Package arrangement for fragile articles

The present invention relates to packaging for various fragile articles, including a method and particularly relates to the packaging of fragile articles such as glass lighting fixture globes including ones commonly known as "Tiffany" types.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring in detail to the drawings. As will be seen in FIG. 1, there is 
shown a package arrangement 100 comprising a first member 10; shock 
absorbing resilient cushioning material 20 on the upper top surface of 
member 10; an article 30 located on the cushioning material 20 and 
positioned within the peripheral edges of member 10; means 40 securing the 
article 30 in place on the material 20 and securing the material 20 to 
first member 10; a second member 50 positioned in spaced relation to first 
member 10 and in spaced telescoped relation to the article 30; and a 
plurality of leg members 60 located intermediate the respective first and 
second members 10 and 50 for use in maintaining the same in spaced 
relation and means 70 retaining the respective members 10, 50 and 60 in 
selected relative positions, one to another. 
In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of leg members 
60 are replaced by a single third member 80 which encloses the space 
situated between the members 10 and 50 and lies adjacent the peripheral 
edges of member 10. Members 10, 50, 60, 70 and 80 are all constructed of 
corrugated cardboard sheet. 
First member 10 comprises a flat top surface 11 having a pair of depending 
wall members 12 and a pair of depending wall members 13 secured 
respectively to opposite peripheral edges 14 of surface 11. Wall members 
12 include extensions 12A forming flap portions for securing to the inner 
faces of wall members 13, as best seen in FIG. 1. The extensions 12A are 
secured to members 13 by staples. As described, first member 10 represents 
a base for supporting article 30 and is constructed in a manner similar to 
that commonly used for the lid of a box. 
Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative construction for member 10 is shown. In 
such instance, wall members 12 and 13 are eliminated and a single member 
10A is utilized in place thereof extending around the peripheral edges 14 
so as to support surface 11. End portions of member 10A (not shown) 
overlap one another and are stapled together. The alternative construction 
for member 10 accordingly provides a base similar to that discussed above 
using wall members 12 and 13. 
The shock absorbing resilient cushioning material 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 
is a well known packaging material known in the trade as "air caps"*. As 
may be seen in FIG. 2, material 20 has been laid on surface 11 in two 
layers, back to back, in such manner that the "air caps" which are 
bubble-like configurations rising from a flat surface, make contact with 
both surface 11 and article 30. Material 20 is arranged, as will be seen 
in FIGS. 1 and 3, so as to ensure article 30 is well supported thereon and 
not in direct contact with surface 11. 
FNT *Trade mark 
Article 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and article 90, as illustrated 
in FIG. 3, located upon material 20 is a well known "Tiffany" globe and as 
will be seen, for example, in FIG. 1 is located well inboard of the 
peripheral edges 14 and well above the bottom and well below the top of 
the container. It has been found during testing package arrangement 100, 
especially during drop testing, it is desirable to locate article 30 
substantially inboard as discussed and accordingly within the peripheral 
edges 14 of surface 11. 
Means 40 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a clear film of plastic sheet 
material 41 overlying article 30 and material 20 and extending down the 
wall members 12 and 13 to be secured below first member 10. The film of 
plastic sheet material 41 is shrunk into place by suitable well known 
means such as a heat shrinking process. Material 41 accordingly, for 
example, positively secures article 30 in place on member 10 preventing 
any substantial relative movement therebetween. 
Member 50 is of similar construction to that of member 10 differing only in 
that it has a flat surface 11A as shown in FIG. 2 which includes a 
rectangular aperture 15 to permit the top portion 31 of article 30 to 
project therethrough. Thus no pressure is exerted upon article 30 by 
member 50 by virtue of the clearance provided between the two items. 
Alternatively, aperture 15 may be eliminated if desired and leg members 
60, discussed hereinafter, extended in length to that shown in the 
drawings so that surface 11A lies above and is spaced from the top of 
article 30 thereby locating member 50 even more remotely from article 30 
to that shown in the drawings. For reasons of clarity, flap portions 15A 
have been omitted in FIG. 2. Flap portions 15A perform no function and if 
desired can be eliminated. The result merely from an operation in 
providing the aperture 15 during manufacture. 
Apart from the foregoing, member 50 further differs from member 10 in 
regard to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that apertured slots 16 
are provided, as best seen in FIG. 5, for receiving detachable leg members 
60. 
Leg members 60 are constructed as will be clearly seen in FIG. 5, from a 
one piece sheet of material 17 folded so as to form a triangular tube 17A 
having end portions 17B overlapping completely one with another and 
secured one to another by stapling, to form a side of triangular tube 17A. 
A pair of tongue portions 18 extend adjacent one end of triangular tube 
17A and are adapted to enter slots 16, as best seen in FIG. 2. When 
correctly assembled, leg members 60 support member 50 along end face 61 of 
leg member 60 as it abuts the flat surface 11A of member 50. Referring to 
FIG. 1, it will be clearly seen the opposite ends of leg members 60 rest 
upon surface 11 of member 10 adjacent peripheral edges thereof. Leg 
members 60 accordingly are located intermediate members 10 and 50 to 
provide means to maintain the same in spaced relation. 
Turning to the alternative embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 3, there is 
disclosed a package arrangement substantially identical to that disclosed 
in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that no aperture 15 is provided in member 51 for 
protrusion of article 90 secured in similar manner to that discussed in 
reference to article 30, and no slots 16 are provided. As will be seen, 
member 51 sits substantially in contact with article 90 substantially 
abutting the upper edge portion thereof. Use of member 80 is entirely 
optional and can be used if desired. Accordingly, member 80 may be 
eliminated allowing the article 90 to maintain the spaced relation of 
members 51 and 10. Such would be utilized where article 90 is of less 
fragile character and not requiring the additional packaging support as 
provided by member 80. 
Member 80 although shown in position in FIG. 3, for reasons of convenience, 
may be used, as discussed above in respect of the embodiment as shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 replacing leg members 60. 
Means 70 comprises a container 71 rectangular in shape, having sides 
including a base 73 and top flaps 72 and adapted to receive members 10, 50 
and 60 including article 30 secured in position as discussed, or 
alternatively members 10, 50 and 80 and article 30 secured in position as 
discussed, or alternatively members 10, 51 and article 90 secured in 
similar manner to that discussed in respect of article 30. Container 71 is 
basically a commonly known carton constructed of corrugated cardboard. Top 
flaps 72 are for use in enclosing the contents of container 71. Referring 
to FIG. 1, it will be noted that flaps 72 when folded down and secured by 
tape or the like to enclose the contents of container 71, cooperate with 
base 73 to secure the contents of container 71 which may comprise for 
example members 10, 50 and 60 preventing movement of said latter members 
relative to one another and container 71. As will be further seen in FIG. 
1, members 10 and 50 fit snuggly within container 71 adjacent the side 
walls thereof thus preventing lateral movement. It will be readily 
realized alternative suitable materials to those discussed above may be 
substituted with respect to the packaging arrangement as discussed.