Patent Publication Number: US-2010126892-A1

Title: Motorcycle fuel tank packaging system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to packaging systems, including packaging systems for motorcycle fuel tanks. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Parts and other types of components can be damaged during shipment. For example, they can be dented, scratched, or otherwise marred. 
     Motorcycle fuel tanks may be particularly prone to damage during shipment. Not only can they be dented and scratched, but they may have a delicate painted surface which can be easily marred. The painted surface may be damaged merely by prolonged pressure from packaging material pressed against it, particularly when the tank is packaged before the paint has fully dried. 
     The size and configuration of parts and other components, such as motorcycle fuel tanks, may vary. Thus, a packaging system designed to fit an article having one size and configuration may not fit other articles of the same type, if they have a different size and/or configuration. 
     A packaging system has been designed to address these needs. However, experience with this packaging system demonstrates that it can itself be damaged during shipment. In turn, this may expose its contents, such as a motorcycle fuel tank, to damage during shipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     A motorcycle fuel tank packaging system may include a carton for housing the motorcycle fuel tank during shipment. The carton may have a plurality of walls. The motorcycle fuel tank packaging system may have a panel fixedly positioned within the carton in a position that is substantially parallel to one of the walls of the carton. The motorcycle fuel tank packaging system may have a clamp within the carton that is configured to releasably secure the motorcycle fuel tank. The motorcycle fuel tank packaging system may have a clamp base attached to the clamp at a location on the clamp base that causes the motorcycle fuel tank when secured by the clamp to be substantially spaced from each of the walls of the carton. The clamp base may include one or more rigid cross-beams sandwiched snuggly between the panel and the wall of the carton that is substantially parallel to the panel. 
     The rigid cross-beams may be parallel and spaced apart from one another. 
     The rigid cross-beams may be made of wood. 
     The wall of the carton which is substantially parallel to the panel may have a wall width. The rigid cross-beams may each have a length that is approximately equal to the wall width. 
     The rigid cross-beams may each abut an opposing wall of the carton different from the wall of the carton that is parallel to the panel. 
     The panel may be corrugated cardboard. 
     The rigid cross-beams may be attached to the panel, such as with glue. 
     The rigid cross-beams may not be attached to any wall of the carton. 
     The panel may lie between the clamp and the rigid cross beams. The rigid cross-beams may each be attached to the clamp by a bolt which passes through the panel. 
     The clamp may be configured to engage the motorcycle fuel tank only at an under surface of the motorcycle fuel tank and at an inner surface of a neck of the motorcycle fuel tank. 
     The clamp may include a tapered plug configured to frictionally engage the inner surface of the neck of the motorcycle fuel tank. 
     The clamp may include a transverse arm, and the tapered plug may be slidably attached to the transverse arm. 
     The clamp may include two support posts. The transverse arm may have two ends, and each of the support posts may support a different end of the transverse arm. 
     The clamp may include a seat that is configured to support the under surface of the motorcycle fuel tank. The seat and the panel may be part of a continuous folded sheet. The continuous folded sheet may be corrugated cardboard. 
     The clamp may include one or more support posts configured to support the seat from beneath the seat. 
     The seat may have opposing ends. Each of the posts may be positioned beneath a different one of the opposing ends of the seat. 
     The motorcycle fuel tank packaging system may include support flaps that are configured to cooperate with the clamp base to cause the panel to be fixedly positioned within the carton. 
     The clamp may include a seat. The support flaps, the panel, and the seat may be part of a continuous folded sheet. The continuous folded sheet may be corrugated cardboard. 
     The support flaps, the panel, and the rigid cross-beams may form a three dimensional structure having a length, a width, and a height. The carton may have an interior with substantially the same length, width and height. 
     The panel may include two spaced-apart portions within the same plane. 
     The clamp may be approximately centered between two walls of the carton. 
