Patent Publication Number: US-2021179317-A1

Title: Package with reinforced lines of weakness for storage and transport

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a package having strengthened, reinforced lines of weakness. More particularly, the package, in its fully formed configuration, provides for a self-reinforced package and strengthened, reinforced lines of weakness for stacking and transport wherein the package is resistant to fracture at its lines of weakness due to jostling of its contents against the inside of the package and at its lines of weakness. Also provided herein are strengthened, self-reinforced stacked structures that are suitable for storage and transport. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Outer cases, such as cartons, made from cardboard, paperboard, or similar materials are well known and used for transporting and storing various types of articles, including retail articles and the like. Shelf ready packaging are a means for packaging a plurality of articles in outer cases in a manner that they can be displayed, for instance on a supermarket shelf or aisle, directly from the outer case without first having to remove the articles from the outer case. The individual articles, contained within the shelf ready packaging, can be individual packets, cans, bottles, bags, boxes, and the like. Typically, the shelf ready packaging has a removable element, formed by a line of weakness in the outer-case, which can be easily or readily removed. Once the removable element has been removed, the articles contained within are displayed to the customer, and the customer is able to remove the displayed article. 
     Shelf ready packaging avoids the time consuming effort associated with removing articles from the outer case and placing the articles onto shelves. Store owners are constantly looking for additional ways by which to reduce costs for stacking articles, while ensuring that the article remains presentable to customers. Such shelf ready packaging is typically placed adjacent to other shelf ready packaging, e.g., on a shelf or even on a pallet, and the removable element removed in order to display the articles contained therein. The shelf ready packages can even be stacked on top of each other, on the pallet or directly on the floor of a storage facility. 
     Since the articles will be displayed in the shelf ready package, the outer surfaces thereof are often decorated with images and wording that is relevant for the articles contained therein. The outer surfaces of shelf ready package are often decorated such that the overall impression from a stack or row of the shelf ready packages is improved. 
     Stacked packages in transport or in storage are subject to jostling that is either mild or intense depending upon the forces applied to such packages whether singular or in a stacked configuration (i.e., a stacked structure) of more than one package. Often, packages contain rigid items like plastic or glass bottles that are weighty due to the substances that they contain or because of the makeup of the rigid items themselves. Such weight can cause internal stress and even failure to the packages carrying them given the motion of items housed within the packages. 
     When rigid items within display packages are jostled, internal damage to the packages can occur. Particularly when such packages contain lines of weakness (i.e., perforations), the lines of weakness can be broken thereby enabling a package&#39;s contents to spill out thereby causing full package failure. If such packages fail while in a transportable, stacked configuration, an entire transportable unit can be compromised thereby destroying more packages and damaging product contained therein. 
     What is therefore needed is a stackable package having lines of weakness for ease of access to the transported product therein that will not easily fail when stored or transported in either singular or stacked configuration as a transportable unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the invention provides a container assembly having a blank that comprises a first panel; a second panel attached to the first panel; a third panel attached to the second panel, the second panel being attached in series between the first panel and the third panel; a fourth panel attached to the third panel, the third panel being attached in series between the second panel and the fourth panel; a fifth panel attached to the fourth panel, the fifth panel having multiple lines of weakness, the fourth panel being attached in series between the third panel and the fifth panel, the fifth panel having at least one line of weakness; and a sixth panel attached to the fifth panel, the sixth panel having at least one line of weakness, the fifth panel and the sixth panel being attachable to the first panel and the second panel whereby the lines of weakness in the fifth panel and the sixth panel are positioned adjacent to the first panel and the second panel. 
     The first panel and the second panel each have an inside surface and an outside surface positioned oppositely to the inside surface. The outside panel of the first panel and the second panel face outwardly from the container assembly when the container assembly is constructed into a package. The inside panel of the first panel and the second panel face inwardly toward the container assembly when the container assembly is constructed into a package. Lines of weakness are positioned adjacent to the inside surface of the first panel and the second panel. In practice, at least a portion of the lines of weakness are reinforced by the construction of the package itself. 
