Retention packaging system

Abstract

A packaging assembly for packaging and maintaining an article within a container can include a retention member configured to engage the sidewalls of the container so as to releaseably retain the retention member in the open interior space of the container. The retention member can include a releasable latching mechanism for securing the retention member in the container. The latching mechanism can be formed with foldable panels that are biased towards an extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging assembly for packaging an article and maintaining the article therein, the packaging assembly comprising:
 a container comprising:
 a top, a bottom, and first, second, third and fourth sidewalls;
 wherein the top is configured to be moved between opened and closed positions; 
 wherein in the closed position, the top, bottom, first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall form an enclosed interior space and in the opened position form an open interior space; 
 wherein the top comprises first, second, third and fourth top panels that are foldable between the opened and closed positions; 
 
 a first projection fixed to an inner surface of the first sidewall, the first projection comprising a first projection side surface facing toward the second sidewall and a first latching surface extending perpendicular to the first sidewall and parallel to the bottom such that the first latching surface faces toward the bottom;
 wherein the first projection is formed monolithically with the first top panel; 
 
 a second projection fixed to an inner surface of the second sidewall which is opposite to the first sidewall, the second projection comprising a second projection side surface facing toward the first sidewall and a second latching surface extending perpendicular to the second sidewall and parallel to the bottom such that the second latching surface faces toward the bottom of the container;
 wherein the second projection is formed monolithically with the second top panel; 
 wherein the first and second projection side surfaces are spaced apart by a first spacing and the inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls are spaced apart by a second spacing that is larger than the first spacing; 
 
   an article comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the article is positioned in the enclosed interior space, between the top, bottom, first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall, with the first side portion juxtaposed to the first sidewall, the second side portion juxtaposed to the second sidewall, the top portion juxtaposed to the top, and the bottom portion juxtaposed to the bottom; and   a retention member configured to engage the first and second projections to retain the article within the open interior space, the retention member comprising:
 a central panel portion including first and second edges, the central panel portion further comprising a resiliently deflectable portion configured to resiliently deform about at least the top portion of the article; 
 a first panel portion attached to the first edge so as to be foldable between extended and folded positions; 
 a second panel portion attached to the second edge so as to be foldable between extended and folded positions; 
 wherein the first and second panel portions are biased towards the extended position; 
 wherein the central panel portion comprises a central panel width extending between the first and second edges that is approximately equal to or less than the first spacing; 
 wherein the central, first, and second panel portions are sized such that then the first and second panel portions are in the folded position, an overall effective width of the retention member is about equal to or less than the first spacing; 
 wherein the central, first, and second panel portions are sized such that then the first and second panel portions are in the extended position, an overall effective width of the retention member is about larger than the first spacing; 
   wherein the retention member is sized and configured such that during insertion of the retention member into the container having the article positioned in the open interior space, the first and second panel portions make contact with the first and second projections so as to fold the first and second panel portions towards the folded position, then after the resiliently deflectable portion of the central panel portion makes contact with the top portion of the article, the first and second panel portions snap outwardly towards the extended position so as to be positioned in opposing juxtaposition to the first and second latching surfaces of the first and second projections, respectively;   wherein the retention member is configured with sufficient structural strength to retain the article within the open interior space when the container, in the open position, is turned upside down with the article positioned between the retention member and the bottom of the container and with the retention member engaged with the first and second projections.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  additionally comprising a platform member between the bottom portion of the article and the bottom of the container, the platform member maintaining a spacing between the bottom portion of the article and the bottom of the container, and wherein the platform member is formed monolithically with the top, bottom, and first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , first and second panel portions comprise first and second finger grip cutouts sized to allow a user to insert a finger below the first and second latching surfaces to fold the first and second panel portions toward the folded position for disengaging the retention member from the first and second projections. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging assembly for packaging an article and maintaining the article therein, the packaging assembly comprising:
 a container comprising:
 a top, a bottom, and first, second, third and fourth sidewalls;
 wherein the top is configured to be moved between opened and closed positions; 
 wherein in the closed position, the top, bottom, first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall form an enclosed interior space and in the opened position form an open interior space; 
 wherein the top comprises first, second, third and fourth top panels that are foldable between the opened and closed positions; 
 
 a first projection fixed to an inner surface of the first sidewall, the first projection comprising a first projection side surface facing toward the second sidewall and a first latching surface extending perpendicular to the first sidewall and parallel to the bottom such that the first latching surface faces toward the bottom; 
 a second projection fixed to an inner surface of the second sidewall which is opposite to the first sidewall, the second projection comprising a second projection side surface facing toward the first sidewall and a second latching surface extending perpendicular to the second sidewall and parallel to the bottom such that the second latching surface faces toward the bottom of the container;
 wherein the first and second projection side surfaces are spaced apart by a first spacing and the inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls are spaced apart by a second spacing that is larger than the first spacing; 
 
