Reusable packaging system
AssigneeHNI Technologies Inc.
InventorsJurgen Hans Boche, Michael J. Birkinbine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reusable packaging system is disclosed in which a series of thermoformed trays are used to mount six spider type office chair bases. Three bases are mounted in an inverted position on the tray and three bases are mounted upright. A stack of load trays may be constructed with the bottom-most tray fastened to a standard pallet. The stack is plastic wrapped and shipped. After unloading, empty trays may be stacked in a nested arrangement and returned for reuse making for a simple, reliable and inexpensive system.
Claims18
A reusable packaging system for multiple items of similar shape comprising:
- a plurality of trays, each tray having a central panel, a peripheral skirt, and a top surface with a plurality of recesses for receiving a first plurality of items in a first position and a plurality of mounds for receiving a second plurality of items in a second position, said second position being opposite to that of said first position;
- said trays being stacked upon one another in the same orientation with a plurality of items being sandwiched between trays so as to alternate with said trays when said reusable packaging system is used to transport said items;
- and
- said trays being nestable with one another when said trays are transported without items.
A reusable packaging system for chair bases, each chair base having a hub and five legs, said system comprising:
- a plurality of trays, each tray having a central panel, said panel having a top surface with three sets of hub and radiating recesses for receiving a first group of three chair bases, each chair base disposed in an inverted position, said top surface also having three sets of hub recesses and spaced mounds for receiving a second group of three chair bases, each chair base disposed in an upright position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.