folding table. For example, a folding table may include one or more engaging, protruding, and/or exposed portions that cooperate or interact with one or more engaging portions when the table is disposed in the container. In this exemplary embodiment, the folding table may include one or more hinges and at least a portion of the hinges may protrude outwardly when the table is folded. For example, the folding table may include two hinges with one hinge disposed towards one side of the table and another hinge disposed towards another side of the table. When the folding table is disposed in the container, the folding table may include a first hinge disposed towards a first portion of the container and a second hinge disposed towards a second portion of the container. The container may include one or more engaging portions sized and configured to engage one or more portions of the table, such as a first engaging portion sized and configured to engage at least a portion of the first hinge and a second engaging portion sized and configured to engage at least a portion of the second hinge. The engaging portions could be disposed in the bottom, sides, and/or ends of the container depending, for example, upon the placement of the tables in the container. For instance, if the tables are intended to be lifted out of the container, the engaging positions may be disposed on the bottom of the container. Alternaitvely, if the tables are intended to slide out of the container, the engaging positions may be disposed on an end or side of the container. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the engaging portion could include any suitable number of parts or pieces, the engaging portion could be a single unit or structure, and the engaging portion may be disposed in any suitable portions of the container. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will also appreciate that the engaging portion may be attached to the container, or the engaging portion may be integrally formed with the container as part of a unitary, one-piece structure. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will further appreciate that any suitable types of structures may be disposed in the container and the container may have different shapes, sizes, configurations, and/or arrangements depending, for example, upon the structure disposed in the container.
Another further aspect is a container may include one or more engaging portions, and the engaging portions may be sized and configured to engaging and/or receive a portion of an item disposed in the container, such as folding table. For example, the container may include one or more engaging portions, such as engaging members, and the engaging portions may be sized and configured to receive one or more portions of the folding table, such as outwardly extending or protruding portions. In this exemplary embodiment, the folding table may include one or more protruding and/or exposed portions, such as portions of the hinges and/or frame, which may contact or engage the engaging portions of the container. In this exemplary embodiment, the one or more engaging portions may be at least partially formed from honeycomb materials and/or may have a generally honeycomb design, such as honeycomb cardboard. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the honeycomb cardboard may be sized and configured to engaging and/or receive the outwardly extending portions of the table. Advantageously, when the one or more outwardly extending portions of the table contact or engage the engaging portions of the container, such as the honeycomb cardboard, the table may tend to remain in generally the same position, even when other tables are removed from the container. For example, if a plurality of tables are disposed in the container and protruding portions of the table, such as the hinges of a folding table, are inserted into or otherwise received by the engaging portions of the container, the tables may tend to stay in generally the same or a fixed position within the container when other tables are removed from the container.
Yet another further aspect is a container that may include one or more engaging portions disposed on one or more inner surfaces of the container. For example, one or more engaging portions may be disposed on an inner surface of a side, end, and/or bottom portion of the container. In an example embodiment, the one or more engaging portions may have a honeycomb configuration, and the honeycomb material may be sized and configured to engage portions of the table, such as exposed and/or protruding portions of the tables, e.g., one or more hinges of a folding table. For instance, at least a portion of one or more of the hinges of the folding table may be inserted into the honeycomb material, and this engagement or contact may help keep the tables in a generally fixed position within the container, even as tables are removed from the container. The honeycomb material may also help prevent the outwardly extending portions of the table from penetrating or damaging the container.
Still yet another further aspect is a container that may be at least primarily constructed from cardboard, and the container may include one or more engaging portions at least primarily constructed from honeycomb cardboard. That is, in an exemplary embodiment, both the container and the engaging portions may be at least primarily constructed from the same materials, such as cardboard. The container and the engaging portions may also be constructed from other suitable materials such as paperboard and the like. Advantageously, the honeycomb material may increase the strength of the container. For example, if the container is a box constructed from cardboard or paperboard, the honeycomb material may increase the strength, structural integrity, and/or rigidity of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the honeycomb material may increase the strength of an end, side, and/or lower portion of the container. This may allow, for example, the container, or portions of the container, to be constructed from lighter weight or different materials.