     These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments. They do not set forth all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without all of the details that are disclosed. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it is intended to refer to the same or like components or steps. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with cross beams that are on top of an upper surface of a panel. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates damage to the prior art internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 1  that occurred after being been dropped while in a shipping carton holding a motorcycle fuel tank. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a close up of related damage to the prior art internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with cross-beams that are beneath an under surface of a panel. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the slidable clamp that is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one of the seat support posts that is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  from beneath. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a continuous sheet from which the flaps, panel, and seat that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  may be formed. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  with the transverse arm removed and the support flaps lying substantially flat. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 9  with a motorcycle fuel tank placed on top of the seat and after the flaps have been folded to a perpendicular position. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 10  with a tapered plug inserted within a neck of the tank. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 11  after wing nuts have been fully tightened and while being inserted into a shipping carton. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 11  within a shipping carton. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with an alternate embodiment of a seat. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 14  with added external support for the seat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Illustrative embodiments are now discussed. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for a more effective presentation. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without all of the details that are disclosed. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with cross beams that are on top of an upper surface of a panel. This system includes a panel  101 , that includes two spaced-apart portions within the same plane. The system includes a clamp that includes a seat  103  with openings  143  and  145 , seat support posts  105  and  107 , a tapered plug  109 , a slidable clamp  111 , a transverse arm  113 , arm support posts  115  and  117 , bolts  119  and  121 , and wing nuts  123  and  125 . The system includes support flaps  131  and  137  having carrying handles  139  and  141 , respectively. The system includes a clamp base that includes cross beams  127  and  129  that are on top of an upper surface  147  of the panel  101 . The cross beams are glued to the upper surface  147 . 
     A motorcycle fuel tank (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) was clamped between the tapered plug  109  and the seat  103 . The internal motorcycle fuel tank support system illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the motorcycle fuel tank clamped within it, was then locked within a shipping carton that had internal dimensions approximately the same as the overall dimensions of the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     During shipment, this motorcycle fuel tank packaging system was dropped on the side of the shipping carton against which the support flap  131  rested and/or at the lower corner edge of that side. This caused damage to the shipping carton. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates damage to the prior art internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 1  that occurred after being dropped while in a shipping carton holding a motorcycle fuel tank. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the panel  101  partially tore along an interior edge of the cross-beam  127 . This tearing was caused by the motorcycle fuel tank applying force on the clamp as the clamp broke the fall and, in turn, the clamp applying rotational force to the cross beams  127  and  129 . The tearing exposed the motorcycle fuel tank  201  to undesirable movement within the shipping container during shipment. It also allowed the motorcycle fuel tank to move be closer to a wall of the shipping container, thus exposing the tank to damage from side impacts. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a close up of related damage to the prior art internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Specifically, it illustrates a corresponding tear of the panel  101  along an interior edge of the cross-beam  129 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with cross-beams that are beneath an under surface of a panel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system may include a panel  401 . The panel  401  may include a upper surface  447  and an under surface  449 . As is more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 7 , this panel may have two spaced-apart portions in the same plane. 
     The internal motorcycle fuel tank support system may include a clamp that is configured to releasably secure a motorcycle fuel tank. The clamp may include a seat  403 , seat support posts  405  and  407 , a tapered plug  409 , a slidable clamp  411 , a transverse arm  413 , arm support posts  415  and  417 , arm support plates  416  and  418 , bolts  419  and  421 , and wing nuts  423  and  425 . 
     The internal motorcycle fuel tank support system may include a clamp base that may include cross-beams  427  and  429 . 
     The internal motorcycle fuel tank support system may include support flaps  431  and  437  having carrying handles  439  and  441 , respectively. 
     The panel  401  may serve as a surface upon which the clamp may be placed. The panel  401  may have a rectangular shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , or may have any other shape. The panel  401  may be thin, rigid, and/or light. The panel  401  may be made of any material, such as plastic or cardboard. The plastic or cardboard may be corrugated. 
     The seat  403  may be centered between opposing perimeter edges of the panel  401 . It may instead be offset from the center, but still substantially spaced from each of these opposing perimeter edges. 