     The blank is, of course, constructible into a package. When used, especially in transport, the constructed package houses one or more rigid items, e.g., bottles of chocolate syrup, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and like other like items storable in plastic or glass bottles or other like packaging. Preferably, the one or more rigid items are geometrically similar and most preferably geometrically the same. During transport, the one or more rigid items stored within a package herein are arrangeable in a two by five orientation within a package. When packaged, at least two of the one or more rigid items are positioned adjacent to one or more lines of weakness and may be held static next to one or more lines of weakness. 
     Herein, the packages formed from the described container assembly are stackable. In practice, a package is stacked amongst several similar such packages to form a transportable unit. In transit or in stationary storage, a package of the transportable unit herein produces no more than ten percent (10%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one package and for the transportable unit as a whole. In transit or in stationary storage, each package of the transportable unit herein produces no more than five percent (5%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one said package and for the transportable unit as a whole. In transit or in stationary storage, each package of the transportable unit comprises no more than one-half percent (2.5%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one said package and for the transportable unit as a whole. In transit or in stationary storage, each package of the transportable unit herein produces no more than one percent (1%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one said package and for the transportable unit as a whole. 
     The fifth and sixth panels each comprise at least one horizontal line of weakness. Also, the fifth and sixths panel each comprise at least one vertical line of weakness. 
     Also provided is a self-reinforced stacked structure comprising multiple self-reinforced container assemblies, each multiple self-reinforced container assembly formed from a blank and having:
         a. A first panel;   b. A second panel attached to the first panel;   c. A third panel attached to the second panel, the second panel being attached in series between the first panel and the third panel;   d. A fourth panel attached to the third panel, the third panel being attached in series between the second panel and the fourth panel;   e. A fifth panel attached to the fourth panel, the fifth panel having multiple lines of weakness, the fourth panel being attached in series between the third panel and the fifth panel, the fifth panel having at least one line of weakness; and   f. A sixth panel attached to the fifth panel, the sixth panel having at least one line of weakness, the fifth panel and the sixth panel being attachable to the first panel and the second panel whereby the lines of weakness in the fifth panel and the sixth panel are positioned adjacent to the first panel and the second panel, wherein the self-reinforced stacked structure is strengthened and reinforced by each self reinforced container assembly that forms and makes the self-reinforced stacked structure.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the front of the package herein; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the rear of the package in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a planar view of the blank of the package of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the package of  FIG. 1A  with rigid items positioned therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a planar view of the first panel and the fifth panel herein; 
         FIG. 5  is a planar view of the second panel and the sixth panel herein; 
         FIG. 6  is a planar view of a stacked, transportable unit; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a stacked, transportable unit herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     By the term “lines of weakness” it is meant herein perforations scored into a blank or package. 
     By the term “transportable unit” or “stacked transportable unit” it is meant herein a stacked assembly of multiple packages herein stacked and secured for transport as one unit. 
     By the term “stacked structure” it is meant herein a stacked collective of multiple packages herein stacked, secured or unsecured, for storage as one unit, and typically resting upon a pallet. 
     By the term “self-reinforced container assembly” it is meant herein a package formed from a single blank that has one or more sections of the package reinforced by one or more sections of the same package without the use of an external material (e.g., tape, cardboard) applied to the outside of the inventive package herein. This does not include the use of tape applied to a package herein for the closing thereof. 
     The invention provides a container assembly having a blank that comprises a first panel; a second panel attached to the first panel; a third panel attached to the second panel, the second panel being attached in series between the first panel and the third panel; a fourth panel attached to the third panel, the third panel being attached in series between the second panel and the fourth panel; a fifth panel attached to the fourth panel, the fifth panel having multiple lines of weakness, the fourth panel being attached in series between the third panel and the fifth panel, the fifth panel having at least one line of weakness; and a sixth panel attached to the fifth panel, the sixth panel having at least one line of weakness, the fifth panel and the sixth panel being attachable to the first panel and the second panel whereby the lines of weakness in the fifth panel and the sixth panel are positioned adjacent to the first panel and the second panel. 
     The first panel and the second panel each have an inside surface and an outside surface positioned oppositely to the inside surface. The outside panel of the first panel and the second panel face outwardly from the container assembly when the container assembly is constructed into a package. The inside panel of the first panel and the second panel face inwardly toward the container assembly when the container assembly is constructed into a package. Lines of weakness are positioned adjacent to the inside surface of the first panel and the second panel. In practice, at least a portion of the lines of weakness are reinforced by the construction of the package itself. 
