Friction-lock adaptable spacer
AssigneePacific Market International, LLC
InventorAustin M. Given
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction lock adaptable spacer configured to provide suitable separation between two or more objects. The spacer may be used during the storage, transport, display, and/or use of the objects to separate them and protect them from their surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the spacer is designed to maintain a suitable separation between two or more beverage containers. The spacer has a single piece construction, which reduces assembly and disassembly labor, and also reduces materials required for construction and disposal. The spacer may be constructed from a single piece of material, such as corrugated cardboard.
Claims15
A spacer formed from a blank of foldable material and configured to separate and protect two or more objects, the blank being cut and scored such that, when formed into an assembled condition by folding, the spacer comprises:
- a first channel having a base portion and a backstop portion that extends laterally across a rear side of the first channel, the first channel being sized to receive at least a portion of a first object, the first channel having an unobstructed forwardly open end passageway that allows the portion of the first object to be inserted into the first channel without requiring substantial vertical movement of the first object;
- a second channel having a base portion and a backstop portion that extends laterally across a rear side of the second channel, the second channel being sized to receive at least a portion of a second object, the second channel having an unobstructed forwardly open end passageway that allows the portion of the second object to be inserted into the second channel without requiring substantial vertical movement of the second object;
- a first separator portion positioned between the first channel and the second channel, the first separator portion being configured to maintain separation between the first object and the second object;
- and
- a lock portion operative to be folded into a position that functions to maintain the assembled condition of the spacer.
A spacer formed from a blank of foldable material and configured to separate and protect two or more objects, the blank being cut and scored such that, when formed into an assembled condition by folding, the spacer comprises:
- a substantially rectangular base portion configured to support a first object and a second object;
- a backstop portion upwardly extending from a rear side of the base portion;
- a left sidewall upwardly extending from a left side of the base portion;
- a right sidewall upwardly extending from a right side of the base portion;
- and
- a first separator portion positioned between the left sidewall and the right sidewall and configured to maintain separation between the first object and the second object, the first separator portion comprising a lock portion operative to be folded into a position that functions to maintain the assembled condition of the spacer;
- wherein the base portion, backstop portion, left sidewall portion, and right sidewall portion are each formed from at least two panels of the blank that are separated from each other to create an air cell within the base portion, backstop portion, left sidewall portion, and right sidewall portion.
A spacer formed from a blank of foldable material and configured to separate and protect two or more objects, the blank being cut and scored such that, when formed into an assembled condition by folding, the spacer comprises:
- a base portion configured to support a first object and a second object, the base portion comprising a bottom panel having substantially the same length and width of the base portion, a middle panel disposed over the bottom panel having substantially the same length and width of the base portion, and a top panel disposed over the middle panel and having a first object support portion for supporting the first object and a second object support portion for supporting the second object;
- a left sidewall upwardly extending from a left side of the base portion;
- a right sidewall upwardly extending from a right side of the base portion;
- and
- a first separator portion positioned between the left sidewall and the right sidewall and configured to maintain separation between the first object and the second object when positioned on the first object support portion and the second object support portion, respectively, the first separator portion comprising first and second separation tabs each directly connected to the bottom panel and extending upwardly through an aperture in the middle panel, and a lock portion directly connected to the top panel and positioned between the first and second separation tabs, wherein a portion of the lock portion extends downwardly through the aperture in the middle panel to maintain the assembled condition of the spacer.
A method of protecting a first object and a second object, the method comprising:
- providing first and second spacers each formed from a blank of foldable material cut and scored such that, when formed into an assembled condition by folding, each of the first and second spacers comprises:
- a first channel having a base portion and a backstop portion that extends laterally across a rear side of the first channel, the first channel having an unobstructed forwardly open end passageway that allows a portion of the first object to be inserted into the first channel without requiring substantial vertical movement of the first object;
- a second channel having a base portion and a backstop portion that extends laterally across a rear side of the second channel, the second channel having an unobstructed forwardly open end passageway that allows a portion of the second object to be inserted into the second channel without requiring substantial vertical movement of the second object;
- a first separator portion positioned between the first channel and the second channel, the first separator portion being configured to maintain separation between the first object and the second object;
- and
- a lock portion operative to be folded into a position that functions to maintain the assembled condition of the spacer;
- positioning a lower portion of the first object within the first channel of the first spacer;
- positioning a lower portion of the second object within the second channel of the first spacer;
- inverting the second spacer relative to the first spacer;
- positioning an upper portion of the first object within the first channel of the inverted second spacer;
- and
- positioning an upper portion of the second object within the second channel of the inverted second spacer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.