Abstract:
A relatively light-weight, rigid, non-kinking packaging for containing and shipping non-self-supporting articles of extended length including a corrugated box and a honeycomb core adhered to one or more sides of the box interiorly thereof along substantially the length of the box defining a space for receiving the product to be packaged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are numerous manufactured products which are of an extended length, e.g., over eight feet in length, which are not self-supporting and which require packaging for storage and shipment. For example, thin, light-weight aluminum and plastic extrusions of eight feet or greater length are not self-supporting; and, thus when the product is lifted, it bends or kinks at one or more points along its length. With aluminum and plastic extrusions, the bending and kinking can produce a permanent defect in the product making it unusable for sale for its intended purpose. One example of such a product are thin-slat venetian blinds, commonly called mini-blinds, which are often manufactured in lengths over eight feet to span a window over eight feet in width or to be oriented vertically in a window eight or more feet high. These blinds are typically shipped in cardboard packaging which, of course, have a length equal to or greater than the length of the blind. In the process of transporting the packaging, if it is lifted at one end, the weight of the blind causes kinking of the packaging along its length and in turn kinking of the blinds. That is, the box does not have sufficient strength to support the product contained therein and in turn will deform and kink, and kink the product. Typically, for example, in a four-sided box, the sides have a tendency to deform into a parallelogram resulting in bending of the box at some point along its length. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improved packaging for containing and shipping articles of extended length which are not self-supporting such as in lengths of eight feet and greater. To this end, the present invention provides a relatively light-weight, rigid, non-kinking packaging for containing and shipping non-self-supporting articles of extended length. The packaging comprises a corrugated box having side walls and ends and a length of at least about eight feet and a paperboard honeycomb insert adhered to one or more sides of the box in the interior thereof along substantially the length of the box. In a presently preferred form of the invention, the packaging is a four-sided corrugated box which is formed from a pre-creased blank into initially a three-sided trough. A paperboard honeycomb blank is scored through one sheet and the honeycomb and is likewise formed into a trough which is inserted in the box and abuts to the interior walls thereof. The honeycomb is preferably formed of paperboard comprising a number of cells between facing sheets of linerboard. The product to be packaged, for example, window blinds are then placed in the trough formed by the honeycomb, and the open side of the box is closed and sealed and the ends thereof closed and sealed. The present invention thus provides a relatively lightweight and rigid container which will not parallelogram when lifted at one end with an article contained therein but, rather, will remain rigid and non-kinking thereby protecting the packaged article throughout its shipment and storage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view of the corrugated blank and honeycomb in an unassembled condition making up the packaging of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of a portion of the honeycomb shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration showing the container in a partially completed condition for receiving product therein. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the container shown in FIG. 2 in the closed condition. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging 10 of the present invention is formed essentially of two elements: a double faced outside corrugated blank 12 which is formed into the shape of a rectangular box and an inner paperboard honeycomb core 14. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blank 12 of doubled faced corrugated board 12 has a center portion 16 in which creases 18 are placed extending in the direction of the long edges 19 of the blank 12. Four long creases 18 are formed to provide hinges joining five panels 20a-e. At the ends, the blank 12 is slit through at the crease lines 18 to form end flaps 22a-e. End flaps 22a-e are hinged to panels 20a-e by transverse crease lines 23. A suitable corrugated board is 200 pound C-flute. 
     The honeycomb core 14 has a length equalling generally the length of the center portion 16 of the corrugated blank 12 and a width a little less than the combined width of panels 20b, c, and d. The honeycomb core 14 is formed of facing sheets of linerboard 24a and 24b, and a paperboard honeycomb 26 glued to sheets 24a and 24b forming a plurality of cells 28 therebetween (FIG. 1A). The core 14 is slit through one sheet 24a to the top sheet 24b along lines 30 permitting the honeycomb core to be formed into a three panel trough-like configuration, as shown in FIG. 2. A suitable honeycomb core thickness is one inch. 
     It is desirable for maximizing shipping space that the blank 12 and core 14 shown in FIG. 1 be sent to the packager in the flat condition for the packager to erect and assemble as part of its packaging process. This saves substantially in shipping space. Thus, at the point of packaging, which may be at the product manufacturer, such as a mini-blind manufacturer, the corrugated blank is folded along its creases 18 into a trough-like configuration shown in FIG. 2 having an open top. The honeycomb core 14 is then bent into its trough-like configuration shown in FIG. 2 and inserted within the corrugated blank 12. A suitable glue such as a cold white glue maybe is placed between the facing layer 24a of the honeycomb core 14 and the corrugated blank 12 to secure the honeycomb core 14 in place against sections 20b, c, and d. The product is now placed in space 32 defined by the trough and the top flaps 20a and 20e are bent into an overlying relation and glued or otherwise secured together as shown in FIG. 3. Likewise, the end flaps 22 a-e are folded into overlying relation and glued or otherwise secured shut to form the assembled package with product contained therein. 
     In a second embodiment of the invention, it is sometimes desirable to package articles in a triangular shaped box as opposed to a rectangle for even greater rigidity. Thus, the corrugated blank shown in FIG. 1 can be formed with four panels 40a-d rather than five whereupon it can be folded into a triangular container as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, two of the honeycomb sections 42b and 42c would abut the corrugated board. The product to be packaged is then placed therein, the third honeycomb section 42a bent to complete the triangle. Glue may be placed on the outer surface thereof to adhere to the inner face of the corrugated section 40a when the container is closed. Section 40d is then folded into overlying relation with 40a and glued or otherwise secured thereto. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the honeycomb provides rigidity to the box; and prevents the box from parallelogramming when it is picked up particularly at an extreme end. Thus, the box can support articles of extended length, for example, eight feet and over but yet be relatively lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture, ship, and use.