Dunnage assembly

Abstract

A dunnage assembly for reducing or preventing movement of items during transportation, is provided comprising first and second panels, arranged substantially parallel and aligned. Each of the first and second panels having least one recess and at least one elongate spacer element received in respective recesses of the first and second panels, such that the at least one spacer element holds the first panel apart from the second panel, and wherein a width of the dunnage assembly between respective first and second panels is configurable by choosing a length of the at least one spacer element.

1 . A dunnage assembly for reducing or preventing movement of items during transportation, comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel, the first and second panels each having a first side, a second side substantially opposite the first side, and at least one recess extending from the first side into the panel;   at least one elongate spacer element received in respective recesses of the first and second panels, such that the at least one spacer element holds the first panel apart from the second panel;   wherein a width of the dunnage assembly between respective second sides of the first and second panels is adjustable by changing a length of the at least one spacer element.   
     
     
         2 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a major axis of the at least one spacer element is substantially perpendicular to a major axis of the first panel and a major axis of the second panel. 
     
     
         3 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element has a cross-sectional shape and the respective recesses have a corresponding shape. 
     
     
         4 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the spacer element and the corresponding shape of the recesses is a rectangle or a square. 
     
     
         5 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element and the respective recesses are sized to have an interference fit to hold the spacer element in the respective recesses. 
     
     
         6 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the dunnage assembly comprises a plurality of elongate spacer elements and the first and second panels each comprise a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of elongate spacer elements. 
     
     
         7 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels each comprise one or more inner panel members for providing strength and rigidity to the first and second panels. 
     
     
         8 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second panels each comprise three to five inner panel members. 
     
     
         9 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the inner panel members are formed from a folded corrugated cardboard material, such that the inner panel members comprise a plurality of layers of corrugated cardboard material. 
     
     
         10 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second panels each comprise a panel cover formed from a solid cardboard material, the panel cover extending around at least three sides of the panel, and wherein the inner panel members are spaced apart from each other, and the panel cover wraps around the inner panel members and holds them in a spaced apart configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the recesses extend through a first side of the panel cover, but not in an opposed second side. 
     
     
         12 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are aligned parallel to each other, and the recesses in the first and second panels are located symmetrically such that corresponding recesses in the first and second panels face each other. 
     
     
         13 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element comprises at least one line of weakness for enabling a portion of the spacer element to be removed prior to assembly with the first and second panels, in order to adjust the width of the dunnage assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the spacer element comprises an inner spacer member for providing strength and rigidity to the spacer element, the inner spacer member formed from a folded corrugated cardboard material, such that the inner spacer member comprises a plurality of layers of corrugated cardboard material. 
     
     
         15 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the spacer element further comprises a spacer cover formed from a solid cardboard material, the spacer cover extending around at least three sides of the spacer element. 
     
     
         16 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the spacer cover comprises at least one printed line that is aligned with the line of weakness in the inner spacer member. 
     
     
         17 . The dunnage assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the spacer element comprises a plurality of lines of weakness spaced apart from each other along the length of the spacer element. 
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling a dunnage assembly, comprising:
 providing a first panel and a second panel, the first and second panels each having a first side, a second side substantially opposite the first side, and at least one recess extending from the first side into the panel;   selecting at least one elongate spacer element having a suitable length for achieving a desired width of the dunnage assembly between respective second sides of the first and second panels;   introducing a first end of the elongate spacer element into the recess of the first panel, and introducing a second end of the elongate spacer element into the recess of the second panel, such that the elongate spacer element holds the first panel apart from the second panel.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one elongate spacer element comprises at least one line of weakness, and the step of selecting at least one elongate spacer element comprises adjusting a length of the elongate spacer element by removing a portion of the elongate spacer element along the line of weakness. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of elongate spacer elements are introduced into respective recesses in the first and second panels.