Patent ID: 7028964

Claim:
A base pad for supporting a product, the base pad comprising a linear, elongated hollow tubular member having a plurality of segments joined at their ends along fold lines, the tubular member being folded along the fold lines to form a polygonal frame having corners such that each segment becomes a side of the polygonal frame, the segments comprising: a first horizontal section forming the bottom of the base pad; an outer vertical section extending upward at a right angle from the first horizontal section, the juncture of the first horizontal section and the outer vertical section defining an outer apex; a second vertical section extending upward from the first horizontal section distant the outer apex; a product supporting surface extending horizontally from the second vertical section toward the outer vertical section; a first vertical section extending upward from the product supporting surface; and a top section extending from the first vertical section to the outer vertical section; wherein the fold lines are formed in the outer vertical section, and wherein portions of the first vertical section and the top section at either end of each segment adjacent the corners are cut out to define pockets to accommodate vertical stacking and cushioning posts.