Packaging system and corner post therefor

A packaging system for a product to be protected against vertically directed compressive forces, comprising:

• a rigid platform having four corners defining a first rectangle with a perimeter of predetermined dimensions, said platform having an upper surface immovably mounted relative to the base of a product to be packaged, said platform having a horizontal cross section larger than that of said product base to define a platform lip outwardly of said product base,
• a container having horizontal superimposed rectangular top and bottom panels between which are positioned interconnecting vertical side walls defining four interior corners, the interior surfaces of said side walls defining a second rectangle proximate said first rectangle defined by said platform corners when said product is positioned in said container with said platform overlying said bottom panel, at least one of said vertical side walls being locatable outwardly relative to said platform perimeter to provide a gap therebetween,
• a hollow corner post located proximate each interior corner of said container extending vertically between a plane containing said upper surface of said platform and a plane containing said top panel, each said post having a lower end region adjacent said platform which is provided with
• (a) an outer vertical wall including a first vertical post wall section locatable adjacent said interior surface of said container side walls in the region of its respectively associated interior corner, and a second vertical post wall section inwardly spaced from said first vertical post wall section and in noncontacting relation to said interior surface of said container side walls when said first vertical post wall section is in contact with said interior surface of said container side walls, said second post wall section constituting a substantial fractional portion of said outer wall, and
• (b) an inner vertical post wall spaced from and rigidly connected to said outer post wall and locatable adjacent the respectively associated vertical corner of said product when said product is located on said platform within said container overlying said bottom panel,
• said inner post wall and said first and second post wall sections of said outer wall of said corner posts each being locatable to overlie said platform lip within said predetermined platform perimeter when said platform lip is at least equal to the overall thickness of said post defined by said spaced inner and outer vertical walls to distribute compressive forces applied to said posts via said top and bottom panels over the entire cross section of said posts, said inner post wall and said second post wall section of said outer post wall being locatable to overlie said platform lip within said predetermined platform perimeter when said platform perimeter is located between vertical planes containing said first and second sections of said outer post wall to distribute compressive forces applied to said post via said top and bottom panels over both said second section of said outer post wall and said inner post wall, whereby the resistance of each said post to compressive forces is not substantially reduced when said first section of said outer post wall extends outwardly beyond said predetermined rectangular perimeter defined by said platform corners to overhang said platform perimeter above said gap unsupported by said platform lip.