Corrugated accordion shaped insert for shipping container

Abstract

A corrugated insert for supporting products within a shipping container is disclosed, which includes a plurality of panels foldably connected to one another in such a manner so as to form an accordion configuration that includes an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of medial panels, each medial panel having a matrix of apertures formed therein, wherein the matrix of apertures formed in each medial panel is aligned with the matrix of apertures formed in an adjacent medial panel when the medial panels are in the accordion configuration to receive and support a plurality of products within the shipping container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insert for supporting products within a shipping container, comprising:
 a plurality of panels foldably connected to one another in such a manner so as to form an accordion configuration that includes an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of medial panels, each medial panel having a matrix of apertures formed therein, wherein the matrix of apertures formed in each medial panel is aligned with the matrix of apertures formed in an adjacent medial panel when the medial panels are in the accordion configuration to receive and support a plurality of products within the shipping container.   
     
     
         2 . An insert as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the insert is constructed from a corrugated cardboard material. 
     
     
         3 . An insert as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the insert is constructed from a plurality of panels each having a rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         4 . An insert as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of medial panels includes first, second and third medial panels. 
     
     
         5 . An insert as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the matrix of apertures formed in each of the medial panels include circular apertures. 
     
     
         6 . An insert as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the matrix of apertures formed in each of the medial panels include circular apertures of equal diameter. 
     
     
         7 . An insert as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the matrix of circular apertures formed in each of the medial panels is a three by four rectangular matrix consisting of twelve circular apertures of equal diameter. 
     
     
         8 . An insert for supporting products within a shipping container, comprising:
 a plurality of panels foldably connected to one another in such a manner so as to form an accordion configuration that includes an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of medial panels, each medial panel having a matrix of circular apertures of equal diameter formed therein, wherein the matrix of circular apertures formed in each medial panel is aligned with the matrix of circular apertures formed in an adjacent medial panel when the medial panels are in the accordion configuration to receive and support a plurality of products each having a continuous outer diameter within the shipping container.   
     
     
         9 . An insert as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the insert is constructed from a corrugated cardboard material. 
     
     
         10 . An insert as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the insert is constructed from a plurality of panels each having a rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         11 . An insert as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of medial panels includes first, second and third medial panels. 
     
     
         12 . An insert as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the matrix of circular apertures formed in each of the medial panels is a three by four rectangular matrix consisting of twelve circular apertures of equal diameter. 
     
     
         13 . A corrugated cardboard insert for supporting products within a shipping container, comprising:
 a plurality of rectangular panels foldably connected to one another in such a manner so as to form an accordion configuration that includes an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of medial panels, each medial panel having a rectangular matrix of twelve circular apertures of equal diameter formed therein, wherein the rectangular matrix of twelve circular apertures formed in each medial panel is aligned with the rectangular matrix of twelve circular apertures formed in an adjacent medial panel when the medial panels are in the accordion configuration so as to receive and support twelve beverage containers within the shipping container.   
     
     
         14 . A corrugated cardboard insert as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of medial panels includes first, second and third medial panels. 
     
     
         15 . A corrugated cardboard insert as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the rectangular matrix of twelve circular apertures formed in each of the medial panels is a three by four rectangular matrix.