Patent ID: 7392900

Claim:
A package for storing a fragile article, which includes: a first panel; a second panel integrally connected to the first panel along a first fold line; a third panel integrally connected to the second panel along a second fold line; a fourth panel integrally connected to the third panel along a third fold line; the fourth panel fixably connected to the first panel such that the first panel and the third panel oppose one another in a spaced relation and the second panel and the fourth panel oppose one another in a spaced relation and wherein the panels form a partial enclosure having a first open end surface and a second open end surface; a pair of first tabs connected to said first panel wherein one of the first tabs connects adjacent to one end of the first panel adjacent the first open end surface and another of the first tabs connects adjacent to another end of the first panel adjacent the second open end surface and each first tab has a slotted surface forming a shelf therein which when the shelf extends inside of the partial enclosure provides a retention surface for a portion of the article; and a pair of second tabs connected to the third panel wherein one of the second tabs connects adjacent to one end of the third panel adjacent the first open end surface and another of the second tabs connects adjacent to another end of the third panel adjacent the second open end surface and each second tab has a slotted surface forming a shelf therein which when the shelf extends inside of the partial enclosure provides a retention surface for another portion of the article; a first end panel having a portion connecting to the second panel and a portion removably disposed in a slot formed between the fourth panel and the first tab and the second tab adjacent the first open end surface and to enclose the first tab and the second tab adjacent the first open end surface in a manner which permits reusable closing and opening the first end panel and reuse of the package; a second end panel having a portion connecting to one of the second panel and fourth panel and a portion removably disposed in a slot formed between the fourth panel and the first tab and the second tab adjacent the second open end surface and to enclose the first tab and the second tab adjacent the second open end surface in a manner which permits reusable closing and opening the second end panel and reuse of the package; and wherein the panels form and a complete enclosure wherein the article is removably retained between the shelves in suspended manner in a spaced relation from each of the panels and wherein the end panels are openable such that the tabs are readily collapsible to extend outside one of the open end surfaces to permit ready insertion and removal of the article through said open end surfaces.