Stackable packaged soft-wall containers

Abstract

A packaging system for soft-walled plastic containers of tapered or other non-cylindrical shapes has a supporting base to which the containers are secured, with a superposed positioning means engaging the upper portions of the containers; and load transfer spacer sheets extending upwardly in substantially coplanar relation with the tops of the containers, to support a superposed similar package, for palletizing. The package may be strapped, horizontally or vertically and used in plasti-wrapped multi-tier pallet loads. The supporting base may be a tray, which can be of the nesting variety. Formed or die-cut top sheets can be used in combination with the load-transfer spacer sheets

1 . A composite package containing a plurality of substantially identical containers of goods, for transportation, storage and display, said package having a lower portion to receive said goods containers in assembled, mutually organized relation thereon; first positioning means to immobilize said containers in relation to said package lower portion; divider means interposed in spacing relation between predetermined ones of said containers, second positioning means to secure the upper portions of said containers in mutually fixed relation, said second positioning means having upper portions of predetermined load-bearing capacity extending upwardly to be substantially coplanar with the tops of said containers, and retaining means securing the elements of said package in mutually secured relation to form a stable, load-bearing structural unit for stacking in a plurality of self-supporting layers.  
   
   
       2 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 1 , said first positioning means consisting of an adhesive securing individual ones of said containers to said package lower portion.  
   
   
       3 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 1 , said first positioning means consisting of raised surface portions of said package lower portion, located to contact lower edge portions of at least some of said containers in positioning engagement therewith.  
   
   
       4 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 1 , having a securing strap attached in compressive, positioning relation with selected portions of said package.  
   
   
       5 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 1 , said retaining means comprising an upper tray member engaging upper portions of said containers in predetermined positioned relation, said upper tray member having load bearing upper support surface portions, in use to receive a further package in supported relation thereon.  
   
   
       6 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 1 , said containers each having an upper, closure cap, said divider means having at least one portion of corrugated board extending in supported relation from said package lower portion to a position substantially coplanar with the tops of said containers, said corrugated board divider means having the corrugations thereof positioned edgewise to the anticipated direction of applied downward compressive loading.  
   
   
       7 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 5 , said upper tray member having laterally and longitudinally extending hollow ribs, and corrugated board divider means extending from said package lower portion to engage said ribs in load-transfer relation between said package lower portion and said upper tray member.  
   
   
       8 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 7 , said element securing retaining means comprising a plurality of mutually spaced apertures to receive respective cap portions of said containers in entered, engaged relation therein.  
   
   
       9 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 1 , said retaining means comprising an upper sheet member having apertures to receive closure cap members of said containers in secured penetrating relation therethrough; said upper sheet member having a plurality of slots in predetermined positioned relation to receive upwardly extending tab portions of said divider means in penetrating relation therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . The composite package set forth in  claim 9 , said closure cap members and said upwardly extending tab portions having their uppermost surfaces in substantially co-planar relation, to provide load bearing upper support surfaces, in use to receive a further package in supported relation thereon.  
   
   
       11 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 6 , said package lower portion consisting of a tray having side walls and a bottom, said side walls being outwardly tapered to form a nesting draw, whereby said tray may be nested with other like trays, to form a compact package for ready shipment.  
   
   
       12 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 11 , said second positioning means consisting of a planar cover sheet sized to fit within said side walls, upon said tray bottom, said cover sheet having apertures to receive projecting upper portions of said container in secured penetrating relation therethrough; said cover sheet having a plurality of slots in predetermined positioned relation to receive upwardly extending tab portions of said divider means in penetrating relation therethrough.  
   
   
       13 . The composite package as set forth in  claim 12 , said tray side walls being of predetermined height to accommodate a predetermined number of said cover sheets in flush-fitting relation within a said tray.  
   
   
       14 . A composite package for secure shipping, having a plurality of walled tray members in mutually nested relation, the uppermost said tray member containing a plurality of substantially planar sheets in mutually stacked relation within said tray; said substantially planar sheets each having apertures extending therethrough, arranged in predetermined mutually spaced relation, in use to receive load transfer members in projecting relation through said planar sheet.