Patent ID: 8074952

Claim:
A composite shipping base capable of being used with an appliance having an undercarriage, the shipping base comprising an outer shell constructed from a single blank that is folded into a three-dimensional, truncated, four-sided pyramid shaped structure, the shipping base comprising: two planar, trapezoidal side panels of similar dimensions, each side panel having a first top edge and a first bottom edge parallel to the first top edge; a planar, trapezoidal front panel and an opposing planar, trapezoidal rear panel, each having a second top edge and a second bottom edge parallel to the second to edge; a first flange extending horizontally outward from and hingedly attached to the first bottom edge of each side panel and a second flange extending horizontally outward from and hingedly attached to the second bottom edge of each front and rear panel to form a rectangular, frame-like pallet having four corners; a planar top panel extending inwardly from and hingedly attached to the first top edges of the side panels and the second top edges of the front and rear panels, the top panel defining a top opening configured to receive the appliance undercarriage so that the undercarriage sits inside the shipping base; and load bearing cushioning blocks affixed to the four corners of the frame-like pallet; wherein the side panels and front and rear panels form the four sides of the truncated pyramid shaped structure; and wherein the side panels, front and rear panels, and top panel define an interior space within the base within which the undercarriage can be suspended.