Packaging system

Abstract

A frame for packaging goods consists essentially of long, extruded edge pieces, and corner pieces. Each corner piece has projections that fit into the ends of two edge pieces, to form a rectangular frame, or three edge pieces, to form a cuboidal frame. The edge pieces are preferably L-shaped, and oriented to cradle the edges of a rectangular object fitted within the frame. In one embodiment, the projections may be in the form of three round pins in an L shape to fit into one L-shaped edge piece. In another embodiment, the corner pieces consist of two halves hinged together, so that the sides of the frame can be folded out into a straight line without being separated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A frame for shipping and supporting goods, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, hollow edge pieces; and    a plurality of corner pieces engaging ends of said edge pieces together to form said frame,    each corner piece having projections comprising at least one plurality of pins extending into said end of at least one said hollow edge pieces.    
     
     
         2 . A frame according to  claim 1 , comprising a base, with a plurality of said corner pieces disposed at corners of said base.  
     
     
         3 . A frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of corner pieces are separate pieces joining adjacent ends of said edge pieces together to form said frame, 
 each corner piece having projections extending into said adjacent ends of at least two said hollow edge pieces, and    said projections comprising at least one said plurality of pins.    
     
     
         4 . A frame according to  claim 3 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together three said edge pieces.  
     
     
         5  A frame according to  claim 3 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together two said edge pieces.  
     
     
         6 . A frame according to  claim 3 , wherein said corner pieces comprise two parts hinged together in such a manner that two said edge pieces connected by a said corner piece can be hinged into an orientation in which they lie substantially in the same straight line.  
     
     
         7 . A frame according to  claim 1 , wherein each said corner piece comprises a socket receiving an end of a said edge piece.  
     
     
         8 . A frame according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one plurality of pins is disposed within said socket.  
     
     
         9 . A frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said edge pieces are of generally L-shaped profile, and said corner pieces hold said edge pieces in an orientation with the concave side of the L facing the middle of the frame.  
     
     
         10 . A frame according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one plurality of pins comprises three pins arranged in an L shape aligned with the L-shaped profile of the associated edge member.  
     
     
         11 . A frame according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of said edge pieces are joined in a ring by said corner pieces, and wherein the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles thereof define a common plane and sides upstanding from that plane.  
     
     
         12 . A frame according to  claim 11 , wherein said edge pieces are joined in a polyhedral frame, and wherein the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles thereof define the faces of the polyhedron.  
     
     
         13 . A frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said pins are round.  
     
     
         14 . A frame for shipping and supporting goods, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, hollow edge pieces; and    a plurality of corner pieces joining adjacent ends of said edge pieces together to form said frame;    wherein each corner piece has projections extending into said adjacent ends of at least two said hollow edge pieces; and    wherein said corner pieces comprise two parts hinged together in such a manner that two said edge pieces connected by a said corner piece can be hinged into an orientation in which they lie substantially in the same straight line.    
     
     
         15  A frame according to  claim 14 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together two said edge pieces.  
     
     
         16 . A frame according to  claim 15 , comprising four said edge pieces joined end-to-end by three said corner pieces and defining two free ends; and 
 further comprising a fourth said corner piece having a said projection extending into one said free end, and having a said projection arranged to be inserted into the other said free end.    
     
     
         17 . A frame according to  claim 14 , wherein said edge pieces are of generally L-shaped profile, and said corner pieces hold said edge pieces in an orientation with the concave side of the L facing the middle of the frame.  
     
     
         18 . A frame according to  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of said edge pieces are joined in a ring by said corner pieces, and wherein the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles thereof define a common plane and sides upstanding from that plane.  
     
     
         19 . A system for shipping and supporting goods, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, hollow edge pieces; and    a plurality of corner pieces arranged to join adjacent ends of said edge pieces together to form a frame;    wherein each corner piece has projecting formations arranged to extend into said adjacent ends of at least two said hollow edge pieces; and    wherein at least one said projecting formation comprises a plurality of pins arranged to extend into one of said adjacent ends.    
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together three said edge pieces.  
     
