Container and method for storage and transport of supported contents

A container for transporting an item, the container comprising:

• an outer case member erectable from a collapsed configuration to an erected configuration;
• and
• at least one support member fixedly attached to the outer case member, the support member being at least partially erectable and comprising:
• a first base panel;
• a second base panel foldably coupled to the first base panel and being fixedly attached to the first base panel in a face-to-face relationship to form a folded, dual-layer structure;
• a first functional portion foldably coupled to and extending from the first base panel and being manipulable to form a structure to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the outer case member;
• and
• a second functional portion foldably coupled to and extending from the second base panel and being manipulable to form another structure to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the outer case member.

A method of packaging an item in a container for transport, the method comprising:

• erecting an outer case member from a collapsed configuration to an erected configuration to define an interior cavity to receive the item;
• configuring a first functional portion of a support member that is fixedly attached to the outer case member to form a structure to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the outer case member;
• and
• configuring a second functional portion of the same support member that is fixedly attached to the outer case member to form another structure to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the outer case member,
• wherein the support member includes a first base panel and a second base panel foldably coupled to the first base panel and being fixedly attached to the first base panel in a face-to-face relationship to form a folded, dual-layer structure, the first functional portion is foldably coupled to and extends from the first base panel, and the second functional portion is foldably coupled to and extends from the second base panel.

A container for transporting an item, the container comprising:

• an outer case member having a plurality of sidewall panels and a plurality of base panels, the outer case member erectable from a collapsed configuration, in which the container is substantially flat, to an erected configuration, in which the plurality of sidewall panels and the plurality of base panels collectively define an interior cavity to receive the item to be transported;
• and
• a pair of support members, each support member being separate and distinct from the other and from the outer case member, and being fixedly coupled to a respective one of the plurality of the sidewall panels of the outer case member, and each support member being at least partially erectable to project from a respective side of the outer case member to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the interior cavity of the outer case member, and
• wherein at least one of the support members comprises:
• a first base panel;
• a second base panel foldably coupled to the first base panel and being fixedly attached to the first base panel in a face-to-face relationship to form a folded, dual-layer structure;
• a first portion including one or more panels foldably coupled to the first base panel and being foldable to form a support structure to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the outer case member;
• and
• a second portion including one or more panels foldably coupled to the second base panel and being foldable to form another support structure to at least one of partially support or partially secure the item to be transported within the outer case member.