     The seat  403  may have any shape. For example, it may be configured to support an under surface of a motorcycle fuel tank. 
     The seat  403  may include openings  443  and  445 . The openings  443  and  445  in the seat may be oriented to allow air flow and/or to allow one or more protrusions from the under surface of the motorcycle fuel tank, such as a fuel line, to protrude through them. 
     The seat  403  may be made from any material. The material may be thin, rigid, and/or light. For example, the seat may be made from cardboard or plastic. The cardboard or plastic may be corrugated. 
     The seat support posts  405  and  407  may be configured to support the seat  403  under the seat  403 . They may be positioned at opposite ends of the seat  403 , or may be placed in other positions. A different number of seat support posts may be provided, such as one or three. 
     The seat support posts  405  and  407  may or may not be affixed to the seat  403 . For example, they may be glued to the under surface of the seat  403  or attached by other means. 
     The seat support posts  405  and  407  may be of any shape and may be made of any material. For example, they may be trapezoidal in shape and may be made of a substantially rigid material, but of a material that also provides cushioning, such as Expanded polypropylene. 
     The tapered plug  409  may be configured to fit within the neck of the motorcycle fuel tank so as to engage an interior surface of the neck. The tapered plug  409  may instead have a lower diameter that is greater than the diameter of the neck of the motorcycle fuel tank. The tapered plug  409  need not be tapered or cylindrical. 
     The tapered plug  409  may be made of any material. For example, it may be made of a material that is firm, but compressible, so as to not scratch any portion of the motorcycle fuel tank. For example, the tapered plug  409  may be made of rubber or plastic. 
     The tapered plug  409  may be detachable from the slidable clamp  411 . For example, a screw or other type of attachment device may be used. This may enable tapered plugs of different sizes and shapes to be affixed to the slidable clamp, so as to better accommodate motorcycle fuel tanks of different sizes and/or configurations. 
     The tapered plug  409  may be attached to the transverse arm  413  by means other than the slidable clamp  411 . For example, the tapered plug  409  may be fixedly attached to the transverse arm  413  by a nail, screw or glue. 
     The slidable clamp  411  may be configured so as to slide along the length of the transverse arm  413  while being attached to the tapered plug  409 . This may enable the tapered plug  409  to be adjusted to different positions so as to fit motorcycle fuel tanks having necks at different positions. 
     The slidable clamp  411  may have any shape. For example, it may have the shape illustrated in  FIG. 4 . It may include a locking mechanism that locks the slidable clamp  411  in place, once adjusted to a desired location. 
     The slidable clamp  411  may be made of any material. For example, it may be made of a material that is relatively rigid, but that readily compresses to provide cushioning. For example, the slidable clamp  411  may be made of Expanded polypropylene. 
     The transverse arm  413  may have any shape and may be made of any material. For example, it may be made of a material that is fairly rigid, but that can provide some degree of flexure, thereby allowing some variation in the distance between the neck of the motorcycle fuel tank and its under surface, while still firmly clamping the motorcycle fuel tank between the tapered plug  409  and the seat  403 . For example, the transverse arm  413  may be made of wood, and may be cut such that the grain of the wood runs along the length of the transverse arm  413 , thereby facilitating some degree of flexure. 
     The arm support posts  415  and  417  may be of any size or shape. For example, they may be of a height that causes the tapered plug  409  to snugly fit within the neck of a motorcycle fuel tank when resting on the seat  403 . They may be of a width sufficient to provide the arm support posts  415  and  417  with structural integrity. They may be made of a material which is substantially rigid, but which may provide cushioning during shipment. For example, the arm support posts may be made of Expanded polypropylene. In other embodiments, the arm support posts  415  and  417  may be eliminated. 
     The seat support posts  405  and  407  may be attached to the arm support post  415  and  417 , respectively, such as by glue, staples, nails, or by other means. They may instead be integral with the arm support posts, respectively. 