     The single blank is, of course, constructible into a package. When used, especially in transport, the constructed package houses one or more rigid items, e.g., bottles of chocolate syrup, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and like other like items storable in plastic or glass bottles or other like packaging. Preferably, the one or more rigid items are geometrically similar and most preferably geometrically the same. During transport, the one or more rigid items stored within a package herein are arrangeable in a two by five orientation within a package. When packaged, at least two of the one or more rigid items are positioned adjacent to one or more lines of weakness and may be held static next to one or more lines of weakness. 
     Herein, the packages formed from the described container assembly are stackable. In practice, a package is stacked amongst several similar such packages to form a transportable unit. In normal or standard transit or in normal or standard stationary storage, a package of the transportable unit herein produces no more than ten percent (10%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one package and for the transportable unit as a whole. In transit or in stationary storage, each package of the transportable unit herein produces no more than five percent (5%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one said package and for the transportable unit as a whole. In transit or in stationary storage, each package of the transportable unit comprises no more than one-half percent (2.5%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one said package and for the transportable unit as a whole. In transit or in stationary storage, each package of the transportable unit herein produces no more than one percent (1%) tear of the lines of weakness for any one said package and for the transportable unit as a whole. All of the above percentages herein are applicable to normal or standard transit or storage of which persons of skill in the art will be familiar and knowledgeable. 
     The fifth and sixth panels each comprise at least one horizontal line of weakness. Also, the fifth and sixths panel each comprise at least one vertical line of weakness. 
     Also provided is a self-reinforced stacked structure comprising multiple self-reinforced container assemblies, each multiple self-reinforced container assembly formed from a blank and having:
         a. A first panel;   b. A second panel attached to the first panel;   c. A third panel attached to the second panel, the second panel being attached in series between the first panel and the third panel;   d. A fourth panel attached to the third panel, the third panel being attached in series between the second panel and the fourth panel;   e. A fifth panel attached to the fourth panel, the fifth panel having multiple lines of weakness, the fourth panel being attached in series between the third panel and the fifth panel, the fifth panel having at least one line of weakness; and   f. A sixth panel attached to the fifth panel, the sixth panel having at least one line of weakness, the fifth panel and the sixth panel being attachable to the first panel and the second panel whereby the lines of weakness in the fifth panel and the sixth panel are positioned adjacent to the first panel and the second panel, wherein the self-reinforced stacked structure is strengthened and reinforced by each self-reinforced container assembly that forms and makes the self-reinforced stacked structure.       

     The advantages of the strengthened, self-reinforced package herein are several. First, it is constructed from a single blank instead of two or more pieces as is prevalent in the prior art. This provides distinct advantages in cost, ease of engineering, manufacturing assembly, manufacturing line errors and in-line fixes. As but one example, many package folder gluers are limited to the number of folds and glue applications they can perform in a single pass in a manufacturing line. Two-piece packages typically require two passes (i.e., more time) on older folder gluers or one pass on a specialty folder gluer. Specialty folder gluer availability, set-up time, and the additional material from a two-piece package can all add cost, time or both. 
     Furthermore, the package herein is unique because it has an open corner with reinforced perforations, and it is able to achieve that with a single blank in a one-pass gluer operation. This one pass manufacturing operation is particular important for cost savings, time and ease of manufacturing. This is especially true in high-speed package manufacturing systems. Such a system for the creation of open corner packages is novel and unique. 
     The package herein therefor provides the benefits of ready display of package contents in a commercial setting while also providing a strengthened, self-reinforced package for both storage and transport. Further, the open corner design of the package herein delivers an improved shopping experience for the customer, especially for rigid containers transported and contained therein. Adding perforations to such a package herein decreases the vertical compression potential of the package and can transfer its vertical load to the containers inside the case. Therefore, the rigidity of the rigid items within each package provides additional strength to the package herein. 
     If too much vertical load is applied to the bottles, (i.e., rigid items), deformation thereof can occur over time. By adding the fifth and sixth panels herein from the single blank, the packages strength is increased. Other cases that do not include the fifth and sixth panels herein will not perform as well and will show perforation tears on a store shelf as those perforations (i.e., lines of weakness) give way or are punctured. 