Another aspect is a container may include one or more engaging portions, and the engaging portion may be sized and configured to engage a portion of a table when the table is disposed in the container. For example, the container may include a first engaging portion disposed in a first portion of the container and a second engaging portion disposed in a second portion of the container. The first and second engaging portions may be sized and configured to engage portions of the table, such as exposed or protruding portions of the table, e.g., the hinges of a folding table. In an exemplary embodiment, the first engaging portion may be a first honeycomb material disposed in a first portion of the container, and the second engaging portion may be a second honeycomb material disposed in a second portion of the container. In this exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the hinges of a folding table may be inserted or disposed in the engaging portions, which may help secure the table in a generally vertical configuration and/or tend to keep the table in a fixed position within the container.
Still another aspect is a method of constructing a container with one or more receiving and/or engaging portions. For example, a container may include a wall, and one or more receiving and/or engaging portions may be disposed on an inner surface of the wall. The one or more engaging and/or receiving portions may be disposed along all or a portion of the inner surface of the wall. In an exemplary embodiment, honeycomb material may be attached to an upper portion of the wall and honeycomb material may be attached to a lower portion of the wall. The honeycomb material may facilitate arrangement of tables within the container, may increase the strength of the container, and may allow the tables to remain in a generally fixed position within the container even as one or more tables are removed from the container.
Yet another aspect is a method of disposing one or more items within a container, such as disposing a plurality of folding tables within the container. The container may include an end wall with one or more engaging and/or receiving portions, which may be constructed from honeycomb materials or this like, and the engaging and/or receiving portions may cover all or a portion of the wall. The tables may be folding tables and a portion of the tables, such as hinges, may protrude, extend outwardly, and/or be exposed when the table is folded. The tables may be placed in the container such that exposed and/or protruding portions of the table contact or engage the engaging or receiving portions. In this exemplary embodiment, the outwardly extending portions of the hinges may be inserted into and/or disposed in the honeycomb material If the tables are disposed in the container in a generally vertically aligned configuration, the tables may tend to remain in the generally vertically aligned configuration as tables are removed from the container. For instance, one or more tables may be disposed in the container such that the hinges may be inserted into and/or are disposed in the honeycomb material This may allow, for example, the tables to be placed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container. One or more tables may be removed from the container, such as sliding the one or more tables away from the honeycomb material or lifting the tables out of the container. The tables remaining in the container may still engage and/or contact the honeycomb material, and this may keep the remaining tables in a generally fixed position, such as a generally vertically aligned configuration.
After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more portions of the table may contact, engage, and/or be inserted into the engaging and/or receiving positions of the container, such as the honeycomb material. For example, the outwardly extending portions of the table may pierce or penetrate into the honeycomb material. Additionally, or alternatively, the outwardly extending portions of the table may be disposed in one or more engaging and/or receiving portions, such as openings, slits, apertures, and the like, and the openings could be made by any suitable process or machine, such as die cutting. Further, the engaging and/or receiving portions of the container may be constructed from other suitable materials and structures, such as plastic, foam, and the like.
A further aspect is a container that may be used for multiple purposes and/or functions. For example, a container may be used for shipping, transportation, and/or storage. If desired, the same container may also be used to display and/or facilitate sale of the items. For instance, items may be shipped and/or transported within the container, such as from a manufacturer or producer to a store, retailer, wholesaler, dealer, seller, etc. The same container may be used to store items. If desired, the same container may be used to display the items and/or offer the items for sale. For example, the container may be used to display items for sale, such as at a store or other type of establishment or business. Thus, the same container may be used for different purposes and/or functions.
A still further aspect is a container that may facilitate removal of items from the container. For example, the container may include items, such as tables, disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration, which may allow one or more tables to be quickly and/or easily removed from the container. The tables that stay in the container may remain in the generally vertically aligned configuration, which may allow these items to be quickly and/or easily removed from the container.
Another further aspect is a container that may be specifically designed to maximize the number of items that may be disposed within the container and/or limit the amount of unused space or volume within the container, which may limit or eliminate the need for filler materials to be disposed within the container. Thus, the volume and/or size of the container may be minimized, which may reduce shipping costs and/or facilitate transport of the container. The container may also be sized and configured to facilitate tight packing of the items within the container.
Still another further aspect is a container that may be constructed from paper-based materials such as paper, paperboard, fiberboard, and the like. The container may also be constructed from corrugated materials such as corrugated paperboard, corrugated cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, and the like. It will be understood that the container may be constructed from other suitable materials including synthetic materials such as plastic, natural packing materials such as plant-based materials, metals, and the like. It will also be understood that the container may be referred to by other wording such as a shipping container, box, cardboard box, carton, case, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portion may be constructed from the same or similar materials as the container. For example, if the container is constructed from a paper-based material, the engaging portion may also be constructed from a paper-based material, which may facilitate manufacturing, recycling, and the like.
