Corner protector

Abstract

A pair of opposing side walls ( 23, 24 ) are joined by substantially perpendicular bridging walls ( 31, 32 ) provided with an outer wall ( 41, 42 ) which is spaced from the bridging wall by a longitudinal connecting wall ( 43 ) and spaced transverse connecting walls ( 44 ). The outer wall ( 41, 42 ) is intended to be crushed under the force of a heavy impact. The longitudinal wall ( 43 ) is offset from the centre line so that even in the event of a square-on impact the outer wall can still deform inwardly on one side. The inner faces of the bridging walls ( 31, 32 ) include a longitudinally-extending support surface bounded by side channels ( 36, 37 ) having side faces which are coplanar with the inner faces of the side walls ( 23, 24 ). Such an arrangement allows the side walls to flex outwardly within the depth of the channels and provides an improved grip and improved tolerance with respect to the thickness of the protected article.

1 . A corner protector which is moulded from plastics material and includes a pair of opposing side walls ( 23 ,  24 ) connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls ( 31 ,  32 ),
 characterised in that, for at least part of their length, the bridging walls ( 31 ,  32 ) are provided with an outer crush zone including an outer wall ( 41 ,  42 ) which is spaced from the bridging wall by an intermediate connecting structure ( 43 ,  44 ).   
     
     
         2 . A corner protector according to  claim 1  in which the connecting structure includes a plurality of mutually spaced connecting walls ( 44 ) which extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the respective bridging wall ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     
     
         3 . A corner protector according to  claim 1  in which the connecting structure includes a longitudinal connecting wall ( 43 ) which extends along the length of each bridging wall ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     
     
         4 . A corner protector according to  claim 3  in which the longitudinal wall ( 43 ) is offset from a centre line of the respective bridging wall ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     
     
         5 . A corner protector according to  claim 1  in which inner faces of the bridging walls ( 31 ,  32 ) include longitudinally-extending support surface ( 33 ,  34 ) bounded by side channels ( 36 ,  37 ) having side faces which are coplanar with inner faces of the aforesaid side walls ( 23 ,  24 ), and in which the depth of each side channel is greater than its width. 
     
     
         6 . A corner protector according to  claim 5  in which the support surface ( 33 ,  34 ) includes at least one longitudinally-extending intermediate channel ( 35 ) between the side channels ( 36 ,  37 ). 
     
     
         7 . A corner protector which is moulded from plastics material and includes a pair of opposing side walls ( 23 ,  24 ) connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls ( 31 ,  32 ),
 characterized in that inner faces of the bridging walls ( 31 ,  32 ) include a longitudinally-extending support surface ( 33 ,  34 ) bounded by side channels ( 36 ,  37 ) having side faces which are coplanar with inner faces of the aforesaid side walls ( 23 ,  24 ), and in which the depth of each side channel is greater than its width.   
     
     
         8 . A corner protector according to  claim 2  in which the connecting structure includes a longitudinal connecting wall ( 43 ) which extends along the length of each bridging wall ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     
     
         9 . A corner protector according to  claim 8  in which the longitudinal wall ( 43 ) is offset from a centre line of the respective bridging wall  31 ,  32 .