     
         21  A system according to  claim 19 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together two said edge pieces.  
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein each said corner piece comprises a recess for receiving said adjacent end of one of said hollow edge pieces, and a said projecting formation positioned in said recess and arranged to extend into said adjacent end of said one hollow edge piece.  
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein said edge pieces are of generally L-shaped profile, and said corner pieces are arranged to hold said edge pieces in an orientation to form said frame with the concave side of the L facing the middle of the frame.  
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one plurality of pins comprises three pins arranged in an L shape arranged to be aligned with the L-shaped profile of an edge member into which said pins extend.  
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein said corner pieces are arranged to join a plurality of said edge pieces in a ring in such a manner that wherein the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles thereof define a common plane and sides upstanding from that plane.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein said corner pieces are arranged to join said edge pieces in a polyhedral frame in such a manner that the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles thereof define the faces of the polyhedron.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein each said corner piece has a said projection inserted into one edge piece.  
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein said corner pieces comprise two parts hinged together in such a manner that two said edge pieces connected by a said corner piece can be hinged into an orientation in which they lie substantially in the same straight line.  
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein said pins are round.  
     
     
         30 . A system for shipping and supporting goods, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, hollow edge pieces; and    a plurality of corner pieces arranged to join adjacent ends of said edge pieces together to form a frame;    wherein each corner piece has projections arranged to extend into said adjacent ends of at least two said hollow edge pieces; and    wherein said corner pieces comprise two parts hinged together in such a manner that two said edge pieces connected by a said corner piece can be hinged into an orientation in which they lie substantially in the same straight line.    
     
     
         31  A system according to  claim 30 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together two said edge pieces.  
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 30 , wherein said edge pieces are of generally L-shaped profile, and said corner pieces are arranged to hold said edge pieces in an orientation with the concave side of the L facing the middle of the frame.  
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 32 , wherein said corner pieces are arranged join a plurality of said edge pieces in a ring in such a manner that the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles thereof define a common plane and sides upstanding from that plane.  
     
     
         34 . A system for shipping and supporting goods, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, hollow edge pieces; and    a plurality of corner pieces arranged to join adjacent ends of said edge pieces together to form a frame;    wherein each edge piece has a generally L-shaped cross section defined by two generally flat, perpendicular surfaces on the inside of the L, by two outwardly convex surfaces at the ends, by an outwardly convex surface at the outside of the angle of the L, and two outwardly concave surfaces on the outsides of the arms joining the outwardly convex surface at the angle to the outwardly convex surfaces at the ends; and    wherein each corner piece has projecting formations arranged to extend into said adjacent ends of at least two said hollow edge pieces.    
     
     
         35 . A system according to  claim 31 , wherein said projecting formations comprise rounded parts dimensioned and positioned to fit within said outwardly convex surfaces of said edge pieces.  
     
     
         36 . A system according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one said projecting formation comprises a plurality of round pins forming said rounded parts.  
     
     
         37  A system for shipping and supporting goods, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, hollow edge pieces; and  
 a plurality of corner pieces arranged to engaging ends of said edge pieces to form a frame,  
 each corner piece having a socket for receiving said end of at least one said hollow edge piece, and a projection within said socket arranged to extend into said end.  
 
     
     
         38 . A system according to  claim 37 , comprising a base, with a plurality of said corner pieces disposed at corners of said base.  
     
     
         39 . A system according to  claim 37 , wherein said plurality of corner pieces are separate pieces joining adjacent ends of said edge pieces together to form said frame, 
 each corner piece having projections extending into said adjacent ends of at least two said hollow edge pieces.    
     
     
         40 . A system according to  claim 39 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together three said edge pieces.  
     
     
         41 . A system according to  claim 39 , wherein each said corner piece is arranged to join together two said edge pieces.  
     
     
         42 . A system according to  claim 39 , wherein said corner pieces comprise two parts hinged together in such a manner that two said edge pieces connected by a said corner piece can be hinged into an orientation in which they lie substantially in the same straight line.  
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 37 , wherein each said corner piece comprises at least one plurality of pins constituting said projection within said socket.  
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 43 , wherein said at least one plurality of pins comprises three pins arranged in an L shape.  
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 44 , wherein said pins are round.  
     
     
         46 . A system according to  claim 37 , wherein each said corner piece comprises an L-shaped projection within said socket.  
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 37 , wherein said socket is L-shaped.  
     
     
         48 . A system according to  claim 47 , wherein said edge pieces are of generally L-shaped profile, and are shaped and dimensioned to mate with said L-shaped socket.  
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 37 , wherein said edge pieces are of generally L-shaped profile, and said corner pieces are arranged to hold said edge pieces in an orientation with the concave side of the L facing the middle of the frame.  
     
     
         50 . A system according to  claim 49 , wherein said corner pieces are arranged to join a plurality of said edge pieces in a ring wherein the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles of said edge pieces define a common plane and sides upstanding from that plane.  
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 50 , wherein said corner pieces are arranged to join said edge pieces into a polyhedral frame, and wherein the concave sides of the L-shaped profiles of said edge pieces then define the faces of the polyhedron.