Another aspect is a container may be sized and configured to maintain one or more tables in a generally vertically aligned configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, each table of the one or more tables may include a protrusion. The container may include an outer wall and an engaging member disposed on an inner surface of the outer wall. The engaging member may be sized and configured to engage a protrusion of a table when the table is disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container. When the protrusion of the table is engaged with the engaging member, the table may tend to remain in a generally vertically aligned configuration within the container. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of tables may be disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container and, when one or more tables of the plurality of tables are removed from the container, the remaining tables in the container may remain in the generally vertically aligned configuration. The engaging member may include a first elongated strip disposed along a first portion of the outer wall, and the engaging member may include a second elongated strip disposed along a second portion of the outer wall. In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the engaging member may have a honeycomb configuration and/or be constructed from materials have a generally honeycomb configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, the container and the engaging member may be at least substantially constructed from paper-based materials. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of folding tables may be disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container, each folding table of the plurality of folding tables may include a protrusion at least partially formed by a hinge of the folding table; and at least a portion of the protrusion may engage the engaging member when the folding table is generally vertically aligned in the container. The engaging member, for example, may at least partially deform to engage the protrusion of the table and/or the protrusion may at least partially deform the engaging member when the table is disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container. Additionally, or alternatively, a portion of the engaging member may be crushed when the table is disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container. In an exemplary embodiment, a first portion of the engaging member may be connected to a first portion of the wall of the container; a second portion of the engaging member may be connected to a second portion of the wall of the container; a first hinge of a folding table may form at least a portion of a first protrusion of the table and a second hinge of a folding table may form at least a portion of a second protrusion of the table; and at least a portion of the first hinge may engage the first portion of the engaging member and at least a portion of the second hinge may engage the second portion of the engaging member when the folding table is generally vertically aligned in the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the container may be at least primarily constructed from cardboard; and the engaging member may be at least primarily constructed from honeycomb cardboard.
Still another aspect is a method of disposing a plurality of tables in a container in a generally vertically aligned configuration. The method may include providing a container sized and configured to receive a plurality of tables in a generally vertically aligned configuration, the container including an engaging member; disposing a plurality of tables in the container in a generally vertically aligned configuration; and engaging a protrusion of each table of the plurality of tables in the container with the engaging member; wherein the engagement of the protrusion of the table with the engaging member maintains the table in the generally vertically aligned configuration in the container when one or more tables are removed from the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging member may be punctured by the protrusion of the table when the table is disposed in the container. The engaging member, for example, may be constructed from honeycomb material, and/or the engaging member may include a plurality of openings. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging member may be disposed on an inner surface of the container; and the engagement of the protrusion of the table and the engaging member may generally prevent the tilting of the table within the container when one or more tables are removed from the container.
Yet another aspect is a method of maintaining one or more tables in a generally vertically disposed configuration within a container when one or more tables are removed from the container. The method may include providing a container with one or more walls, the container may include an engaging portion sized and configured to engage a projection from each table of a plurality of tables when the table is generally vertically disposed within the container; and inserting a plurality of tables into the container, each table of the plurality of tables may include a projection engaging the engaging portion to help maintain the table in a fixed position within the container. The tables disposed in the container may retain a generally vertically disposed configuration when one or more tables are removed from the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the container may be at least primarily constructed from paperboard, and the engaging portion may be at least primarily constructed from honeycomb paperboard. The tables disposed in the container may be folding tables; at least a portion of a hinge of the folding tables may form at least a portion of the projection; the hinge of the folding table may engage the engaging portion when the folding table is disposed in the container, and the engagement of the hinge of the folding table with the engaging portion of the container may maintain the table in a generally fixed position when one or more tables are removed from the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portion may be disposed on an inner surface of a bottom wall of the container; the tables may be lifted upwardly from the container to remove the tables from the container; and the tables remaining in the container may stay in a generally vertically aligned configuration when one or more tables are removed from the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portion may be disposed on an inner surface of a wall of the container, the engaging portion may have a generally honeycomb-shaped configuration, and the engaging portion may be sized and configured to at least partially deform when a table is disposed in a generally vertically disposed configuration in the container.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, the drawings, the detailed description of preferred embodiments and appended claims.