       FIG. 1A  provides a perspective view of package  50 . It is shown completely formed. Lines of weakness  40  (i.e., perforations  40 ) are shown extending from its front surface  55  to its rear surface  60  ( FIG. 1B ). Perforations  40  are shown as a horizontal line and a vertical line on fifth panel  15  tucked below first panel  7 . Perforations  40  are also shown as a horizontal line and a vertical line tucked beneath second panel  9  and on sixth panel  17 , a side surface to package  50 . Also shown are perforations  40  extending along the top of second panel  9  and fourth panel  13  ( FIG. 2 ) and along the top of third panel  11  until perforations  40  dip down into caved section  42 . 
     Multiple side pull-tabs  27  are shown in  FIG. 1A . Also shown is caved section  42  positioned onto third panel  11  on the rear surface  60  of package  50 . Rear pull-tab  25  is positioned within caved section  42 . In practice, a user will apply a digit into rear pull-tab  25  and pull it and caved section  42  apart in an upwardly fashion. At such pull, all of the perforated area functioning as removable section  65  pulls away from the remainder of package  50  thereby exposing its contents. 
       FIG. 1B  provides a perspective view of the rear of package  50 . Prominently shown is caved section  42  with its rear pull-tab  25  built therein. Fourth panel  13  is also shown. Perforations  40  are also shown all of which form the perimeter of removable section  65 . As noted previously herein, removal of removable section  65  exposes the contents of package  50  similar to those shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Package  50  is formed from blank  5  ( FIG. 2 ). Blank  5  is formed from a single structure having first panel  7 , second panel  9 , third panel  11 , fourth panel  13 , fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , formed package  50  shows first panel  7 , second panel  9 , third panel  11  and fourth panel  13 . Fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  are partially but not fully hidden from view. In practice, fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  are fixedly attached to first panel  7  and second panel  9 , respectively by, preferably, glue formulated to enact and maintain a strong bond between the attached panels. Persons of skill in the art will readily know and recognize the commercially available types of glues suitable for the attachment of the panels of blank  5  to one-another. 
     More specifically, fifth panel  15  is attached to the inner surface of first panel  7  with perforations  40 . Also, sixth panel  17  is attached to the inner surface of second panel  9  with perforations  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the attachment of fifth panel  15  to the inner surface of first panel  7  and sixth panel  17  to second panel  9  provides a reinforcement to package  50  when constructed. Importantly, this reinforcement occurs from blank  5  itself without the addition of any outside strengthening means. Fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  provide strengthening and reinforcement to package  50  when formed from blank  5  for storage of rigid items  30  ( FIG. 3 ), transport of rigid items  30  and stacking of multiple packages  50  into stacked structure  70  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and/or transportable unit  75 . 
     Perforations  40  positioned onto fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  and which are hidden behind first panel  7  and second panel  9  are strengthened and reinforced by their placement. Portions of fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  are attached to the inward surfaces of first panel  7  and second panel  9 , respectively. As submerged perforations  40  are hidden and pressed against the inside of first panel  7  and second panel  9 , they are both protected from damage and strengthened due to their attached association to the inside of first panel  7  and second panel  9 . 
     First panel  7  comprises bottom flap  20 , as is shown  FIG. 2 . Second panel  7  comprises top flap  10  and a bottom flap  20 . Third panel  11  comprises top flap  12  and a bottom flap  20 . Fourth panel  13  comprises top flap  14  and bottom flap  20 . Fifth panel  15  comprises top flap  18 . Sixth panel  17  comprises bottom flap  20 . 
     When package  50  is formed and closed, top flaps  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  18  of their respective panels form the top or ceiling of package of  50 . Similarly, bottom flaps  20  form the bottom of floor of package  50  upon which rigid items  30  reside. 
     As is shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 , lines of weakness  40  (i.e., perforations  40 ) exist throughout blank  5  and therefore package  50  when formed. Perforations  40  serve to outline removable section  45  which is removed, typically, by a user when package  50  is opened in a retail space, i.e., for displaying sale of rigid items  30  transported therein. 
     Third panel  11  contains a u-shaped caved section  42  formed by a portion of perforations  40  and includes rear pull-tab  25 . When a user seeks to expose the contents of package  50  for retail sale, the user grasps caved section  42  at rear pull tab  25  and pulls upwardly. At such pull, caved section  42  readily detaches along all other perforations  40  thereby revealing the contents of package  50  as is shown in  FIG. 3  herein. 
