Accordion Dunnage and Collapsible Dunnage Box With Accordion Dunnage

Abstract

A collapsible dunnage adapted for being positioned in a box for transporting parts that includes a plurality of top-opening pockets for receiving the parts to be transported and formed of a flexible web positioned in side-by-side registration with each other and movable between an expanded use position and a collapsed storage position while being maintained in the same side-by-side registration position. Fastener elements are attached to the dunnage and adapted for fastening the dunnage to complementary fastener elements carried by a box in which the dunnage is adapted to be positioned for use and storage. The box is collapsible and includes features that permit convenient storage of the collapsed accordion dunnage in the collapsed box.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A collapsible dunnage adapted for being positioned in a box for transporting parts, comprising:
 (a) one or more top-opening pockets for receiving the parts to be transported and formed of a flexible webs positioned in side-by-side registration with each other and movable between an expanded use position and a collapsed storage position while being maintained in the same side-by-side registration position;   (b) fastener elements attached to the dunnage and adapted for fastening the dunnage to complementary fastener elements carried by the box in which the dunnage is adapted to be positioned for use and storage.   
     
     
         2 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web is a fabric. 
     
     
         3 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web is selected from the group of webs consisting of fabric, film, plastic and netting. 
     
     
         4 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements are touch fastener elements adapted to fasten to complementary touch fastener elements carried by the box. 
     
     
         5 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements of the dunnage are one or the other of hooks and loops and the fastener elements of the box are complementary of the one or the other of the hooks and loops of the dunnage. 
     
     
         6 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 1 , and including a plurality of pockets having flexible first and second sidewalls and flexible first and second endwalls positioned between and joined to the first and second sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls and first and second endwall configured to provide a generally rectangularly-shaped pocket volume in the use position that are adapted to collapse when empty in an accordion-like manner. 
     
     
         7 . A collapsible box with dunnage , comprising:
 (a) a bottom;   (b) and first and second opposing endwalls mounted for pivotal movement relative to the bottom;   (c) first and second opposed sidewalls connecting the bottom of the box on opposing sides of the box, each of the sidewalls comprising;
 (I) a top sidewall panel; 
 (ii) a bottom sidewall panel attached by a bottom hinge to the bottom; 
 (iii) the top and bottom sidewall panels attached together along adjacent edges by a center hinge, whereby the top and bottom sidewalls are pivotally-moveable relative to each other and the bottom between an erect position and a collapsed storage position; 
 (iv) a collar positioned atop the first and second opposing sidewalls and the first and second opposing endwalls to provide a raised wall that remains erect with perpendicular walls that form a storage volume when the first and second opposing sidewalls and the first and second opposing endwalls are collapsed in a horizontal position; and 
 (v) a collapsible dunnage adapted for being positioned in the box for transporting parts, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of top-opening pockets for receiving the parts to be transported and formed of flexible webs positioned in side-by-side registration with each other and movable between an expanded use position and a collapsed storage position while being maintained in the same side-by-side registration position; and 
 (b) fastener elements attached to the dunnage and adapted for fastening the dunnage to complementary fastener elements carried by a box in which the dunnage is adapted to be positioned for use and storage. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . A collapsible box according to  claim 7 , wherein the endwalls are pivotally-mounted to opposing ends of a top of the box and are adapted to move between a position perpendicular to the top in the erect position and a position parallel to the top in the collapsed storage position. 
     
     
         9 . A collapsible box with dunnage, comprising:
 (a) a bottom, top and first and second opposing endwalls;   (b) first and second opposed sidewalls connecting the bottom and top of the box on opposing sides of the box, each of the sidewalls comprising;
 (I) a top sidewall panel attached by a top hinge to the top; 
 (ii) a bottom sidewall panel attached by a bottom hinge to the bottom; 
 (iii) the top and bottom sidewall panels attached together along adjacent edges by a center hinge, whereby the top and bottom sidewalls are pivotally-moveable relative to each other and the top and bottom between an erect position and a collapsed position; 
 (iv) a collar positioned atop the first and second opposing sidewalls and the first and second opposing endwalls to provide a raised wall that remains erect with perpendicular walls that form a storage volume when the first and second opposing sidewalls and the first and second opposing endwalls are collapsed in a horizontal position; and 
 (v) a dunnage set comprising a plurality of dunnage elements having pockets supported in the collar for extending into the box in an erect use position and adapted for holding parts for shipment and storage, and collapsible with the sidewalls and endwalls for storage in the volume defined by the collar when the box is in a collapsed storage position. 
   
     
     
         10 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible web is a fabric. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible web is selected from the group of webs consisting of fabric, film and netting. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 9 , wherein the fastener elements are touch fastener elements adapted to fasten to complementary touch fastener elements carried by the box. 
     
     
         13 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 9 , wherein the fastener elements of the dunnage are one or the other of hooks and loops and the fastener elements of the box are complementary to the one or the other of the hooks and loops of the dunnage. 
     
     
         14 . A collapsible dunnage according to  claim 9 , wherein the pockets include flexible first and second sidewalls and flexible first and second endwalls positioned between and joined to the first and second sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls and first and second endwall configured to provide a generally rectangularly-shaped pocket volume in the use position that are adapted to collapse when empty in an accordion-like manner.