     The arm support posts  405  and  407  may be rested against or may be affixed to the upper surface  447  of the panel  401 . In one embodiment, for example, they may be glued to the upper surface  447 . In another embodiment, they may be affixed to the upper surface  447  by nails, staples, or screws. The nails, staples, or screws may pass through the corresponding cross-beams  427  and  429  to provide additional rigidity. They may instead be held against the panel  401  merely by the force asserted by the bolts  419  and  421 , respectively. 
     A longitudinal channel  451  may be provided in the arm support post  415  and a corresponding longitudinal channel may be provided in the arm support post  417  (not visible in  FIG. 4 ). These channels may be configured to accommodate the bolts  419  and  421 , respectively. 
     The arm support plates  416  and  418  may serve to distribute the force asserted by the transverse arm  413  across the entire upper surface area of the arm support post  415  and  417 , respectively. They may in addition or instead serve to adjust the height of the transverse arm  413 . The arm support plates  416  and  418  may be of any material, such as wood or Expanded polypropylene. In some configurations, they may be omitted. The arm support plates  416  and  418  may or may not be affixed to the top of the arm support posts  415  and  417 , respectively, and/or to the bottom of the transverse arm  413 . Glue, nails, staples, or other means may be used. 
     The bolts  419  and  421  may have flat heads which rest flush against an under surface of the cross-beams  427  and  429 , respectively. These bolts may pass through the panel  401 , including openings that may be provided in the panel  401  for this purpose. The transverse arm  413  may be secured to the bolts  419  and  421  by wing nuts  423  and  425 , respectively. Washers may be added. Means other than nuts and bolts may be used to secure the transverse arm  413  to the support posts  415  and  417 , such as glue, nails, and/or staples. 
     The cross-beams  427  and  429  may be of any shape. They may be oriented so as to abut the under surface  449  of the panel  401 . They may be attached or not attached to the under surface  449 . When attached, they may be attached by any means, such as by staples, tacks, nails, and/or glue. The attachment may be throughout the length of the cross-beams  427  and  429  or only at one or more spaced-apart locations. The cross-beams  427  and  429  may be configured to span across the entire width of the panel  401 , that is, the full width between two of the other opposing perimeter edges of the panel  401 . The cross-beams  427  and  429  may instead span across only a portion of this distance. 
     The cross-beams  427  and  429  may each be positioned such to abut an opposing perimeter edge of the under surface  449  of the panel  401  along a length of the cross beams  427  and  429 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The cross-beams  427  and  429  may instead be spaced inwardly from these opposing perimeter edges. 
     The cross-beams  427  and  429  may be oriented perpendicular to the length of the transverse arm  413 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . They may instead be oriented at a different angle. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates two cross-beams. However, a different number may be used, such as three four, or even one. 
     The cross-beams  427  and  429  may have any width or thickness. For example, they may be thinner, thicker, narrower, or wider. The width and thickness may be sufficient to provide substantial rigidity. A single planer surface could instead be used spanning across most if not all of the area of the under surface  449  of the panel  401 . 
     The cross-beams  427  and  429  may be made of any material. For example, they may be made of a rigid material such as wood or plastic. 
     The support flaps  431  and  437  may be of any shape. For example, they may be substantially rectangular. The carrying handles  439  and  441  may be of any shape and may be positioned so as to allow the entire internal motorcycle fuel tank support system to be easily lifted and placed within a shipping container. Additional support handles may be provided. These support handles may be omitted. 