     Lines of weakness  40  or perforations  40  exist on all panels of blank  5  as shown in  FIG. 1  except for first panel  7 . Caved section  42  is constructed to be grasped by a user at rear pull-tab  25 , pulled upwardly and then used to pull apart the remainder of perforations  40  thereby exposing the inside of package  50  and any contents therein. All perforations  40  taken together define a removable section  65 . Removable section  65  substantially covers the top of package  50  and the tops of rigid items  30  packed therein. Once removable section  65  is removed, it can be discarded or preferably recycled as all such corrugate materials can and should be. 
     As has been noted extensively above herein, package  50  herein is formed from blank  5 . Blank  5  is formed from corrugate/card board that is well known by persons of skill in the art for use in corrugated packaging.  FIG. 2  shows first panel  7 , second panel  9 , third panel  11 , fourth panel  13 , fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17 . When constructed into package  50 , fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  attach to first panel  7 , preferably by some adhesive means well known to persons of skill in the art. The attachment of fifth panel  15  and sixth panel  17  to first panel  7  provides a reinforced, strengthened package  50  once constructed. 
     Reinforced, strengthened package  50  constructed from blank  5  is made stronger for both stacking and for transport of rigid items  30  due to its unique construction. Package  50  is reinforced and strengthened without any additional component or components added to it other than adhesive that attaches several of the panels together. For example, the prior art uses components like tape to secure and strengthen packages that are not themselves reinforced like package  50  is. The addition of outside materials like tape or an additional, unattached piece of corrugate to strengthen a package meant either for stacking and storage with other packages and/or for transport with one or more rigid items  30  ( FIG. 3 ) is problematic. 
     By the term “additional, unattached piece of corrugate”, it is meant herein a piece of corrugate material for use with a corrugate package that is added to the package at formation thereof that is not attached to the blank from which the package is formed. 
     The addition of such outside materials to strengthen a package is costly and can often add complexity to a manufacturing or packaging process can add human error given that placement of any outside material, especially when placed outside of a package, will often be added manually rather than mechanically. Such manual addition can lend itself to human error and further additional costs. Lastly, depending upon the attachment means used by an outside material to strengthen a package, such outside material can become loose or removed in adverse conditions (e.g., high heat, severe cold, severe jostling, unstable packing, etc.). If such loosening or removal occurs, the strength and integrity of the subject package is compromised, and its utility is therefore diminished. 
     Ultimately, any package&#39;s use of tape or another secondary fastening and/or strengthening means is undesired herein. If a secondary strengthening means is attached to a package and it becomes undone or otherwise compromised, the entire package&#39;s strength is itself comprised and that of any neighboring packages to which the compromised package is attached. This also includes stacked structure  70  to which a compromised package becomes a part. 
     Such compromise of a package itself and/or as part of stacked structure for either storage and/or transport is a key problem that reinforced, strengthened package  50  seeks to overcome. Package  50  provides internal strengthening measures fully explained herein from single blank  5 . 
     In transport or in storage, rigid items  30  are stored within package  50  in a manner that limits movement within package  50 . However, movement of rigid items  30  still occurs.  FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of rigid items  30  in package  50 . Ideally, suitable rigid items  30  sit upright within package  50 , as shown, and are oriented to fit snuggly (i.e., with little motion) therein. Preferably, rigid items  30  positioned within package  50  are as tall or nearly as tall as the top of package  50 . 
     It is important to point out that package  50  herein provides reinforced lines of weakness  30  that are strengthened and reinforced by package  50  itself without the inclusion of a secondary strengthening means like tape and the like. For example, EP 2962949, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,914, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/032,9235 all use tape to strengthen their respective packages. The packages thereof, though they may contain lines of weakness (i.e., perforations) are therefore not reinforced by each of the respective packages themselves, but are instead dependent upon an outside source to be strengthened. 
     Rigid items  30  are shown positioned in package  50  in two by five formation. Of course, a user or manufacturer of package  50  may position as many suitable rigid items  30  as is practicable. For suitably sized rigid items  30 , any practicable number may be placed within package  50 ; e.g., three across by at least three deep; four across by at least three deep; two across by at least three deep, etc. The number of rigid items  30  placed within package  50  is a matter of design choice. Ideally, rigid items  30  placed within package  50  are fit snugly therein such that little if any motion of rigid items  30  when moved, or stacked upon (i.e., packages  50  thereof) or when transported. 
