Down River International, Inc.

Anthony Trassare, Jr

George C Boyse

Thomas J Hamilton

Paul A Wnuk

Oliver L Gee, Jr

Michael J Oliver

A void filler (14, 16) especially suited for filling large volumes is made from first and second panels (18, 20), each panel having a core (26) sandwiched between face sheets (22, 24). The core is typically a corrugated honeycomb core so that the panel is stiff, strong and yet lightweight. The panels each have generally horizontal upper and lower edges (30, 32) and generally vertical first and second (34, 36) edges. The panels are connected at a hinge (44) along their upper edges. A limiter (50), attached at or near the lower edges, limits the movement of the lower edges away from one another so the panels can move from a flat, storage condition to a use condition, exhibiting a generally inverted V-shape. Two void fillers can be hingedly connected to form an M-shaped void filler assembly (2). The void fillers are typically used between a container bulkhead (10) and a load (8); the upper and lower edges of the void filler are aligned between the load and the bulkhead so the forces on the void filler are exerted on the generally vertical edges during transit.

Void filler

An expansible cellular void filler for dunnage uses is formed of a stack of flat, bendable strips, each except the top and bottom of which is secured at alternating longitudinally spaced positions to an overlying strip and to a subjacent strip, the secured positions being aligned in rows in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the flat strips, the spacing between at least two such rows being less than the spacing between other rows, so that when the strips are moved apart and bend to form cells, the cell sidewalls formed by the portions of the strips which extend between said two rows move toward a straight planar relationship prior to the sidewalls of other cells, and limit the expansion of the filler.

Growing community of inventors

Lodi, CA, United States of America

Anthony Trassare, Jr