Self-Nesting Wavy Surface

Abstract

A surface is presented that, when interposed with an identically configured surface, automatically aligns and positions the two surfaces together. The surface is comprised of a set of contoured waves arranged on and around intersecting axes and on and around the perimeter of a plain or surface in such a way that the high points or peaks in one surface are matched by low points or troughs at mirroring locations on the interposed surface. One application of an embodiment of the invention is the use of the surface on a hub for a packaging container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system comprising;
 a first package configured with a top surface, a bottom surface and four side walls meeting in corners to form a rectangular structure;   a first hub located at one or more corners configured to accept and secure the top surface and one or more side walls, the surface of the first hub that is co-planar with the top surface of the first package having a peak and a trough;   and a second package also configured with a top surface, a bottom surface and four side walls meeting in corners to form a rectangular structure;   a second hub having the same shape as the first hub located at one or more corners configured to accept and secure the bottom surface and one or more side walls, the surface of the second hub that is co-planar with the bottom surface of the second package having a peak and a trough;   wherein when the second package is placed on top of the first package such that the sidewalls of the packages are in general alignment, the peak of the first hub aligns with the trough of the second hub.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the peak of the second hub also aligns with the trough of the first hub. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein when the first hub is located at each of the four top corners of the first package and the second hub is located at each of the four bottom corners of the second package, the second package may be rotated 90 degrees around a vertical axis from the first package and the peak of one of the first hubs will again align with the trough of one of the second hubs. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein when the first hub is located at each of the four top corners of the first package and the second hub is located at each of the four bottom corners of the second package, the second package may be rotated 180 degrees around a vertical axis from the first package and the peak of one of the first hubs will again align with the trough of one of the second hubs. 
     
     
         5 . A stacking system comprising:
 a first surface that is generally co-planar with the top of a first cuboid, the first surface having a first peak and a first trough aligned along an x axis and a second peak and a second trough aligned along an intersecting y axis, wherein the first peak and the second peak extend upward along the z axis and the first trough and the second trough extend downward along the z axis;   a second surface that is generally coplanar with the bottom of a second cuboid, the second surface having a third peak and a third trough aligned along an x axis and a fourth peak and a fourth trough aligned along a y axis, wherein the third peak and the fourth peak extend downward along the z axis and the third trough and the fourth trough extend upward along the z axis;   and wherein when the second cuboid is placed on top of and in general alignment with the first cuboid, the first peak aligns with the third trough and the first trough aligns with the third peak.   
     
     
         6 . The stacking system of  claim 5 , wherein when the second cuboid is placed on top of and in general alignment with the first cuboid, the second peak also aligns with the fourth trough and the second trough aligns with the fourth peak. 
     
     
         7 . The stacking system of  claim 5 , wherein the first surface includes one or more side components extending downward along the z axis for securing the wall components of the first cuboid to the top. 
     
     
         8 . A corner hub for a package comprising:
 one or more vertical surfaces configured to accept support members for at least a side wall and a top wall of the package, wherein the surface of the hub that is generally coplanar with the top of the package is configured with a peak and a trough such that, when an identically configured second hub is inverted, the peak of the second hub aligns with the trough of the first hub.   
     
     
         9 . The corner hub of  claim 8 , wherein the support members include at least one support for the side of the package and one support for the top of the package. 
     
     
         10 . The hub of  claim 8 , wherein the hub is one molded article. 
     
     
         11 . The hub of  claim 8  wherein a non-slip coating is applied over the horizontal surface to further prevent slippage between juxtaposed surfaces.