The appended drawings contain figures of exemplary embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit its scope. Additionally, it will be appreciated that while the drawings may illustrate exemplary sizes, scales, relationships, and configurations, the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. The drawings may be to scale and representative of exemplary embodiments, but the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
This disclosure is generally directed towards a container, which may be a shipping container, box, cardboard box, carton, case, and the like. The principles of the present invention, however, are not limited to containers. It will be understood that, in light of the present disclosure, the container may have a variety of suitable shapes, sizes, configurations, and/or arrangements, and the container may be used for different purposes and functions.
The container may be constructed from various suitable materials such as paper-based materials including paper, paperboard, fiberboard, cardboard, and the like. The container may also be constructed from corrugated materials such as corrugated paperboard, corrugated cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, corrugated cardboard boxes, etc. Additionally, the container may be constructed from other materials with appropriate properties and characteristics including, for example, synthetic materials such as plastics, natural materials such as plant-based materials, metals such as aluminum, and the like. After reviewing this disclosure, one of ordinately skill in the art will appreciate that all or a portion of the container may be constructed from various materials, and the container does not have to be constructed from paper-based or corrugated materials.
The container may include and/or may be referred to as a box, shipment box, packing box, shipping box, shipping container, storage box, cardboard box, corrugated box, carton, container, case, crate, package, packaging, packet, parcel, bin, etc. The container may be sized and configured to hold a single item or multiple items. Advantageously, the container may allow one or more items to be conveniently shipped, transported, stored, displayed, and/or removed. Beneficially, the items may be easily and conveniently removed from the container by a buyer, seller, retailer, vendor, consumer, purchaser, and the like. In addition, the container may allow one or more items to be shipped, transported, stored, displayed, and/or sold without excess volume or wasted space in the container, which may decrease shipping costs and/or facilitate more efficient use of space by the manufacturer, shipper, retailer, vendor, etc.
The container may be sized and configured to contain at least a portion of one or more items or objects. As discussed in connection with the exemplary embodiments below, the container may be sized and configured to contain one or more items or objects such as tables. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate after reviewing this disclosure that the container may be used in connection with items and objects such as chairs, benches, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate after reviewing this disclosure that the container may be used in connection with other types of items or objects, such as goods, products, furnishings, devices, merchandise, and the like.
To assist in the description of the container, and various parts and components of the container, words such as top, bottom, front, rear, right, and left may be used to describe the accompanying figures. It will be appreciated, however, that the container and its parts and components can be disposed in a variety of desired positions, including various angles, sideways and even upside down.
It will also be appreciated that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may include plural forms as well, depending, for example, upon context. It will be further appreciated that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including”, and “having” may be inclusive and may specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In addition, the wording “and/or” can include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated and/or listed items.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used for convenience and to describe one or more elements, and/or a relationship to another element(s) or feature(s). Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass other orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features may then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” could encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors may be interpreted accordingly. It will be understood that phrases such as “between X and Y” may be interpreted to include X and Y. And phrases such as “from X to Y” may be interpreted to include X and Y.
It will also be understood that wording such as “on,” “attached,” “connected,” etc. may indicate one or more elements are directly on, attached, or connected, and/or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly attached to” another element, no intervening elements may be present. It will further be understood that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” to another structure or feature may or may not have portions that touch, overlap, or underlie the adjacent feature.
In addition, it will be understood that wording such as “first,” “second,” etc. may be used to describe various elements, but these elements should not necessarily be limited by these terms. For example, these terms may be used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a “first” element could also be termed a “second” element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. Additionally, a sequence or process, such as one or more steps, may not be limited to the specific order listed depending upon context. Further, the disclosure may include any number of features, aspects, advantages, and the like, in any combination, and one or more of the features, aspects, advantages, and the like may not be present, needed, or required, The present disclosure could also include one or more additional features, aspects, advantages, and the like depending, for example, upon the intended use of the container.
The drawings may be diagrammatic, schematic, and other representations of example embodiments, and may not be intended to limit the present disclosure. Moreover, while various drawings may be provided to scale, and in exemplary arrangements and/or configurations, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the various embodiments may have other suitable shapes, sizes, arrangements, and/or configurations. Thus, the proportionality, scale, size, shape, form, function, arrangement, configuration, and/or other features of the disclosed embodiments may be altered without necessarily departing from the scope of this disclosure.