     In transport, rigid items  30  may jostle about within package  50  and press against the inner walls of package  50 . At such pressing, lines of weakness  40  are pressed and impacted by rigid items  30 . As lines of weakness  40  are impacted, they are stressed and tend toward disruption, i.e., tear apart, but within package  50  substantially do not tear apart because perforations  40  positioned behind and attached to first panel  7  and second panel  9  are reinforced thereby strengthening package  50  overall. Lines of weakness  40  substantially do not tear apart when package  50  is either stacked in storage or transported (i.e., singly or in a transportable unit  75 ). Lines of weakness  40  substantially do not break apart in either of these conditions because of a) their placement and b) their orientation with respect to one or more panels herein, each condition causing lines of weakness  40  to be strengthened and reinforced as has been well noted. 
     For example, some of perforations  40  on fifth panel  15  rests behind first panel  7  as is shown in  FIG. 4  herein. More specifically, about two-thirds of the perforations  40  of fifth panel  15  lie just below leading edge  8  of first panel  7 . The remaining, approximately one-third of perforations  40  of fifth panel  15  lie in or about the crease connecting top lid flap  16  to fifth panel  15 . 
     As is shown in  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  shows that placement of perforations  40  below leading edge  8  of first panel  7  decreases the probability that such perforations  40  will be torn when package  50  comes under stress and is stored, stacked or transported. Perforations  40  of fifth panel  15  positioned onto the inside face of first panel  7  are strengthened against tearing, because the inside face of first panel  7  provides a counter-force against perforations  40  when rigid items  30  press against them from the opposite direction. 
       FIG. 5  provides a planar view of second panel  9  and sixth panel  17  herein. As is shown in  FIG. 2 , second panel  9  and first panel  7  are connected to one-another and share a line of attachment. Top lid flap  18  is attached to sixth panel  17  and folds over to help close the top of package  50 . Bottom flap  20  is attached oppositely to top lid flap  18  and is used to help close the bottom of package  50 . Also shown in  FIG. 5  are perforations  40 . 
     As in  FIG. 4 , some perforations  40  are shown running along the length of leading edge  8 . In practice, as is shown, perforations  40  sit just below leading edge  8 . Placement of perforations  40  below leading edge  8  of second panel  9  decreases the probability that such perforations  40  will be torn when package  50  is stored, stacked or transported thereby reinforcing them. Perforations  40  of sixth panel  17  positioned onto the inside face of second panel  9  are strengthened against tearing, because the inside face of second panel  9  provides a counter-force against perforations  40  when rigid items  30  press against them from the opposite direction. 
       FIG. 6  is a planar view of stacked structure  70  or transportable unit  75  herein. Shown are stacked packages  50  that comprise each stacked structure  70  or transportable unit  75 . Transportable unit  75  also serves as stacked structure  70  when such structure is merely stored or held and is not actively transported. Whether as stacked structure  70  or transportable unit  75 , each receives the benefit of each reinforced, strengthened package  50  contained therein. More specifically, as each package  50  is itself strengthened and reinforced, as discussed at length herein, any stacked structure  70  or transportable unit  75  herein is also thereby strengthened and reinforced. 
     Strengthened and reinforced stacked structure  70  and/or transportable unit  75  provides several important benefits. First, both structures are less likely to fail in either storage or transport. Second, as outside forces are applied to either structure through either accidental collision, as often happens in storage facilities, or through normal transport, stacked structure  70  and/or transportable unit  75  are able to resist those forces at a greater and more consistent level than other non-reinforced or strengthened structures. Thirdly, by being strengthened and reinforced, stacked structure  70  and/or transportable unit  75  are subject to fewer injury-causing accidents. The avoidance of such accidents to humans in either storage or transport conditions is highly critical and necessary. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the transportable unit  75  of  FIG. 6 . It represents and shows stacked structure  70  and transportable unit  75  in three-dimensions to show the configuration and alignment of packages  50  therein. Ideally, stacked structure  70  and transportable unit  75  groups multiple packages  50  in cubed form so that one strengthened, reinforced structure is formed from multiple such structures, i.e., package  50 . 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.