Patent ID: 8720684

Claim:
A packaging system, comprising: a plurality of floor panels, each of the floor panels comprising a top layer and a bottom layer, the top layer having a top surface with a visible decorative pattern and a bottom surface adhered to a top surface of the bottom layer such that the bottom layer is offset from the top layer in a direction of length and width and a marginal end portion of the top surface of the bottom layer and a marginal end portion of the bottom surface of the top layer is exposed, at least one of the marginal end portions having an adhesive, the floor panels having a ratio of a thickness of the top layer to a thickness of the bottom layer of about 5 or greater; a box containing the plurality of floor panels, the floor panels being stacked in the box in pairs, each of the pairs being stacked such that the top surface of the top layers of each of the pairs of the floor panels are facing each other, the floor panels being stacked in the same direction so that the marginal end portions of the bottom layers are positioned adjacent to each other, the box having a length substantially corresponding to a total length of the stacked floor panels and a width substantially corresponding to the width of a respective floor panel; and corner supports provided in respective corners of the box to stabilize the floor panels in the box and to prevent damage to the marginal end portions of the bottom layer during shipping; wherein the facing top layers provide support to each other to prevent the marginal end portions of the top layers from bending as the floor panels are retained in the box.