US 5,211,290 A · Suspension package and system

Abstract

A suspension package includes a frame having an upper part and lower part. The lower part has four corner posts and at least one bay defining element that is hinged to the corner posts to move between an operational position and a storage position. The bay defining element includes at least one flexible suspension sheet that extends across bays defined by the element. The upper part includes at least one upper flexible suspension sheet, and is mounted to move between an open position, in which the bays are exposed to allow a product to be inserted into and removed from the bay, and the closed position, in which the suspension sheets suspend the product within the frame. A tensioning device releasably holds the upper part in the closed position and tensions the suspension sheets. The package is preferably used with a collapsible enclosure.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A suspension package comprising:

a frame comprising a lower portion and an upper portion;
said lower portion comprising a plurality of spacer elements and at least one bay defining element hingedly mounted to the spacer elements to move between an operational position, in which the spacer elements extend away from the bay defining element to create a product receiving space, and a storage position, in which the spacer elements extend generally alongside the bay defining element;
said bay defining element defining a plurality of bays and comprising at least one lower flexible suspension sheet that extends across the bays to define a product receiving area in each bay when the spacer elements are in the operational position;
said upper portion comprising at least one upper flexible suspension sheet, and said upper portion movable between an open position, in which at least one of the bays is exposed to allow a product to be inserted into and removed from the bay, and a closed position, in which the upper and lower suspension sheets are positioned to suspend the product within the frame;
and
a tensioning device secured to the frame to releasably hold the upper portion in the closed position and to tension the suspension sheets around the product.

3 more elements

A suspension package comprising:

a frame comprising a lower portion and an upper portion;
said lower portion comprising four corner posts and at least two side bars hingedly mounted to the corner posts to move between an operational position, in which the corner posts are oriented transverse to the side bars to create a product receiving space, and a storage position, in which the corner posts extend generally alongside first and second ones of the side bars;
said lower portion further comprising a plurality of transverse bars extending between the first and second side bars to define a plurality of bays, and at least one lower flexible suspension sheet that extends across the lower portion to define a product receiving area in each bay when the corner posts are in the operational position;
said upper portion comprising a plurality of upper side bars, a plurality of upper transverse bars extending across an opposed pair of the upper side bars, and at least one upper flexible suspension sheet mounted to selected ones of the upper bars;
a hinge mounted between the upper and lower portions to permit movement of the upper portion between an open position, in which at least one of the bays is exposed to allow a product to be inserted into and removed from the bay, and a closed position, in which the upper and lower suspension sheets are positioned to suspend the product in the frame;
and
a tensioning device secured to the frame to releasably hold the upper portion in the closed position and to tension the suspension sheets around the product.

4 more elements

A suspension package comprising:

a frame comprising a lower portion and an upper portion;
said lower portion comprising four corner posts, at least two side bars, and a plurality of transverse bars, said side bars and transverse bars cooperating to form a bay defining element hingedly mounted to the corner posts to move between an operational position, in which the corner posts are oriented transverse to the transverse bars to create a product receiving space, and a storage position, in which the corner posts extend generally alongside the bay defining element;
said transverse bars extending between the side bars to define a plurality of bays;
at least one lower flexible suspension sheet that extends across the lower portion to define a product receiving area in each bay when the corner posts are in the operational position;
said upper portion mounted to the lower portion by a hinge mechanism configured to permit movement of the upper portion between an open position, in which at least one of the bays is exposed to allow a product to be inserted into and removed from the bay, and a closed position, in which the upper portion is adjacent to the lower portion;
said upper portion comprising a plurality of flexible upper suspension sheets, each positioned over a respective one of the bays to suspend the product in the respective bay when the upper portion is in the closed position;
and
a tensioning device secured to the frame to releasably hold the upper portion in the closed position and to tension the suspension sheets around the product.

5 more elements

A method of shipping products and recycling shipping materials comprising the following steps:

a) placing a plurality of products in a plurality of suspension packages, each of said suspension packages comprising:
a frame that is movable between an operational position, in which the frame defines at least one product receiving volume, and a storage position, in which the frame is collapsed to reduce shipping volume, said frame comprising first and second portions;
at least one flexible suspension sheet secured to the frame;
said first portion movable between an open position, in which the suspension sheet is exposed to allow a product to be placed on the suspension sheet, and a closed position, in which the at least one suspension sheet is tensioned to suspend the product within the frame;
and
a tensioning device secured to the frame to releasably hold the first portion in the closed position and to tension the suspension sheet;
b) operating the tensioning devices to suspend the products in the suspension packages;
c) loading the suspension packages and the products suspended therein in a collapsible enclosure that is movable between an operational position, in which the enclosure defines an internal volume, and a storage position, in which the enclosure is collapsed to reduce shipping volume;
d) shipping the collapsible enclosure and the suspension packages loaded therein to a first location;
then
e) removing the suspension packages from the collapsible enclosure and removing the products from the suspension packages;
then
f) collapsing the enclosure and the suspension packages to the storage positions;
and then
g) shipping the collapsed enclosure and suspension packages to a second location for reuse.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suspension package and system

Life of this patent

Suspension package and system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45