Patent ID: 7469786

Claim:
A product-shipping assembly usable to ship at least one product without dunnage, comprising: a support member secured to the product, the product being in a substantially fixed position relative to the support member, the support member having an edge portion; and a shipping container having an interior area sized to removably contain the support member when the product is secured to the support member, the shipping container comprising: a base; sidewalls projecting from the base, the sidewalls being adjacent to the edge portion of the support member and restricting lateral movement of the support member relative to the base when the support member is in the interior area; a closure member movable relative to the sidewalls between an open position and a closed position, the closure member being out of engagement with the support member and the product; and a retention flap connected to a particular sidewall of the sidewalls, the retention flap configured to be positioned in an engaged position and a released position, the retention flap being movable relative to the particular sidewall between the engaged position and the released position, wherein the retention flap has a free edge; wherein the retention flap is configured to be positioned inward into the interior area prior to and during insertion of the support member secured to the product into the shipping container, wherein the retention flap is configured to be positioned in the engaged position subsequent to said insertion of the support member secured to the product into the shipping container; wherein when the retention flap is in the engaged position, the free edge is spaced apart from the particular sidewall and apart from the base and positioned over the support member proximate to the edge portion of the support member such that the free edge restricts movement of the support member in a direction normal to the base; and wherein when the retention flap is in the released position the free edge of the retention flap is spaced apart from the edge portion and allows movement of the support member in a direction normal to the base allowing removal of the support member from the interior area.