Articulating dunnage and method of use

Abstract

Articulated dunnage having at least two corner support portions joined along a hinge. The dunnage is movable between an open orientation and a folded configuration. The dunnage may be formed in the open configuration so that the dunnage is biased in the open orientation by the shape memory of the polymeric material. The dunnage is configured to be fitted around a portion of the article and to extend between adjacent corners of the container when in the folded configuration. The present invention also provides a method for packaging using articulating dunnage including the general steps of (a) placing the dunnage in the open configuration on the container over the opening, (b) moving the article into engagement with the dunnage, and (c) inserting the article and dunnage into the container through the opening, the action of inserting the article and dunnage into the container causing the dunnage to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

1 . An article of articulating dunnage for use in a container comprising: 
 a first corner support portion to be fitted into a first corner of the container;    a second corner support portion to be fitted into a second corner of the container; and    a hinge interconnecting said first corner support portion and said second corner support portion, said hinge positioned to be located between the first corner and the second corner when the dunnage is fitted into the container, said hinge permitting said dunnage to be selectively movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The dunnage of  claim 1  wherein the first corner of the container and the second corner of the container are adjacent corners.  
   
   
       3 . The dunnage of  claim 1  wherein the dunnage includes limit contours to prevent articulation of the dunnage beyond a predetermined orientation.  
   
   
       4 . The dunnage of  claim 1  wherein said dunnage is movable between an open configuration in which each of said corner support portions defines a generally triangular-shaped article receiving opening and a closed configuration in which said corner support portions cooperatively define a generally rectangular-shaped article receiving opening.  
   
   
       5 . The dunnage of  claim 1  wherein each corner support portion includes a plurality of alternating article surfaces and container surfaces interconnected by support walls.  
   
   
       6 . The dunnage of  claim 5  wherein said container surfaces define limit contours to prevent articulation of the dunnage beyond a predetermined orientation.  
   
   
       7 . The dunnage of  claim 4  wherein each of said container surfaces defines a corner recess.  
   
   
       8 . The dunnage of  claim 4  wherein each of said article surfaces defines an inner recess.  
   
   
       9 . The dunnage of  claim 7  wherein each of said container surfaces include a first segment to engage a first wall of the container and a second segment to engage a second wall of the container, and wherein said corner recesses are defined by an arcuate segment interconnecting said first segment and said second segment.  
   
   
       10 . The dunnage of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said corner support portions includes an undercut contour that is undercut with respect to a direction in which an article is moved into and out of the dunnage, said undercut contour being undercut when the dunnage is in the closed configuration but not undercut when the dunnage is in the open configuration.  
   
   
       11 . A packaging combination comprising: 
 a container having a first corner and a second corner, said first corner being adjacent to said second corner; and    articulating dunnage selectively movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, said dunnage fitted into said container in said closed configuration, said dunnage including a first corner support portion fitted into said first corner of said container and a second corner support portion fitted into said second corner of said container, said first corner support portion connected to said second corner support portion by a hinge, said hinge disposed between said first corner and said second corner and permitting relative motion between said first corner support portion and said second corner support portion, whereby said dunnage is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position.    
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said first corner and said second corner are adjacent corners, said hinge being located between said first corner and said second corner.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein said dunnage is movable between an open configuration in which each of said corner support portions defines a generally triangular-shaped article receiving opening and a closed configuration in which said corner support portions cooperatively define a generally rectangular-shaped article receiving opening.  
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said dunnage includes limit contours that prevent said dunnage from being articulated beyond a predetermined limit.  
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein said dunnage includes a plurality of alternating article surfaces and container surfaces joined by support walls.  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein said container surfaces include a first container-engaging segment, a second container-engaging segment and an arcuate segment joining said first and second container-engaging segments.  
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said corner support portions includes an undercut contour that is undercut with respect to a direction in which said article is moved into and out of said dunnage, said undercut contour being undercut when said dunnage is in the closed configuration but not undercut when said dunnage is in the open configuration.  
   
   
       18 . A method for packing an article within a container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing articulating dunnage movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration;    providing a container having an open end;    placing the dunnage over the container resting on the open end;    moving an article into engagement with the dunnage; and    inserting the article and dunnage into the container through the opening, the action of inserting the article and dunnage into the container causing the dunnage to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration, the movement of the dunnage into the closed configuration causing the dunnage to close about at least a portion of the article.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the dunnage includes a pair of corner supports joined by a hinge, each of the corner support portions defines a generally triangular-shaped article receiving opening when the dunnage is in the open configuration and wherein the corner support portions cooperatively define a generally rectangular-shaped article receiving opening when the dunnage is in the closed configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said inserting step is further defined as inserting the article and the dunnage into the container through the opening until the corner support portions are seated in adjacent corners of the container.