   a retention member configured to engage the first and second projections to retain an article within the open interior space, the retention member comprising:
 a central panel portion including first and second edges, the central panel portion further comprising a resiliently deflectable portion configured to resiliently deform about at least the top portion of the article; 
 a first panel portion attached to the first edge so as to be foldable between extended and folded positions; 
 a second panel portion attached to the second edge so as to be foldable between extended and folded positions; 
 wherein the first and second panel portions are biased towards the extended position; 
 wherein the central, first, and second panel portions are sized such that then the first and second panel portions are in the extended position, an overall effective width of the retention member is about larger than the first spacing; 
   wherein the retention member is configured with sufficient structural strength to retain the article within the open interior space when the container, in the open position, is turned upside down with the article positioned between the retention member and the bottom of the container and with the retention member engaged with the first and second projections.   
     
     
         5 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4  additionally comprising a platform member positioned in the container and between the bottom portion of the container and the first and second projections, the platform member being configured to maintain a spacing between the bottom of the container and an article within the container and wherein the platform member is formed monolithically with the container. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second panel portions comprise first and second finger grip cutouts sized to allow a user to insert a finger below the first and second latching surfaces to fold the first and second panel portions toward the folded position for disengaging the retention member from the first and second projections. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4  additionally comprising an article comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the article is positioned in the enclosed interior space, between the top, bottom, first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall, with the first side portion juxtaposed to the first sidewall, the second side portion juxtaposed to the second sidewall, the top portion juxtaposed to the top, and the bottom portion juxtaposed to the bottom of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second projections are formed monolithically with the container. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the central panel portion comprises a central panel width extending between the first and second edges that is approximately equal to or less than the first spacing. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the central, first, and second panel portions are sized such that then the first and second panel portions are in the folded position, an overall effective width of the retention member is about equal to or less than the first spacing. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the retention member is sized and configured such that during insertion of the retention member into the container having an article positioned in the open interior space, the first and second panel portions make contact with the first and second projections so as to fold the first and second panel portions towards the folded position, then after the resiliently deflectable portion of the central panel portion makes contact with the top portion of the article, the first and second panel portions snap outwardly towards the extended position so as to be positioned in opposing juxtaposition to the first and second latching surfaces of the first and second projections, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging assembly for packaging an article and maintaining the article therein, the packaging assembly comprising:
 a container comprising:
 a top, a bottom, and first, second, third and fourth sidewalls;
 wherein the top is configured to be moved between opened and closed positions; 
 wherein in the closed position, the top, bottom, first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall form an enclosed interior space and in the opened position form an open interior space; 
 
   a retention member configured to engage the first and second sidewalls of the container so as to releaseably retain the retention member in the open interior space of the container, the retention member comprising:
 a central panel portion including first and second edges, the central panel portion being configured to retain an article within open interior space. 
   
     
     
         13 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12  additionally comprising a platform member positioned in the container, the platform member being configured to maintain a spacing between the bottom of the container and an article within the container and wherein the platform member is formed monolithically with the container. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the container comprises first and second projections spaced apart by a first spacing, the retention member being configured to engage the first and second projections. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the retention member comprises first and second panel portions sized such that then the first and second panel portions are in a folded position, an overall effective width of the retention member is about equal to or less than the first spacing. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the retention member is sized and configured such that during insertion of the retention member into the container having an article positioned in the open interior space, the first and second panel portions make contact with the first and second projections so as to fold the first and second panel portions towards the folded position, then after the central panel portion makes contact with a top portion of the article, the first and second panel portions snap outwardly towards an extended position so as to be positioned in opposing juxtaposition to the first and second projections, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the container further comprises:
 a first projection fixed to an inner surface of the first sidewall, the first projection comprising a first projection side surface facing toward the second sidewall and a first latching surface extending perpendicular to the first sidewall and parallel to the bottom such that the first latching surface faces toward the bottom; and   a second projection fixed to an inner surface of the second sidewall which is opposite to the first sidewall, the second projection comprising a second projection side surface facing toward the first sidewall and a second latching surface extending perpendicular to the second sidewall and parallel to the bottom such that the second latching surface faces toward the bottom of the container.   
     
     
         18 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the retention member comprises a releaseable latch configured to releaeasbly secure the retention member to the open interior space of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the retention member comprises a first panel portion attached to the first edge so as to be foldable between extended and folded positions, a second panel portion attached to the second edge so as to be foldable between extended and folded positions, wherein the first and second panel portions are biased towards the extended position, and wherein the central, first, and second panel portions are sized such that the first and second panel portions engage the first and second sidewalls of the container when they are in the extended position. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the retention member is configured with sufficient structural strength to retain an article within the open interior space when the container, in the open position, is turned upside down with the article positioned between the retention member and the bottom of the container.