Suspension Packaging System

Abstract

A retention package is formed from a tray member containing a retention member which includes a stiff board and a flexible, stretchable film attached to end panels of the stiff board. The end panels are folded under thus pulling the film taut for retaining an object between the film and the stiff board. The stiff board has two vertical walls that abut the interior of two walls of the tray member. An end cap is placed over the tray member thereby forming an enclosed retention package. The end cap is provided with kick plate means for holding the two vertical walls against the interior of two walls of the tray member.

1 - A packaging structure for holding an object securely against a rigid backing, said packaging structure comprising:
 a retention member, comprising a substantially rigid panel with a pair of longitudinal folding side panels and a pair of latitudinal folding side panels separated from a base panel by fold lines,   said base panel having an upper side and a lower side,   a flexible film material extending across said pair of longitudinal folding side panels and the upper side of said base panel and fixed at each of two opposing ends to one of said pair of longitudinal folding side panels,   means for securing said flexible film to said pair of longitudinal folding side panels,   said pair of longitudinal folding side panels being folded to a position where the said longitudinal folding side panels are under and parallel to said base panel,   said latitudinal side panels being vertical relative to a horizontal orientation of said base panel,   a tray member, said tray member having two latitudinal vertical side panels, two longitudinal vertical side panels, and a tray base panel,   said retention member being positioned within said tray member,   an end cap member, said end cap member having two longitudinal vertical end cap side panels, two latitudinal vertical end cap side panels, and an end cap base panel,   said tray member being positioned within said end cap member.   
     
     
         2 - The packaging structure of  claim 1 , further comprising said end cap member having kick plate means, said kick plate means having peripheral dimensions to form at least a pair of parallel channels, said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain said retention member latitudinal side panels. 
     
     
         3 - The packaging structure of  claim 1 , further comprising said end cap member having kick plate means, said kick plate means having peripheral dimensions to form two pairs of parallel channels, one pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain at least said retention member latitudinal side panels and the other pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain said tray member longitudinal vertical side panels. 
     
     
         4 - The packaging structure of  claim 1 , further comprising said end cap member having kick plate means, said kick plate means having peripheral dimensions to form two pairs of parallel channels, one pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain at least said retention member latitudinal side panels and said tray member latitudinal vertical side panels, and the other pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain said tray member longitudinal vertical side panels. 
     
     
         5 - The packaging structure of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 each of said end cap latitudinal vertical end cap side panels comprising a first vertical section and a second vertical section,   said first vertical section being contiguous with said end cap base panel, and   said second vertical section being contiguous with said first vertical section,   said second vertical section being folded to a position overlying and interior of said first vertical section,   a first horizontal section and a second horizontal section,   said first horizontal section being contiguous with said second vertical section and overlying said end cap base panel,   said second horizontal section being folded to a position overlying said first horizontal section and having a peripheral edge substantially parallel to said second vertical section and spaced there from to form one channel of said at least one pair of parallel channels,   each of said at least one pair of parallel channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said retention member latitudinal side panels.   
     
     
         6 - The packaging structure of  claim 5 , each of said at least one pair of parallel channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said retention member latitudinal side panels and a tray member latitudinal side panel. 
     
     
         7 - The packaging structure of  claim 4 , further comprising, each of said second horizontal sections having a pair of peripheral edges substantially parallel to two of said end cap vertical end cap side panels and spaced there from to form longitudinal channels between said of said second horizontal section's peripheral edges and an end cap member longitudinal side panel, each of said longitudinal channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said tray member longitudinal side panels. 
     
     
         8 - The method of assembling and filling a package and retaining an object securely against a rigid backing within the package, the package comprising:
 a retention member having a substantially rigid panel with a pair of longitudinal folding side panels and a pair of latitudinal folding side panels separated from a base panel by fold lines,   said base panel having an upper side and a lower side,   a flexible film material extending across said pair of longitudinal folding side panels and the upper side of said base panel and fixed at each of two ends to one of said pair of longitudinal folding side panels,   a tray member, said tray member having two latitudinal vertical side panels, two longitudinal vertical side panels, and a tray base panel, and   an end cap member, said end cap member having two longitudinal vertical end cap side panels, two latitudinal vertical end cap side panels, and an end cap base panel,   comprising the steps of:   inserting an object between said flexible film and said retention member base panel,   folding said pair of longitudinal folding side panels to a position where the said longitudinal folding side panels are under and parallel to said base panel, said base panel and said longitudinal folding side panels,   folding said latitudinal side panels vertically relative to a horizontal orientation of said base panel,   positioning said retention member within said tray member,   and positioning said tray member within said end cap member.   
     
