Method and device for holding objects

Abstract

A box for shipping and displaying objects is described. The box is composed of molded pulp material. In one aspect, the box has recesses for receiving objects. The recesses have detents positioned on vertical walls of the recesses. The detents, made of molded pulp material, extend into the recess so that a object has a vertical tangent in contact with the detent when fully inserted into the recess. Desirably, the detents extend over the entire depth of the recess. In one aspect, there are at least two detents in a recess, the detents opposing each other from opposite walls of the recess. In a further aspect, the molded pulp container of the present invention has one or more channels molded across a width of the container for providing added bending stiffness to the container.

1 . A box for holding objects of merchandise comprising;
 a horizontal generally planar surface defining a plurality of recesses shaped for receiving objects, at least one recess having a wall extending generally vertically downward; and   a protrusion extending from the wall into the recess;   wherein, the box is composed of molded pulp, and the at least one recess has a width such that, when an object is inserted into the recess, the object substantially permanently deforms at least a part of the protrusion; and,   wherein the protrusion is configured such that when an object is fully inserted within the recess, a portion of the deformed protrusion is in contact with a vertical tangent of the object.   
   
   
       2 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends from the surface downward into the recess. 
   
   
       3 . The box of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion extends substantially over the full depth of the recess, from the surface to a floor of the recess. 
   
   
       4 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein, the recess has two walls extending vertically downward, and each wall has a protrusion as described in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       5 . The box of  claim 4 , wherein the protrusions are positioned opposite one another. 
   
   
       6 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical wall of the box has a thickness, and the protrusion extends between  2  and  4  times the thickness into the recess. 
   
   
       7 . The box of  claim 6 , wherein the aspect ratio of the protrusion is about one. 
   
   
       8 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a sectional shape that, when viewed from above, includes a portion of a circle. 
   
   
       9 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has an interior face, the interior face being substantially straight and substantially vertical. 
   
   
       10 . A method of positioning objects within a box, comprising:
 providing a pulp molded box having a plurality of recesses for receiving objects;   fully inserting a first object within a first recess by inserting the object a first distance into the first recess; and   substantially permanently deforming a protrusion on a wall of the first recess over the entire extent of the first distance.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including, fully inserting a second object within a second recess by inserting the object a second distance into the second recess, and substantially permanently deforming a protrusion on a wall of the second recess over the entire extent of the second distance. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly for holding tools comprising;
 a surface defining a plurality of recesses shaped for receiving tools;   wherein, the assembly is made of molded pulp.   
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the recesses include means for retaining the tools. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly for displaying objects comprising;
 a generally planar surface defining a plurality of recesses for receiving individual objects, wherein the box is composed of molded pulp material;   a channel formed in the surface of the container, the channel extending from one side of the container across to an opposite side, whereby the channel adds bending stiffness to the container.   
   
   
       15 . The box of  claim 14  wherein each recess has a depth, there is a recess having the greatest depth, and wherein the depth of the channel is about the same as the depth of the deepest recess. 
   
   
       16 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein each channel has a width, and the width is about the same as the depth.