In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures, like structures may be provided with similar reference designations for convenience and readability. It will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure may be intended. It will also be understood that the language used to describe the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
The container 10 may include one or more sides, ends, surfaces, walls, and the like. For example, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in the accompanying figures, one or more items or objects, such as tables 30, may be disposed in the container 10. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of tables 30 may be disposed in the container 10, and the tables 30 may be disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration. The tables 30, in an exemplary configuration, may be disposed in a side-by-side arrangement and/or aligned like books on a bookshelf. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the tables 30 may be disposed in other suitable configurations and/or arrangements such as generally horizontally aligned, disposed at an angle, and the like.
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As shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the table 30 may be a folding table, and an exemplary folding table 30 may include a frame 36, a crossbar 38, one or more hinges 40, one or more interlocking and/or overlapping portions 42, and/or one or more outwardly extending portions, projections, and/or protrusions 46. In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the hinges 40 may form one or more of the protrusions 46. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable portions of the table 30 may form the protrusions 46.
The container 10 may include one or more engaging portions 44, and the engaging portions 44 may be sized and configured to cooperate or work with a portion of the table 30 when the table is disposed in the container 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the table 30 may include one or more protrusions 46, and the protrusions 46 may cooperate or work with the engaging portions 44 when the table 30 is disposed in the container 10, which may help retain the table 30 in a generally fixed position. For example, at least a portion of the hinges 40 may form at least a portion of the protrusions 46, and the protrusions 46 may cooperate or work with the engaging portion 44 when the table 30 is disposed in the container 10. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other suitable portions of the table 30 may cooperate or work with the engaging portions 44.
In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portions 44 and the protrusions 46 may cooperate or work together by, for example, contacting, engaging, receiving, and the like. For example, the engaging portions 44 and the protrusions 46 may contact and/or engage. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the protrusions 46 could be at least partially disposed in the engaging portions 44. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portions 44 may have a generally honeycomb configuration 48, and the protrusions 46 may be at least partially disposed in the engaging portions 44. In an exemplary embodiment, the protrusion 46 may deform or crush a portion of the engaging portion 44, and/or the protrusion 46 may be inserted into at least a portion of the honeycomb configuration 48, such as an opening. The honeycomb configuration 48 may include an array of interconnected cells, which may be hollow, and the cells may have a generally hexagonal shape. Advantageously, the honeycomb configuration 48 may create engaging portions 44 that are lightweight and high strength. In addition, the honeycomb configuration 48 may create engaging portions 44 that have considerable structural integrity and/or high strength-to-weight ratios. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will understand that the engaging portions 44 could have other suitable shapes, sizes, configurations, and/or arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the container 10. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the engaging portions 44 could have any number of sides, such as triangular, square, pentagon, octagon, and the like, and the engaging portions 44 could be partially or completely enclosed.
The container 10 and the engaging portions 44 may be at least partially or at least substantially constructed from similar materials. For example, the container 10 and the engaging portions 44 may be at least partially or at least substantially constructed from paper-based materials, cellulose fibers, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the container 10 and/or the engaging portions 44 may be at least partially or at least substantively constructed from cardboard, paperboard, and the like. Advantageously, if the container 10 and the engaging portion 44 are at least partially constructed from the same or similar materials, that may facilitate manufacturing, recycling, and the like.
In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging portion 44 may be constructed from materials such as honeycomb cardboard, honeycomb board, honeycomb paperboard, and the like. The engaging portion 44 may also be constructed from a honeycomb panel. Advantageously, the honeycomb material may provide a strong, lightweight structure that can engage, contact, and/or receive the protrusion 44 of the table 30. After reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the container 10 and/or the engaging portion 44 may be constructed from other materials with suitable properties and characteristics, and the container 10 and the engaging portion 44 may be constructed from different materials or materials with different properties and/or characteristics.
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The engaging portion 44 may include one or more openings 50. For example, as shown in
Advantageously, the container 10 may help prevent items from unintendedly tipping or tilting within the container when other items are removed from the container because the items that remain in the container may tend to stay in a fixed position. Previously, when one or more items were removed from a conventional container, the items remaining in the container often tilted, rotated, and/or fell over. The container 10, however, may allow the items that remain in the container to stay in generally the same position when one or more items are removed from the container. This may, for example, facilitate removal of items from the container 10.
The container 10 may beneficially be lightweight because, for example, the engaging portion 44 may be lightweight and the size of the engaging portion 44 may be relatively small. For instance, the engaging portion 44 may have a thickness of about one or about two inches or less, such about 1.5 inches, about .75 inches, about .5 inches, and the like. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the container 10 may only nominally increase in size, if at all, and the container 10 may not require significant modification from a conventional container because, for example, the engaging portion 44 may be placed on an inner surface of the container.
Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined only by the claims which follow.
Claims
1. A container sized and configured to maintain one or more tables in a generally vertically aligned configuration, each table of the one or more tables including a protrusion, the container comprising: wherein when the protrusion of the table is engaged with the engaging member, the table tends to remain in a generally vertically aligned configuration within the container.
- an outer wall; and
- an engaging member disposed on an inner surface of the outer wall, the engaging member sized and configured to engage a protrusion of a table when the table is disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container;
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tables disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container; and wherein when one or more tables of the plurality of tables are removed from the container the tables in the container remain in the generally vertically aligned configuration.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the engaging member is a first elongated strip disposed along a first portion of the outer wall.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the engaging member further comprises a second elongated strip disposed along a second portion of the outer wall.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the engaging member has a honeycomb configuration.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container and the engaging member are at least substantially constructed from a paper-based material.
7. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of folding tables disposed in a generally vertically aligned configuration in the container, each folding table of the plurality of folding tables including a protrusion at least partially formed by a hinge of the folding table; wherein at least a portion of the protrusion engages the engaging member when the folding table is generally vertically aligned in the container.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the engaging member at least partially deforms to engage the protrusion of the table.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the engaging member is connected to a first portion of the outer wall of the container; wherein a second portion of the engaging member is connected to a second portion of the outer wall of the container; wherein a first hinge of a folding table comprises a first protrusion of the table and a second hinge of a folding table comprises a second protrusion of the table; and wherein at least a portion of the first hinge is engaged with the first portion of the engaging member and at least a portion of the second hinge is engaged with the second portion of the engaging member when the folding table is generally vertically aligned in the container.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is at least primarily constructed from cardboard; and wherein the engaging member is at least primarily constructed from honeycomb cardboard.
11. A method of disposing a plurality of tables in a container in a generally vertically aligned configuration, the method comprising: wherein the engagement of the protrusion of the table with the engaging member maintains the table in the generally vertically aligned configuration in the container when one or more tables are removed from the container.
- providing a container sized and configured to receive a plurality of tables in a generally vertically aligned configuration, the container including an engaging member;
- disposing a plurality of tables in the container in a generally vertically aligned configuration; and
- engaging a protrusion of each table of the plurality of tables in the container with the engaging member;
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging member is punctured by the protrusion of the table when the table is disposed in the container.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging member is constructed from honeycomb material.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging member includes a plurality of openings.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the engaging member is disposed on an inner surface of the container; and wherein engagement of the protrusion of the table and the engaging member generally prevents tilting of the table within the container when one or more tables are removed from the container.
16. A method of maintaining one or more tables in a generally vertically disposed configuration within a container when one or more tables are removed from the container, the method comprising: wherein the tables disposed in the container retain a generally vertically disposed configuration when one or more tables are removed from the container.
- providing a container with one or more walls, the container including an engaging portion sized and configured to engage a projection from each table of a plurality of tables when the table is generally vertically disposed within the container; and
- inserting a plurality of tables into the container, each table of the plurality of tables including a projection engaging the engaging portion to help maintain the table in a fixed position within the container;
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the container is at least primarily constructed from paperboard and the engaging portion is at least primarily constructed from honeycomb paperboard.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the tables disposed in the container are folding tables; wherein at least a portion of a hinge of the folding tables forms at least a portion of the projection; wherein the hinge of the folding table engages the engaging portion when the folding table is disposed in the container, and wherein engagement of the hinge of the folding table with the engaging portion of the container maintains the table in a generally fixed position when one or more tables are removed from the container.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the engaging portion is disposed on an inner surface of a bottom wall of the container, wherein the container is sized and configured for the tables to be lifted upwardly from the container to remove the tables from the container; and wherein the tables remaining in the container stay in a generally vertically aligned configuration when one or more tables are removed from the container.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the engaging portion is disposed on an inner surface of a wall of the container, the engaging portion have a generally honeycomb-shaped configuration, the engaging portion sized and configured to at least partially deform when a table is disposed in a generally vertically disposed configuration in the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 15, 2026
Publication Date: Jul 16, 2026
Inventors: Shawn Pehrson (Clearfield, UT), Timothy B. Schade (Clearfield, UT)
Application Number: 19/450,177
