System and Method of Packaging

Abstract

A packaging assembly is disclosed. The packaging assembly is easily assembled and disassembled for convenient use and provides suspension of an enclosed article by way of an arched structure providing protection from impact, shock and vibration. This suspension package and method is called KLOS PAK.

1 . A package assembly, comprising:
 a container having a bottom surface connected to a first inside side panel opposite a second inside side panel;   an arched member for holding an article inside of the container; and   a support structure for supporting the arched member within the container;   wherein the arched member is comprised of a generally planar material that is shaped into an arched state defined at its outer periphery by a first substantially linear side opposite a second substantially linear side and a first arched curve opposite a second arched curve, the first and the second arched curves connecting the first and the second substantially linear sides, said arched member, except for the first and the second substantially linear sides, lying substantially outside of a plane containing the first and the second substantially linear sides;   wherein the support structure is comprised of a first vertical support integrally connected to the first substantially linear side and a second vertical support integrally connected to the second substantially linear side;   wherein the first vertical support and the second vertical support, except for where they are integrally connected to the first substantially linear side and the second substantially linear side, lie substantially outside of a plane formed by the first substantially linear side and the second substantially linear side; and   wherein at least one of the first and the second substantially linear sides is substantially adjacent one of the first and the second inside side panels.   
     
     
         2 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and the second substantially linear sides contacts one of the first and the second inside side panels. 
     
     
         3 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the arched member is held in the arched state by the first and the second inside side panels. 
     
     
         4 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the generally planar material is pre-tensioned for suspending the article inside of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second vertical supports are sized so as to substantially correspond to a height of the first and the second inside side panels. 
     
     
         6 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second substantially linear sides are integrally formed with the first and the second vertical supports proximate the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second substantially linear sides are integrally formed with the first and the second vertical supports distant from the bottom surface. 
     
     
         8 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the arched member is not supported in the plane except by support of the first and the second substantially linear sides. 
     
     
         9 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the arched member is comprised of a resilient member and a retention member. 
     
     
         10 . The package assembly of  claim 9  wherein the arched member is further comprised of a frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The package assembly of  claim 9  wherein the resilient member is comprised of two or more layers of a resilient material. 
     
     
         12 . The package assembly of  claim 9  wherein the retention member is comprised of two or more layers of a retention material. 
     
     
         13 . The package assembly of  claim 1  wherein the arched member is a primary packaging of the article. 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a container having a bottom surface connected to a first inside side panel opposite a second inside side panel;   an article of manufacture;   an arched member holding the article inside of the container; and   a support structure for supporting the arched member within the container;   wherein the arched member is comprised of a generally planar material that is shaped into an arched state defined at its outer periphery by a first substantially linear side opposite a second substantially linear side and a first arched curve opposite a second arched curve, the first and the second arched curves connecting the first and the second substantially linear sides, said arched member, except for the first and the second substantially linear sides, lying substantially outside of a plane containing the first and the second substantially linear sides;   wherein the support structure is comprised of a first vertical support integrally connected to the first substantially linear side and a second vertical support integrally connected to the second substantially linear side;   wherein the first vertical support and the second vertical support, except for where they are integrally connected to the first substantially linear side and the second substantially linear side, lie substantially outside of a plane formed by the first substantially linear side and the second substantially linear side; and   wherein at least one of the first and the second substantially linear sides is substantially adjacent one of the first and the second inside side panels.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the arched member has an arched contour that is anomalous to a contour of the article without a significant load bearing area contacting the article. 
     
     
         16 . The package assembly of  claim 14  wherein the arched member is held in the arched state by the first and the second inside side panels. 
     
     
         17 . A package assembly, comprising:
 a container having a bottom surface connected to a first inside side panel opposite a second inside side panel; and   a plurality of arched members for holding a plurality of articles supported by the container;   wherein each of the plurality of arched members is comprised of a generally planar material that is shaped into an arched state defined at its outer periphery by a first substantially linear side opposite a second substantially linear side and a first arched curve opposite a second arched curve, the first and the second arched curves connecting the first and the second substantially linear sides, said each arched member, except for the first and the second substantially linear sides, lying substantially outside of a plane containing the first and the second substantially linear sides; and   wherein at least one of the first and the second substantially linear sides of at least one of the plurality of arched members is substantially adjacent one of the first and the second inside side panels.   
     
     
         18 . The package assembly of  claim 17  wherein, for each of the plurality of arched members, the first substantially linear side is supported by a first vertical support integrally formed with the first substantially linear side, the second substantially linear side is supported by a second vertical support integrally formed with second substantially linear side, and the first and the second vertical supports are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 
     
     
         19 . The package assembly of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of arched members is comprised of at least a first arched member, a second arched member and a third arched member, the second substantially linear side of the first arched member being adjacent the first substantially linear side of the second arched member, the second substantially linear side of the second arched member being adjacent the first substantially linear side of the third arched member.