The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 20, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 02, 2003
Ivan Neil Liverman, Middlesex, NC (US);
Mark Edmund Maresh, Grand Ledge, MI (US);
Jeffrey Jay Miller, Cary, NC (US);
Eric Allen Stegner, Durham, NC (US);
Robert William Stegner, Durham, NC (US);
Christopher Michael Turner, Raleigh, NC (US);
Ivan Neil Liverman, Middlesex, NC (US);
Mark Edmund Maresh, Grand Ledge, MI (US);
Jeffrey Jay Miller, Cary, NC (US);
Eric Allen Stegner, Durham, NC (US);
Robert William Stegner, Durham, NC (US);
Christopher Michael Turner, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A packaging assembly comprising a standard molded cushion solution that can accommodate variations in dimensions of predetermined products, including weight, while providing protection to an equipment component (or other fragile or breakable item) enclosed therein, ease in use during pre-packing and packing of an equipment component for transport, shock protection during transport, and is economically suited for its end use, is provided for. The present invention is a molded, cushion having interlocking columns which adjust the contacting areas of the cushion in relation to the product height and/or weight differences. The present invention is advantageously designed using specific geometries and interlocking columns which, contrary to traditional designs, benefit from the stressing and flexing characteristics of paper fiber.