Package for shipping and storage of panel products

Abstract

A package for storing and shipping flat panel products includes a shock- absorbing inner protective material, a telescoping outer packaging material, adjustable to the size of the product being shipped, and an outer binder, such as a plastic banding material. The inner wrapping material is provided around a circumferential edge of the product and is secured in place. The outer protective packaging material is provided around the wrapped product, adjusted to the appropriate size, and is bound in place with a plastic banding material which is wrapped longitudinally and secures the lateral and longitudinal position of the product within the package. The telescoping package includes slots for receiving and retaining the plastic banding material in position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 510,647, filed Oct. 10, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention is related to packaging for shipping products, and more particularly to packaging materials for shipping flat panel products. [0004] Products which are generally narrow in depth and formed-in a sheet, plate or panel construction such as doors, windows, mirrors, and raw sheet materials including glass, plastic, stone, and various composite materials can be difficult to package and ship as they are prone to damage when dropped, particularly when dropped on their corners or edges. These types of products, referred to hereafter generally as “flat panel products” are typically packaged for shipping in an inner protective pac...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Products which are generally narrow in depth and formed-in a sheet, plate or panel construction such as doors, windows, mirrors, and raw sheet materials including glass, plastic, stone, and various composite materials can be difficult to package and ship as they are prone to damage when dropped, particularly when dropped on their corners or edges.

While methods for packaging flat panel products are therefore known in the art, there are a number of problems associated with these packaging methods.

Also, the products must be assembled into the packaging entirely by hand, and the packaging process is therefore labor intensive, relatively expensive, and slow, often taking longer than the actual production.

Additionally, the packaging is relatively heavy, thereby contributing to increased labor difficulties and expenses in shipping.

Furthermore, damage to the internal products remains a problem when using these types of packages, contributing significantly to the cost of both the product and shipping.

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