Headliner packaging system with quick release mechanism

Abstract

A headliner packaging system packages a headliner that has a surface and a width and includes one or more elongated clamps. Each elongated clamp releasably secures the headliner by applying clamping force to an area on the surface of the headliner. Each elongated clamp may have a quick release mechanism that is configured to have a release position that releases the elongated clamp to receive the headliner and a lock position that locks the headliner securely within the elongated clamp. The quick release mechanism may be configured to quickly move between the release and lock positions in response to a single, non-repetitious movement of the quick release mechanism. The carton may have a port in the walls that aligns with each release mechanism that is sized so as to permit a person to reach through the port and move each release mechanism between the release and lock positions. The packaging system may be configured to package an article other than a headliner.

1 . A headliner packaging system for packaging a headliner that has a surface and a width, the headliner packaging system comprising:
 one or more elongated clamps, each
 configured to releasable secure the headliner by applying clamping force to an area on the surface of the headliner; and 
 having a quick release mechanism that is configured to:
 have a release position that releases the elongated clamp to receive the headliner and a lock position that locks the headliner securely within the elongated clamp; and 
 quickly move between the release and lock positions in response to a single, non-repetitious movement of the quick release mechanism; and 
 
   a carton that is configured to house the elongated clamps and the headliner while secured within the elongated clamps, the carton having walls,   the elongated clamps being configured to cause all portions of the headliner to be substantially spaced from the walls of the carton while the headliner is secured within the elongated clamps and the elongated clamps and the headliner are both within the carton.   
   
   
       2 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the quick release mechanism includes a hook. 
   
   
       3 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 2  wherein the hook is an eye of an open ended eyebolt. 
   
   
       4 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 3  wherein the quick/release mechanism includes a second eyebolt. 
   
   
       5 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 4  wherein the quick/release mechanism includes a link linking the open ended eyebolt to the second eyebolt. 
   
   
       6 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 5  wherein the link is a carabiner. 
   
   
       7 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 1  wherein each elongated clamp includes two opposing jaws and at least one cushion positioned on each jaw to cushion contact between the jaw and the surface of the headliner. 
   
   
       8 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 1  wherein there are at least two of the elongated clamps. 
   
   
       9 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 8  wherein the elongated clamps are attached to a common elongated clamp mount. 
   
   
       10 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 9  further comprising an elongated support brace attached to the elongated clamp mount that is configured to support a portion of the headliner, but not to clamp it. 
   
   
       11 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 1  wherein each elongated clamp is configured to apply a substantially constant force to the headliner when the headliner is secured within the elongated clamp, notwithstanding variation in the amount of bending which the elongated clamp undergoes when swung into the closed position to lock the headliner. 
   
   
       12 . An article packaging system for packaging an article that has a surface and a width, the article packaging system comprising:
 one or more elongated clamps, each
 configured to releasable secure the article by applying clamping force to an area on the surface of the article; and 
 having a quick release mechanism that is configured to:
 have a release position that releases the elongated clamp to receive the article and a lock position that locks the article securely within the elongated clamp; and 
 quickly move between the release and lock positions in response to a single, non-repetitious movement of the quick release mechanism; and 
 
   a carton that is configured to house the elongated clamps and the article while secured within the elongated clamps, the carton having walls,   the elongated clamps being configured to cause all portions of the article to be substantially spaced from the walls of the carton while the article is secured within the elongated clamps and the elongated clamps and the article are both within the carton.   
   
   
       13 . A headliner packaging system for packaging a headliner that has a surface and a width, the headliner packaging system comprising:
 one or more elongated clamps, each
 configured to releasable secure the headliner by applying clamping force to an area on the surface of the headliner; and 
 having a release mechanism that is configured to have a release position that releases the elongated clamp to receive the headliner and a lock position that locks the headliner securely within the elongated clamp; and 
   a carton configured to house the headliner while clamped by the elongated clamps in the lock position, the carton having walls and a port in the walls that aligns with each release mechanism that is sized so as to permit a person to reach through the port and move each release mechanism between the release and lock positions.   
   
   
       14 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 13  wherein the quick release mechanism includes a hook. 
   
   
       15 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 14  wherein the hook is an open end of a first eyebolt. 
   
   
       16 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 15  wherein the quick/release mechanism includes a second eyebolt. 
   
   
       17 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 16  wherein the quick/release mechanism includes a link linking the first eyebolt to the second eyebolt. 
   
   
       18 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 17  wherein the link is a carabiner. 
   
   
       19 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 13  wherein each elongated clamp includes two opposing jaws and at least one cushion positioned on each jaw to cushion the contact between the jaw and the surface of the headliner. 
   
   
       20 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 13  wherein there are at least two of the elongated clamps. 
   
   
       21 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 20  wherein the elongated clamps are attached to a common elongated clamp mount. 
   
   
       22 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 21  further comprising an elongated support brace attached to the elongated clamp mount that is configured to support a portion of the headliner, but not to clamp it. 
   
   
       23 . The headliner packaging system of  claim 13  wherein each elongated clamp is configured to apply a substantially constant force to the headliner when the headliner is secured within the elongated clamp, notwithstanding variation in the amount of bending which the elongated clamp undergoes when swung into the closed position to lock the headliner. 
   
   
       24 . An article packaging system for packaging an article that has a surface and a width, the article packaging system comprising:
 one or more elongated clamps, each
 configured to releasable secure the article by applying clamping force to an area on the surface of the article; and 
 having a release mechanism that is configured to have a release position that releases the elongated clamp to receive the article and a lock position that locks the article securely within the elongated clamp; and 
   a carton configured to house the article while clamped by the elongated clamps in the lock position, the carton having walls and a port in the walls that aligns with each release mechanism that is sized so as to permit a person to reach through the port and move each release mechanism between the release and lock positions.