     The support flaps  431  and  437  may be made of any material. They may be made of material which is rigid, thin, and/or light. For example, they may be made of cardboard or plastic, such as corrugated cardboard or plastic. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the slidable clamp that is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The configuration of the slidable clamp may be different. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates one of the seat support posts that is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . It may have a trapezoid shape or any other shape. It may be configured to conform to the interior curvature of the seat  403 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  from beneath. This includes the under surface  449  of the panel  401  and the under side of the seat  403 , the seat support posts  405  and  407 , the cross-beams  427  and  429 , and the heads of the bolts  419  and  421 . It also illustrates that the holes for the bolts  419  and  421  in the cross-beams  427  and  429 , respectively, may be countersunk. It also illustrates that the panel  401  may include two spaced-apart sections in the same plane. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a continuous sheet from which the flaps, panel, and seat that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  may be formed. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , this sheet may be scored with scores  801 ,  803 ,  805 ,  807 ,  809 , and  811  to define the edges that may be folded and to make the folding easier. Cuts  813 ,  814 ,  815 , and  816  may be made to provide surfaces  817 ,  818 ,  819 , and  820 , respectively, on which the arm support posts  415  and  417  may, respectively, be mounted, while simultaneously permitting the sides  821  and  823  of the seat  403  to fold upwardly. 
     The foldable sheet illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be made of any material. For example, it may be made of cardboard or plastic, such as corrugated cardboard or plastic. When using corrugated cardboard or plastic, the flutes may run either along the length or the width. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  with the transverse arm removed and the support flaps lying substantially flat. This illustrates an initial position at which the internal motorcycle fuel tank may be placed in preparation for receiving the motorcycle fuel tank. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 9  with a motorcycle fuel tank placed on top of the seat and after the flaps have been folded to a perpendicular position. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a motorcycle fuel tank  1001  has been placed on top of the seat  403  and the flaps  431  and  437  have been folded perpendicular to the panel  401 . The tank may be placed upon the seat before paint on the motorcycle fuel tank has fully dried. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 10  with a tapered plug inserted within a neck of the tank. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the transverse arm  113  may be placed on top of the bolts  419  and  421  after the motorcycle fuel tank  1001  has been placed on top of the seat  403 . The slidable clamp  411  may be moved along the length of the transverse arm  413  until the tapered plug  409  aligns with a neck  1003  of the motorcycle fuel tank  1001 . The transverse arm  413  may then be pressed downwardly so as to cause the bolts  419  and  421  to travel through holes in ends of the transverse arm  413 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 11  after wing nuts have been fully tightened and while being inserted into a shipping carton. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the wing nuts  423  and  425  may be fully tightened on the bolts  419  and  421 , respectively. In turn, this may cause the ends of the transverse arm  413  to abut against the arm support plates  416  and  418 , respectively, and for the arm support plates  416  and  418  to abut against the arm support posts  415  and  417 , respectively. This may cause the transverse arm  413  to bend slightly, thereby insuring that the motorcycle fuel tank is securely clamped between the tapered plug  409  and the seat  403 . 
     After the motorcycle fuel tank is securely clamped, the support flaps  431  and  437 , the entire internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with the motorcycle fuel tank securely clamped to it may then be placed within a shipping carton  1201 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Exterior flaps  1203 ,  1205 ,  1207 , and  1209  of the shipping carton may then be closed and sealed. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 11  within a shipping carton. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system  1301  may snugly fit within the shipping carton  1201 . The interior dimensions of the shipping carton  1201  may correspond closely with the external dimensions of the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system  1301 , thereby ensuring that the internal motorcycle fuel tank support system cannot move within the shipping carton  1201 . While within the shipping carton  1201 , the support flaps  431  and  437  may be substantially perpendicular to the panel  401 , thereby causing their top edges to abut the under surface of the top of the shipping carton  1201  after the exterior flaps  1203 ,  1205 ,  1207 , and  1209  of the shipping carton  1201  are closed and sealed. The support flaps  431  and  437  may have a height that is sufficient to cause this abutment and to ensure that the tops of the bolts  419  and  421  do not come in contact with the upper surface of the shipping carton  1201  and, preferably, are spaced by a comfortable margin from it. By making the support flaps  431  and  437  foldable portions of a larger surface which includes the panel  401 , such as an integral part of the continuous sheet illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the support flaps  431  and  437  may have a natural tendency to bow outwardly, thus ensuring that they maintain their perpendicular position with respect to the panel  401  while within the shipping carton  1201 . A top cross bar may be inserted between the upper ends of the support flaps  431  and  437  to insure that they maintain this position while within the shipping carton  1201 . 
