Shipping and storage container

In a shipping and storage container for an elongated article, a pair of end caps for disposition in surrounding relation to the end portions of the article, each said end cap being unitary and formed from a single precut sheet and comprising a generally planar outer end wall, a cushion member hingedly attached along the lower edge of said outer end wall and capable of being positioned to extend inwardly and generally normal thereto, a ledge hingedly attached along the upper edge of said outer end wall and extending inwardly and generally normal thereto, said ledge serving as a support surface when stacking similar containers, and an inner end wall hingedly attached along its upper edge to said ledge and folded to a position generally adjacent the inner surface of said outer end wall, said inner end wall including a portion spaced inwardly from said outer end wall and wing portions on either side thereof located immediately adjacent said outer wall, said spaced portion defining a hollow vertical support member and extending generally between said cushion and said ledge to provide support therebetween for the article and the ends of said container when the article is packed in said container and when similarly packed containers are stacked upon each other, and said wing portions extending generally between the underside of said ledge and the lower edge of said outer wall to provide additional end wall thickness and additional vertical support for the ends of said container.

A package comprising:

• a bathtub;
• a pair of end caps disposed in surrounding relation to the end portions of said bathtub, each said end cap being unitary and formed from a single precut sheet and including a generally planar outer end wall, a cushion member hingedly attached along the lower edge of said outer end wall and extending inwardly and generally normal thereto, a ledge hingedly attached along the upper edge of said outer end wall and extending inwardly and generally normal thereto, said ledge serving as a support surface for stacking similar packages, and an inner end wall hingedly attached along its upper edge to said ledge and disposed generally adjacent the inner surface of said outer end wall, said inner wall including a portion spaced inwardly from said outer wall and wing portions on either side thereof located immediately adjacent said outer wall, said spaced portion defining a hollow vertical support member and extending generally between said cushion and said ledge and providing support therebetween for said bathtub and the ends of said package, said wing portions extending generally between the underside of said ledge and the lower edge of said outer wall and providing additional end wall thickness and additional vertical support for the ends of said package;
• and an outer wrapper of foldable material extending around said bathtub and at least the peripheries of said end caps and secured to said end caps, completely enclosing said bathtub.