Palletless packaging system

Abstract

A connector for holding the modules of a palletless packaging system in assembled relation, the module of the palletless packaging system having a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed, substantially parallel brace members extending between the pair of opposed end walls. The connector comprises a lower channel, an upper channel, and an end portion. The lower channel is dimensioned to straddle the top edge of and connect to the end wall. The upper channel extends along some portion of the connector and is dimensioned to receive the bottom edge of an end wall when one palletless packaging module is stacked upon another. The end portion of the connector is positioned to connect with a brace member.

1 . A stackable palletless packaging system for rolls of wide-web material wound about a core, the system comprising: 
 (a) at least two modules, each module comprising a pair of opposed substantially planar end walls, each end wall having a top and bottom edge, a thickness, and a vertically elongated opening extending from a central portion of the top edge to a point spaced from the bottom edge of the end wall, the vertically elongated opening being so dimensioned as to receive the core of a roll of web material;    (b) a plurality of spaced-apart brace members, each brace member extending between and interconnecting opposed end walls to maintain a fixed distance between the opposed end walls and to prevent lateral movement of the end walls of one module relative to the end walls of the module thereabove; and    (c) at least one connector mounted on each end wall that maintains the end walls of one module in alignment with the end walls of the module thereabove and maintains the brace members in fixed relationship with the end walls.    
   
   
       2 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom edges of the opposed end walls are similarly dimensioned.  
   
   
       3 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 1  wherein each end wall further includes a pair of spaced-apart slots formed in the top edge, each of the slots dimensioned for receiving a brace member.  
   
   
       4 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the connector comprises: 
 (a) a lower channel dimensioned to straddle the top edge of and connect to one of the end walls;    (b) an upper channel extending along some portion of the connector and dimensioned to receive the bottom edge of the end wall of the module thereabove; and    (c) an end portion being releasably securable to one of the brace members.    
   
   
       5 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 3  wherein the lower channel of the connector is U-shaped and comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart, substantially vertical wall portions; and    (b) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of vertical walls, wherein the distance between the vertical wall portions approximates the thickness of the end wall being straddled.    
   
   
       6 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 5  wherein the lower channel further includes at least one opening formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof, wherein the at least one vertical wall is releasably fastenable to the end wall.  
   
   
       7 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 4  wherein the upper channel of the connector is V-shaped and comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart walls; and    (b) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of spaced-apart walls, each of the walls extending upwardly and outwardly from the horizontal flange, wherein the width of the flange approximates the thickness of the end wall received therein.    
   
   
       8 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 7  further including reinforcing ribs integrally formed with and connecting the spaced-apart walls of the upper channel with the adjacent walls of the lower channel.  
   
   
       9 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 4  wherein the end portion of the connector comprises: 
 (a) at least one flange extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the connector, and    (b) at least one aperture formed therethrough the at least one flange, wherein the at least one flange is releasably fastenable to an adjacent one of the brace members.    
   
   
       10 . A stackable palletless packaging system for rolls of wide-web material wound about a core, the system comprising: 
 (a) at least two modules, each module comprising a pair of opposed substantially planar end walls, each end wall having a top and bottom edge and a thickness, a centrally positioned hole formed therethrough the thickness, the hole being so dimensioned as to receive the core of a roll of web material;    (b) a plurality of spaced-apart brace members, each brace member extending between and interconnecting the opposed end walls to maintain a fixed distance between the opposed end walls and to prevent lateral movement of the end walls of one module relative to the end walls of the module thereabove; and    (c) at least one connector mounted on each end wall that maintains the end walls of one module in alignment with the end walls of the module thereabove and maintains the brace members in fixed relationship with the end walls.    
   
   
       11 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 10  wherein the top and bottom edges of the opposed end walls are similarly dimensioned.  
   
   
       12 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 10  wherein each end wall further includes a pair of spaced-apart slots formed in the top edge, each of the slots dimensioned for receiving a brace member.  
   
   
       13 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 10  wherein the connector comprises: 
 (a) a lower channel dimensioned to straddle the top edge of and connect to the end wall;    (b) an upper channel extending along some portion of the connector and dimensioned to receive the bottom edge of the end wall of the module thereabove; and    (c) an end portion being releasably securable to one of the brace members.    
   
   
       14 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 13  wherein the lower channel of the connector is U-shaped and comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart, substantially vertical wall portions; and    (b) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of vertical walls, wherein the distance between the vertical wall portions approximates the thickness of the end wall being straddled.    
   
   
       15 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 13  wherein the lower channel further includes at least one opening formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof, wherein the at least one vertical wall is releasably fastenable to the end wall.  
   
   
       16 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 13  wherein the upper channel of the connector is V-shaped and comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart walls; and    (b) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of spaced-apart walls, each of the walls extending upwardly and outwardly from the horizontal flange, wherein the width of the flange approximates the thickness of the end wall received therein.    
   
   
       17 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 16  further including reinforcing ribs integrally formed with and connecting the spaced-apart walls of the upper channel with the adjacent walls of the lower channel.  
   
   
       18 . The stackable palletless packaging system of  claim 13  wherein the end portion of the connector comprises: 
 (a) at least one flange extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the connector, and    (b) at least one aperture formed therethrough the at least one flange, wherein the at least one flange is releasably fastenable to an adjacent one of the brace members.    
   
   
       19 . A connector for holding two vertically stacked modules of a palletless packaging system in assembled relation, the module of the palletless packaging system being of the type having a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed, substantially parallel brace members extending between the pair of opposed end walls, the connector comprising: 
 (a) a lower channel dimensioned to straddle the top edge of and connect to the end wall;    (b) an upper channel extending along some portion of the connector and dimensioned to receive the bottom edge of the end wall of the module thereabove; and    (c) an end portion being releasably securable to one of the brace members.    
   
   
       20 . The connector of  claim 19  wherein the lower channel of the connector is U-shaped and comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart, substantially vertical wall portions; and    (b) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of vertical walls, wherein the distance between the vertical wall portions approximates the thickness of the end wall being straddled.    
   
   
       21 . The connector of  claim 19  wherein the lower channel further includes at least one opening formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof, wherein the at least one vertical wall is releasably fastenable to the end wall.  
   
   
       22 . The connector of  claim 19  wherein the upper channel of the connector is V-shaped and comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart walls; and    (b) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of spaced-apart walls, each of the walls extending upwardly and outwardly from the horizontal flange, wherein the width of the flange approximates the thickness of the end wall received therein.    
   
   
       23 . The connector of  claim 22  further including at least one reinforcing rib integrally formed with and extending outwardly from at least one spaced-apart wall of the upper channel.  
   
   
       24 . The connector of  claim 19  wherein the end portion of the connector comprises: 
 (a) at least one flange, and    (b) at least one aperture formed therethrough the at least one flange, wherein the at least one flange is releasably fastenable to at least one brace member.    
   
   
       25 . The connector of  claim 19  wherein: 
 (a) the lower channel is U-shaped and comprises: 
 (i) a pair of spaced-apart, substantially vertical wall portions;  
 (ii) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of vertical walls, wherein the distance between the vertical wall portions approximates the thickness of the end wall being straddled;  
   (b) the upper channel comprises: 
 (i) a pair of spaced-apart walls; and  
 (ii) a horizontal flange interconnecting the pair of spaced-apart walls, each of the walls extending upwardly and outwardly from the horizontal flange, wherein the width of the flange approximates the thickness of the end wall received therein.