     
         9 - The method of  claim 8 , wherein said package end cap member has kick plate means, said kick plate means having peripheral dimensions to form at least a pair of parallel channels, said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain said retention member latitudinal side panels, comprising the step of positioning said tray within said end cap with said retention member latitudinal side panels in said channels. 
     
     
         10 - The of method of  claim 8 , wherein said package end cap member has kick plate means, said kick plate means having peripheral dimensions to form two pairs of parallel channels, one pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain at least said retention member latitudinal side panels and the other pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain said, and comprising the steps of positioning said tray within said end cap with said retention member latitudinal side panels in said one pair channels and positioning said tray member longitudinal vertical side panels in said other pair of said channels. 
     
     
         11 - The of method of  claim 8 , wherein said package end cap member has kick plate means, said kick plate means having peripheral dimensions to form two pairs of parallel channels, one pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain at least said retention member latitudinal side panels and the other pair of said channels being dimensioned to receive and retain said, and comprising the steps of positioning said tray within said end cap with said retention member latitudinal side panels and said tray member latitudinal vertical side panels in said one pair channels and positioning said tray member longitudinal vertical side panels in said other pair of said channels. 
     
     
         12 - The method of  claim 8 , the packaging structure further comprising,
 each two of said end cap vertical end cap side panels comprising a first vertical section and a second vertical section,   said first vertical section being contiguous with said end cap base panel, and   said second vertical section being contiguous with said first vertical section,   a first horizontal section and a second horizontal section,   said first horizontal section being contiguous with said second vertical section   folding said first horizontal section to a position overlying said end cap base panel,   folding said second vertical section to a position overlying and interior of said first vertical section,   folding said second horizontal section to a position overlying said first horizontal section and having a peripheral edge substantially parallel to said second vertical section and spaced there from to form one channel of at least one pair of parallel channels,   each of said at least one pair of parallel channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said retention member latitudinal side panels.   
     
     
         13 - The method of  claim 12 , further comprising each of said at least two pairs of parallel channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said retention member latitudinal side panels and a tray member latitudinal side panel and comprising the step of positioning one of said retention member latitudinal side panels and a tray member latitudinal side panel in a channel. 
     
     
         14 - The method of  claim 12 , each of said second horizontal sections having a pair of peripheral edges substantially parallel to two of said end cap vertical end cap side panels and spaced there from to form longitudinal channels between said of said second horizontal section's peripheral edges and an end cap member longitudinal side panel, each of said longitudinal channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said tray member longitudinal side panels and comprising the step of positioning one of said tray member longitudinal side panels in each of said longitudinal channels. 
     
     
         15 - A packaging structure comprising:
 an end cap member, said end cap member having two longitudinal vertical end cap side panels, two latitudinal vertical end cap side panels, and an end cap base panel,   a base member, said base member having a pair of latitudinal side panels and a pair of longitudinal side panels,   each of said end cap latitudinal vertical end cap side panels comprising a first vertical section and a second vertical section,   said first vertical section being contiguous with said end cap base panel, and   said second vertical section being contiguous with said first vertical section,   said second vertical section being folded to a position abutting and interior of said first vertical section,   a first horizontal section and a second horizontal section,   said first horizontal section being contiguous with said second vertical section and overlying said end cap base panel,   said second horizontal section being folded to a position overlying said first horizontal section and having a peripheral edge substantially parallel to said second vertical section and spaced there from to form one channel of said at least one pair of parallel channels,   each of said at least one pair of parallel channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said base member latitudinal side panels.   
     
     
         16 - The packaging structure of  claim 15 , further comprising, each of said second horizontal sections having a pair of peripheral edges substantially parallel to two of said end cap vertical end cap side panels and spaced there from to form longitudinal channels between said of said second horizontal section's peripheral edges and an end cap member longitudinal side panel, each of said longitudinal channels being dimensioned to receive and retain one of said base member longitudinal side panels. 
     
     
         17 - The packaging structure of  claim 15 , further comprising said first horizontal section being fixed to said second horizontal section and said end cap base panel.