Collapsible and expandable void filler
AssigneeShipper Paper Products Company
InventorsThomas C. Keenan, Philip B. Lo Prestl, Donald L. Van Erden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible and expandable void filler for separating cargo during transit in trucks, railroad cars, airplanes and the like includes an outer tubular housing having a diamond-shaped tubular core. The housing and core are collapsible into a generally flat configuration along score indentations. In one embodiment, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a plurality of collapsible wall portions along the outer housing that collapse inwardly from the periphery of the housing and engage the core. In other embodiments, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a cord or elastomeric bands which are tightly stretched around the periphery of the housing and is held in a series of aligned notches.
Claims18
A collapsible void filler device foldable into a flat, collapsed configuration for storage, and unfoldable into an expanded configuration for preventing damage to cargo during transit, comprising:
- an outer housing comprising a four-sided, generally tubular member having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, and a longitudinal axis extending the length thereof;
- said side walls of said outer housing tubular member extending upwardly from said bottom wall of said outer housing tubular member to said top wall of said outer housing tubular member when said void filler is disposed in said expanded configuration and including means for permitting said side walls of said outer housing tubular member to move outwardly so as to collapse said outer housing tubular member into said collapsed configuration;
- slot means defined within outer peripheral portions of said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls of said outer housing tubular member;
- an inner core member disposed within said outer housing tubular member and having a bottom wall connected to said bottom wall of said outer housing tubular member;
- a top wall connected to said top wall of said outer housing tubular member;
- and side walls interconnecting said bottom wall and said top wall of said inner core member;
- and having further, a width which extends across a majority of said length of said outer housing tubular member, and a length which is sized so as to contact and space apart said side walls of said outer housing tubular member so as to prevent inward movement of said side walls of said outer housing tubular member and thereby rigidify said outer housing tubular member when said void filler is disposed in said expanded configuration;
- said side walls of said inner core member having means for permitting said side walls of said inner core member to be folded and collapsed when said outer housing tubular member is collapsed;
- and
- means disposed within said slot means defined within said outer peripheral portions of said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls of said outer housing tubular member, and encircling said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls of said outer housing tubular member for maintaining said side walls of said outer housing tubular member in contact with said inner core member and for preventing said side walls of said outer housing tubular member from moving outwardly away from said inner core member so as to in turn prevent said void filler from collapsing into said collapsed configuration whereby said void filler remains in said expanded configuration.
A collapsible void filler device foldable into a flat, collapsed configuration for storage, and unfoldable into an expanded configuration for preventing damage to cargo during transit, comprising:
- an outer housing comprising a four-sided, generally tubular member having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, and a longitudinal axis extending the length thereof;
- said side walls of said outer housing tubular member extending upwardly from said bottom wall of said outer housing tubular member to said top wall of said outer housing tubular member when said void filler is disposed in said expanded configuration and including means for permitting said side walls of said outer housing tubular member to move outwardly so as to collapse said outer housing tubular member into said collapsed configuration;
- slot means defined within outer peripheral portions of said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls of said outer housing tubular member;
- an inner core member disposed within said outer housing tubular member and having a bottom wall connected to said bottom wall of said outer housing tubular member;
- a top wall connected to said top wall of said outer housing tubular member;
- and side walls interconnecting said bottom wall and said top wall of said inner core member;
- and having further, a width which extends across a majority of said length of said outer housing tubular member, and a length which is sized so as to contact and space apart said side walls of said outer housing tubular member so as to prevent inward movement of said side walls of said outer housing tubular member and thereby rigidify said outer housing tubular member when said void filler is disposed in said expanded configuration;
- said side walls of said inner core member having means for permitting said side walls of said inner core member to be folded and collapsed when said outer housing tubular member is collapsed;
- and
- means, disposed within said slot means defined within said outer peripheral portions of said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls of said outer housing tubular member so as to be disposed within at least one plane which is transverse to said longitudinal axis of said outer housing tubular member, for surrounding said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls of said outer housing tubular member so as to maintain said side walls of said outer housing tubular member in contact with said inner core member and thereby prevent said side walls of said outer housing tubular member from moving outwardly away from said inner core member so as to in turn prevent said void filler from collapsing into said collapsed configuration whereby said void filler remains in said expanded configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.