Cushioning insert

A cushioning insert for containers loaded with necked articles arranged in allochiral relationship such as video tubes having a large viewing surface and wall portions tapering toward the neck of the tube is disclosed. The insert is characterized by a base panel having upstanding walls from which panel supports for the tube are provided. The wall and base panels have panel portions cut therefrom at the lines of fold between such panels and such panel portions are constructed and arranged to provide a stable structure supporting the tube necks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention herein has for its main purpose the protection of frangible 
articles of commerce such as video tubes. By reason of their configuration 
and for economy in packaging, it is desirable to dispose them in 
allochiral relationship, at the same time without sacrificing the 
protection of the articles.

The improved cushioning insert according to the present invention is 
denoted generally by the reference numeral 10 and is formed from a blank 
of paperboard or the like 10A. The cushioning insert 10 seen in the 
several views is adapted to enclose a plurality of video tubes VT having a 
viewing surface VS and sides TS tapering therefrom to a neck N. 
Blank 10A has a base panel 11 with opposed wall panels 12 foldably 
connected thereto along spaced fold lines 13. The ends of the wall panels 
12 have end flaps 14 foldably connected thereto along score lines. 
As seen particularly in FIG. 7, each of the necks N rests upon a support 
indicated generally by numeral 15, one of the walls 12 having a central 
suppot 15 while the other wall has spaced supports 15, so that the tubes 
VT may be disposed within the insert 10 in allochiral relationship. 
Each of the supports 15 comprises a wall portion 17 foldable along a score 
line 19 in base panel 11, and a second wall portion 18 foldable along a 
score line 21 in wall 11, the two wall portions 17 and 18 being foldably 
joined by a portion of score line 13. 
When the wall 12 is erected with respect to base panel 11, portions 17 and 
18 adopt the erected positon seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
Structure is provided for locking the erected wall portions 17 and 18 in 
position, and wall portion 17 is hingedly connected to locking flap 22 
along a fold line 23. Wall porton 18 is similarly connected to a locking 
flap 24 along closely spaced fold lines 26. 
When wall portion 17 is erected, flap 22 is turned in a direction as seen 
in FIG. 3, and locking flap 24 turned as seen in said figure to lie 
against wall portion 18, this being accommodated by a diagonal score 27 in 
flap 24. 
The locking in position of the support 15 is completed by a locking tab 28 
in flap 24 which engages a locking slot 29 in portion 18. 
As seen in FIG. 7, the two container liners 10 when loaded in side-by-side 
arrangement, may be placed into a shipping container, not shown.