Corrugated wrapper with cushioning members

Abstract

The present invention is a corrugated wrapper for a water heater folded to form a plurality of panels. Inserts attached to an interior face of some of the side panels of the corrugated wrapper provide cushioning for the water heater. The configured corrugated wrapper provides better product protection, reducing damage that may occur during shipping and handling thereafter.

1 . A corrugated wrapper comprising:
 a first side panel;   a second side panel;   a third side panel;   a fourth side panel;   a fifth side panel;   a sixth side panel;   an end side panel, wherein the end side panel overlaps at least a portion of at least one of the side panels thereby creating overlapping panels and at least one non-overlapping panel; and   wherein at least one side panel has at least one opening sized to allow passage of a valve of a water heater therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the end side panel overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel. 
     
     
         3 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the end side panel overlaps at least a portion of the second side panel. 
     
     
         4 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 2 , wherein one opening is on each of the first side panel and the end side panel, the openings aligned to each other to allow passage of a valve of a water heater therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein at least one non-overlapping side panel has at least one opening. 
     
     
         6 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 1 , further comprising a seventh side panel and an eighth side panel. 
     
     
         7 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 4 , wherein at least one non-overlapping side panel has at least one opening. 
     
     
         8 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein each of the panels have a first face and a second face, the second face opposite the first face, and wherein the first face is adapted to be positioned closer to the contents of the corrugated wrapper than the second face, and one or more of the side panels has at least one cushioning member attached to the first face thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 8 , wherein overlapping side panels comprise at least one interior overlapping side panel and at least one exterior overlapping side panel, wherein an interior overlapping side panel is adapted to be positioned closer to the contents of the corrugated wrapper than an exterior overlapping side panel and wherein at least one cushioning member is attached to the first face of at least two non-adjacent side panels, excluding exterior overlapping side panels. 
     
     
         10 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 9 , wherein the non-adjacent side panels are alternating side panels. 
     
     
         11 . The corrugated wrapper of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the cushioning member is concave in shape. 
     
     
         12 . A method of wrapping a water heater with a corrugated wrapper, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a corrugated wrapper comprising a first side panel, an end side panel and at least five side panels therebetween, at least one side panel having at least one opening sized to allow passage of a valve therethrough;   passing a valve of the water heater through an opening of a side panel; and   wrapping the side panels around the water heater, allowing the end side panel to overlap at least a portion of one of a plurality of side panels, thereby creating overlapping panels and at least one non-overlapping panel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the end side panel overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the end side panel overlaps at least a portion of a side panel located between the first side panel and the end side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein openings are on each of the first side panel and the end side panel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one non-overlapping side panel has at least one opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one non-overlapping side panel has at least one opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the panels has a first face and a second face, the second face opposite the first face, and wherein the first face is adapted to be positioned closer to the contents of the corrugated wrapper than the second face, and at least one side panel has at least one cushioning member attached to the first face of at least one side panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein overlapping side panels comprise at least one interior overlapping side panel and at least one exterior overlapping side panel, wherein an interior overlapping side panel is adapted to be positioned closer to the contents of the corrugated wrapper than an exterior overlapping side panel and wherein at least one cushioning member is attached to the first face of at least two non-adjacent side panels, excluding exterior overlapping side panels. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the non-adjacent side panels are alternating side panels. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the cushioning member is concave in shape.