     The flutes of the shipping carton  1201  may be in any direction. For example, they may be vertical, thus maximizing stacking strength, or they may be horizontal, thus maximizing protection against side impact. 
     The motorcycle fuel tank  1001  may be suspended securely within the shipping carton  1201  after the exterior flaps  1203 ,  1205 ,  1207 , and  1209  of the shipping carton  1201  are closed and sealed. The motorcycle fuel tank  1001  may be substantially spaced from each of the walls of the shipping carton  1201 , thus protecting the tank against impact damage. No portion of the visible painted surfaces of the motorcycle fuel tank may be pressing against anything, such as packaging material, thus ensuring that any paint on these surfaces may fully dry without concern over marring or other types of damage. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an internal motorcycle fuel tank support system with an alternate embodiment of the seat. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a seat  1401  has a surface that may include large openings  1403  and  1405 . These openings may allow the seat  1401  to support a motorcycle fuel tank that has objects which protrude from its under surface. As also illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a seat support post  1407  may be positioned inwardly from the end of the seat  1401 , so as to allow one of these objects to protrude downwardly below the seat without colliding with the seat support post  1407 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates the motorcycle fuel tank support system that is illustrated in  FIG. 14  with added external support for the seat. As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the seat  1401  may additionally be supported by external supports  1501  and  1503 . These may be pressed against the sides of the seat  1401 , so as to provide external lateral support. 
     The components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages that have been discussed are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of protection in any way. Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated, including embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages. The components and steps may also be arranged and ordered differently. 
     For example, the packaging systems that have been described may be used to support articles and components during shipment other than motorcycle fuel tanks. In this regard, this application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,271, entitled “W INDSHIELD  P ACKAGING  S YSTEM  U SING  S YNERGISTIC  C LAMP  J AW  C OMPONENTS, ” issued Jun. 22, 2004, attorney docket No. 064706-0019; U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,674, entitled “W INDSHIELD  P ACKAGING  S YSTEM  U SING  P RESSURE -R EGULATED  C LAMPS, ” issued Sep. 14, 2004, attorney docket No. 064706-0021; U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,692, entitled “W INDSHIELD  P ACKAGING  S YSTEM  U SING  C ORRUGATED  B OX  W ITH  H ORIZONTALLY -R UNNING  F LUTES, ” issued May 3, 2005, attorney docket No. 064706-0020; U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,735, entitled “W INDSHIELD  P ACKAGING  S YSTEM  U SING  P RESSURE -R EGULATED  C LAMPS  W ITH  S YNERGISTIC  C LAMP  J AW  C OMPONENTS, ” issued Jul. 25, 2005, attorney docket No. 064706-0065; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/279,533, entitled “W INDSHIELD  P ACKAGING  S YSTEM  U SING  P RESSURE -R EGULATED  C LAMPS  W ITH  S YNERGISTIC  C LAMP  J AW  C OMPONENTS, ” filed Apr. 12, 2006, attorney docket No. 064706-0072; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/932,277, entitled “P ACKAGING  S YSTEM  U SING  S YNERGISTIC  C LAMP  J AW  C OMPONENTS, ” filed Oct. 31, 2007, attorney docket No. 064706-0072. The entire content of each of the applications and patents identified above is incorporated herein by reference. Components, features, and methods described in these applications and patents may be used in connection with any of the embodiments that are described or illustrated in the subject patent application, to the extent that they are not inconsistent or otherwise incompatible. 
     The phrase “means for” when used in a claim embraces the corresponding structures and materials that have been described and their equivalents. Similarly, the phrase “step for” when used in a claim embraces the corresponding acts that have been described and their equivalents. The absence of these phrases means that the claim is not limited to any of the corresponding structures, materials, or acts or to their equivalents. 
     Nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is recited in the claims. 
     The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended to be as broad as is reasonably consistent with the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents.