USOO7383952B2
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Kruelle et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,383,952 B2
`Jun. 10, 2008
`
`(54) CORNER OR EDGE PROTECTOR
`EXHIBITING IMPROVED FLEXURAL
`STRENGTH AND RESISTANCE
`PROPERTIES
`
`(75) Inventors: John Kruelle, Glendale, AZ (US);
`Jerry Robin Hayes, Florence, SC (US)
`(73) Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL
`US
`(US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 375 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/115,355
`(22) Filed:
`Apr. 27, 2005
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2006/0243621 A1
`Nov. 2, 2006
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`B65D 8L/02
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................................... 206/453; 206/586
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 206/320,
`206/326,453, 586,597; 229/199; 217/66,
`217/67, 69; 248/345.1
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`1, 1904 Beisel
`749,834 A
`6, 1935 Hann
`2,004,626 A
`2,266,181 A 12/1941 Epps
`D192,385 S
`3, 1962 Anderson
`3,049,260 A
`8, 1962 Stone
`3,073,439 A
`1/1963 Symmonds, Jr.
`3,152,693. A 10, 1964 Anderson
`3, 199,709 A
`8, 1965 Morrison et al.
`3,203,726 A
`8, 1965 Smith
`3.416,652 A 12/1968 Almasy
`3,536,245 A 10, 1970 Palmer
`D225,829 S
`1, 1973 Szabo
`
`9, 1975 Jureit et al.
`3,908,850 A
`5/1976 Collingwood
`3,955,677 A
`4,120,441 A * 10/1978 Hurley ....................... 206,586
`4,201,138 A
`5, 1980 COX
`4,202,449 A
`5, 1980 Bendt
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2624103
`6, 1989
`
`FR
`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner David T Fidei
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Steven W. Weinrieb
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A new and improved external corner protector is fabricated
`from predetermined materials and comprises a vertex por
`tion, and a pair of leg members which diverge outwardly at
`a predetermined included angle with respect to each other
`from the vertex portion. The vertex portion and distal end
`portions of the leg members have relatively enlarged cross
`sectional dimensions relative to the cross-sectional dimen
`sions comprising those portions of the leg members which
`integrally interconnect the distal end portions of the leg
`members to the vertex portion, wherein the relatively
`enlarged cross-sectional dimensions serve to reinforce the
`vertex portion and to dispose only such relatively enlarged
`distal end portions of the leg members into contact with the
`external side wall members of the palletized load which
`define the external corner region being protected. In this
`manner, the leg members of the external corner protector are
`flexed more than has conventionally been the case such that
`forces are generated and transmitted to the vertex portion So
`as to rigidify the same whereby the vertex portion will
`exhibit enhanced flexural strength and bending resistance
`properties with respect to external forces which may be
`impressed upon the external corner protector thereby tend
`ing to flex or bend the same.
`
`20 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
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`
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`US 7,383,952 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1/1981 Plante
`4,244,471 A
`5, 1981 COX
`4,265,184 A
`4,292,901. A 10/1981 Cox
`4,399,915 A
`8, 1983 Sorenson
`4,482,054 A 11, 1984 Gardner
`4.483,444 A 11/1984 Gardner ...................... 206,594
`4496,054 A
`1, 1985 Koltun
`4,714,163 A 12/1987 Reeves
`4,742,916 A
`5/1988 Galea ......................... 206,586
`4,771,893 A
`9, 1988 Liebel
`4,871,063 A 10/1989 Kumbier
`4,874,095 A 10/1989 Warych
`4,877,673 A 10/1989 Eckel et al.
`4,899,888 A
`2f1990 Shawler
`4,925,512 A
`5, 1990 Briand
`5,040,684 A
`8, 1991 Knowles
`5,048,689 A
`9, 1991 McFarland
`5,056,664 A 10, 1991 Demers
`
`7, 1992 Liebel
`5,131,541 A
`5,161,692 A 1 1/1992 Knierim
`5,175,041 A 12/1992 Webb et al.
`5,181,611 A
`1/1993 Liebel
`D336,033 S
`6, 1993 Welsh
`5,267,651 A * 12/1993 Hughes ...................... 206,586
`5,277.310 A
`1, 1994 Mertz
`5,307,928 A
`5/1994 Bishop
`5,385,236 A *
`1/1995 Cowan et al. .............. 206,453
`5,813,537 A
`9, 1998 Dereu et al.
`5,918,800 A * 7/1999 Goshorn et al. ............ 229,199
`6,234,314 B1
`5/2001 Qiu et al.
`6,464,080 B1 * 10/2002 Morris et al. ............... 206,591
`6,520,336 B2
`2/2003 Baechle
`6,527,119 B1
`3/2003 Markert et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5-170264
`JP
`* cited by examiner
`
`7, 1993
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 10, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
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`US 7,383,952 B2
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`
`
`FIG. 1
`(PRIOR ART)
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 10, 2008
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`Sheet 2 of 2
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`US 7,383,952 B2
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`FIG. 4
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`314
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`322
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`US 7,383,952 B2
`
`1.
`CORNER OR EDGE PROTECTOR
`EXHIBITING IMPROVED FLEXURAL
`STRENGTH AND RESISTANCE
`PROPERTIES
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`Substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, or lon
`gitudinal extent, of the external corner or edge protectors by
`means of the aforenoted Strapping, lashing, ropes, stretch
`film, bands, or the like. If this was not the case, that is, if the
`structural integrity of the external corner or edge protectors
`was not in fact preserved, and was in fact compromised, then
`obviously, the utility or usefulness of the external corner or
`edge protectors, with respect to the protection of the external
`corner or edge portions of the packages, articles, products,
`palletized loads, or the like, would likewise be compro
`mised.
`Continuing further, various factors influence or determine
`the flexural properties, or flexural strength or resistance
`values, characteristic of an external corner or edge protector.
`For example, one critically important factor which influ
`ences or determines the flexural properties, or flexural
`strength or resistance values, characteristic of an external
`corner or edge protector, comprises the material from which
`the external corner or edge protector is fabricated, and in
`addition, whether or not such external corner or edge pro
`tector has a solid or substantially hollow structure. For
`example, as can be appreciated from the aforenoted patent
`which was issued to Liebel, the corner post disclosed within
`Such patent is fabricated from laminated paperboard, and in
`addition, the corner post has a paperboard spine, which
`substantially comprises a hollow structure formed by folding
`end portions thereof back upon themselves, secured to the
`external surface of the corner post per se. In view of the fact
`that the corner post and spine components are fabricated
`from paperboard, their flexural resistance properties would
`probably not be as high as may be expected if the corner post
`and spine components were fabricated from other more
`rigidified materials, and in addition, if Such structural com
`ponents were exposed to moist conditions, which may
`develop or prevail within different cargo holds, or as a result
`of having particular products disposed internally within the
`packages, palletized loads, or the like, the structural integrity
`of the corner post and spine components could be jeopar
`dized.
`Still further, the fact that external corner or edge protec
`tors may be fabricated from other materials may likewise
`provide Such external corner or edge protectors with desir
`able shock absorption or cushioning properties, but, again,
`they may not provide Such external corner or edge protectors
`with the desired flexural resistance properties. It is seen, for
`example, that the external corner or edge protectors of Galea
`are fabricated from molded fiber or pulp material, while the
`external corner or edge protector of Cowan et al. is fabri
`cated from a combination of a soft thermoplastic material,
`Such as, for example, low density polyethylene, for its
`cylindrical members, and a rigid thermoplastic material,
`Such as, for example, high density polypropylene, for its
`connecting web members. As can therefore be readily appre
`ciated, not only is the particular type of material, from which
`the external corner or edge protector structural components
`are fabricated, critically important in connection with the
`various structural and lifetime service qualities exhibited by
`the external corner or edge protectors, but in addition, the
`amount and weight of the material required to fabricate Such
`external corner or edge protector structural components is
`also a critically important factor to be considered from a
`manufacturing cost-effective or economically viable point of
`view. It would therefore be desirable to fabricate an external
`corner or edge protector which could not only exhibit, for
`example, flexural strength or bending resistance qualities
`which would be comparable to those of conventional exter
`nal corner or edge protectors, but in addition, could effec
`
`The present invention relates generally to external corner
`or edge protectors for protecting the external corner or edge
`regions of packages, articles, products, palletized loads, and
`the like, and more particularly to a new and improved
`external corner or edge protector which not only protectively
`Surrounds or envelops an external corner or edge region of
`a package, article, product, palletized load, or the like, but in
`addition, is fabricated from predetermined materials, and is
`uniquely structured so as to facilitate either a reduction in the
`amount of material required in order to fabricate the external
`corner or edge protector whereby the flexural strength or
`resistance properties of the external edge or corner protector
`can be preserved as compared to conventional external
`corner or edge protectors, or alternatively, the new and
`improved external edge or corner protector can be fabricated
`from Suitable materials having Volume and weight param
`eters comparable to those of conventional external corner or
`edge protectors whereby, as a result of the aforenoted unique
`structure, the flexural strength or resistance properties of the
`external edge or corner protector can be enhanced as com
`pared to conventional external edge or corner protectors.
`
`10
`
`15
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`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`30
`
`External package, article, product, or palletized load cor
`ner or edge protectors, corner post Supports, and the like, are
`of course well-known in the packaging, shipping, and trans
`portation industries, and are accordingly widely used in
`connection with the packaging, shipping, and transportation
`of various packages, articles, products, palletized loads, and
`the like, wherein it is particularly desirable to protect the
`external corner or edge portions or regions of the packages,
`articles, products, palletized loads, or the like, during transit.
`Typical or conventional external corner or edge protectors,
`which may be used upon various packages, articles, pallet
`ized loads, products, and the like, are disclosed, for example,
`within U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,800 which was issued to Goshorn
`et al. on Jul. 6, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,236 which was
`issued to Cowan et al. on Jan. 31, 1995, U.S. Pat. No.
`5,181,611 which was issued to Liebel on Jan. 26, 1993, U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,877,673 which was issued to Eckel et al. on Oct.
`31, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,916 which was issued to Galea
`on May 10, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,449 which was
`issued to Bendt on May 13, 1980. As can readily be seen
`from, for example, the aforenoted patents to Goshorn et al.,
`Cowan et al., Liebel, Eckel et al., and Bendt, after the
`external corner or edge protectors have been conventionally
`applied to, or mounted upon, the external corner or edge
`portions of a particular palletized load, package, article,
`product, or the like, the external corner or edge protectors
`are Subsequently secured upon the package, article, product,
`palletized load, or the like, by means of Suitable package
`strapping, lashing, stretch film, ropes, bands, or the like. It
`can therefore be appreciated that, in order to preserve the
`structural integrity of the strapped or banded package,
`article, product, palletized load, or the like, it is imperative
`that the structural integrity of the external corner or edge
`protector is itself preserved in connection with, for example,
`flexural or bending forces which are oriented or impressed
`upon the external corner or edge protectors in directions
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`3
`tively be fabricated with a predeterminedly reduced amount
`of material or weight, or alternatively, it would be desirable
`to fabricate an external corner or edge protector which, for
`a predetermined amount of material and weight, could
`exhibit flexural strength or resistance properties which
`would exceed those of conventional external corner or edge
`protectors.
`A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved
`external corner or edge protector, for protecting the external
`corner or edge region of a package, article, product, pallet
`ized load, and the like, wherein the amount of material that
`is required in connection with the manufacture or fabrication
`of Such an external corner or edge protector could be
`Substantially reduced as compared to conventional external
`corner or edge protectors, but still further, the external
`corner or edge protector would be provided with unique and
`novel structure which would not only serve to protect the
`external corner or edge region of the package, article,
`product, palletized load, and the like, but in addition, could
`achieve levels of structural integrity and flexural strength or
`bending resistance which would be comparable to those of
`conventional external corner or edge protectors, or alterna
`tively, wherein the amount of material that is required in
`connection with the manufacture or fabrication of Such an
`external corner or edge protector would be substantially the
`same as that of conventional external corner or edge pro
`tectors, however, the unique and novel structure of the
`external corner or edge protector would enable enhanced
`levels of structural integrity and flexural strength or bending
`resistance to be achieved.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`35
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`40
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`45
`
`The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accor
`dance with the teachings and principles of the present
`invention through the provision of a new and improved
`external angleboard corner or edge protector which is fab
`ricated from predetermined materials and which is uniquely
`structured. In particular, the new and improved external
`angleboard edge or corner protector is fabricated from high
`density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high density polyethyl
`ene (UHDPE), high molecular weight polyethylene (HM
`WPE), high density polypropylene (HDPP), high density
`polyvinylchloride (HDPVC), high density polystyrene
`(HDPS), high density polyethylene terephthalate (HDPET),
`and the like. In addition, the external corner or edge pro
`tector structurally comprises a corner or edge vertex portion,
`a pair of leg members which diverge outwardly at a prede
`termined included angle with respect to each other from the
`corner or edge vertex portion, and distal end portions formed
`upon each one of the pair of leg members, wherein the
`corner or edge vertex portion, and the distal end portions of
`the leg members have relatively enlarged cross-sectional
`dimensions or areas relative to the cross-sectional areas or
`dimensions comprising those portions of the leg members
`which integrally interconnect the distal end portions of the
`leg members to the corner or edge vertex portion.
`The provision of the corner or edge vertex portion of the
`external corner or edge protector with the relatively enlarged
`cross-sectional area or dimension serves to effectively rein
`force Such corner or edge vertex portion of the external edge
`or corner protector, and in addition, the relatively enlarged
`distal end portions of the leg members serve to dispose only
`Such relatively enlarged distal end portions of the leg mem
`bers into contact with the external side wall members of the
`65
`package, article, product, palletized load, or the like, which
`intersect each other so as to define the external corner or
`
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`US 7,383,952 B2
`
`4
`edge region of the package, article, palletized load, product,
`or the like upon which the external corner or edge protector
`is to be disposed, such that the leg members of the external
`corner or edge protector are flexed more than has conven
`tionally been the case. Accordingly, forces are generated and
`transmitted to the corner or edge vertex portion of the new
`and improved external corner or edge protector, by means of
`moment arms which are defined by those portions of the leg
`members that integrally interconnect the distal end portions
`of the leg members to the corner or edge vertex portion of
`the external corner or edge protector, so as to be imparted to
`and impressed upon the corner or edge vertex portion of the
`external corner or edge protector and thereby rigidify the
`same. Accordingly, the corner or edge vertex portion of the
`new and improved external edge or corner protector will
`exhibit enhanced flexural strength or bending resistance
`properties along the axial or longitudinal extent of the corner
`or edge vertex portion of the new and improved external
`edge or corner protector.
`In this manner, if the external corner or edge protector has
`been manufactured or fabricated from a reduced amount and
`weight of material as compared to conventional external
`corner or edge protectors, then the exhibited flexural
`strength and resistance values would be comparable to those
`characteristic of Such conventional external corner or edge
`protectors, whereas if the external corner or edge protector
`has been manufactured or fabricated from an amount and
`weight of material which is comparable to that of conven
`tional external corner or edge protectors, then the exhibited
`flexural strength and resistance values would be enhanced as
`compared to those characteristic of Such conventional exter
`nal corner or edge protectors. In either case, favorable
`flexural strength and resistance value/material and weight
`ratios can be achieved in accordance with the principles and
`teachings of the present invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Various other features and attendant advantages of the
`present invention will be more fully appreciated from the
`following detailed description when considered in connec
`tion with the accompanying drawings in which like refer
`ence characters designate like or corresponding parts
`throughout the several views, and wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional, PRIOR
`ART external corner or edge protector used for covering and
`protecting external corner or edge portions of a package,
`article, product, palletized load, or the like:
`FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of a first embodiment of
`a new and improved external corner or edge protector, for
`covering and protecting external corner or edge portions of
`a package, article, product, palletized load, or the like, which
`has been constructed in accordance with the principles and
`teachings of the present invention and which shows the
`cooperative parts thereof;
`FIG. 3 is an end elevation view, similar to that of FIG. 2,
`showing, however, a second embodiment of a new and
`improved external corner or edge protector which has also
`been constructed in accordance with the principles and
`teachings of the present invention and which shows the
`cooperative parts thereof;
`FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, similar to those of FIGS.
`2 and 3, showing, however, a third embodiment of a new and
`improved external corner or edge protector which has been
`constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings
`of the present invention and which shows the cooperative
`parts thereof;
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`US 7,383,952 B2
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`5
`FIG. 5 is an end elevation view, similar to those of FIGS.
`2-4, showing, however, a fourth embodiment of a new and
`improved external corner or edge protector which has been
`constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings
`of the present invention and which shows the cooperative
`parts thereof, and
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating testing appa
`ratus for testing external corner or edge protectors in order
`to determine their flexural strength and resistance properties
`with respect to forces applied perpendicular to the axial or
`longitudinal extent thereof at a central location along the
`vertex portion thereof.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`10
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`ART external corner or edge protector 10 as disclosed within
`FIG. 1, the new and improved external corner or edge
`protector 110 as developed in accordance with the principles
`and teachings of the present invention is seen to comprise a
`vertex portion 112, and a pair of leg members 114,116 which
`diverge outwardly from the vertex portion 112 at a prede
`termined angle B with respect to each other, which may be
`anywhere within the range of 60°-90°, with the preferred
`range being 85°-90°.
`Continuing further, it is to be appreciated that the entire
`external corner or edge protector 110 is fabricated or manu
`factured as a solid member and is indeed preferably manu
`factured or fabricated from any one of various suitable
`thermoplastic resins, or blends thereof. Such as, for example,
`high density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high density poly
`ethylene (UHDPE), high molecular weight polyethylene
`(HMWPE), high density polypropylene (HDPP), high den
`sity polyvinylchloride (HDPVC), high density polystyrene
`(HDPS), high density polyethylene terephthalate (HDPET),
`and the like. Still further, or alternatively, the external corner
`or edge protector 110 may be manufactured or fabricated
`from suitable filled polymers, that is, any one of the
`aforenoted polymers filled with various paper products, such
`as, for example, paper fiber, pulp, or shredded paper, or with
`various other fillers, such as, for example, talc, calcium,
`wollastianite, or wood products. Such as, for example, saw
`dust, wood flour, wood chips, and the like. It is also noted
`that in accordance with the unique structure characteristic of
`this first embodiment of the external edge or corner protector
`110 of the present invention, the thickness or cross-sectional
`dimension of each one of the leg members 114,116 has
`effectively been reduced to a thickness or cross-sectional
`dimension T-X as compared, for example, to the thickness or
`cross-sectional dimension T characteristic of the conven
`tional, PRIOR ART external corner or edge protector 10 as
`illustrated within FIG. 1. This reduction in the thickness or
`cross-sectional dimension of each one of the leg members
`114,116 of the external corner or edge protector 110 serves
`several functions and is profoundly significant.
`Firstly, for example, as may readily be appreciated, by
`effectively reducing the thickness or cross-sectional dimen
`sion of each one of the leg members 114,116 of the external
`corner or edge protector 110, as compared, for example, to
`the thickness or cross-sectional dimension T characteristic
`of the conventional, PRIOR ART external corner or edge
`protector 10 as illustrated within FIG. 1, a substantial
`reduction in the raw material, required to manufacture or
`fabricate the external corner or edge protector 110, can be
`achieved, whereby, in turn, a Substantial reduction in the
`manufacturing or fabrication costs per each external corner
`or edge protector 110 can be realized in a cost-effective
`manner. In addition, the weight of each external corner or
`edge protector 110 is correspondingly reduced. Secondly,
`which is not at all readily apparent, since the thickness or
`cross-sectional dimension of each one of the leg members
`114, 116 of the external corner or edge protector 110 has
`effectively been reduced from the conventional thickness or
`cross-sectional dimension T to the thickness or cross sec
`tional dimension T-X, the thickness or cross-sectional
`dimension of each one of the leg members 114,116 of the
`external corner or edge protector 110 has effectively been
`reduced by an amount X while the thickness or cross
`sectional dimension of the vertex portion 112 of the external
`corner or edge protector 110, as well as the thickness or
`
`Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
`FIG. 1 thereof, a conventional, PRIOR ART external corner
`or edge protector, for covering and protecting external
`corner or edge portions of a package, article, product,
`palletized load, or the like, is disclosed and is generally
`indicated by the reference character 10. As can be appreci
`ated, the conventional, PRIOR ART external corner or edge
`protector 10 is seen to comprise a vertex portion 12 and a
`pair of leg members 14,16 which diverge outwardly from the
`vertex portion 12 at a predetermined angle A with respect to
`each other, such as, for example, 90°. It is also seen that the
`cross-sectional thickness dimension T of the external corner
`or edge protector 10 is substantially uniform throughout
`both leg members 14.16, as well as within the vertex portion
`12, and it can be appreciated that when the conventional,
`PRIOR ART external corner or edge protector 10 is disposed
`around an external corner or edge region of a package,
`article, product, palletized load, or the like, the internal
`surface portions 18.20 of the leg members 14.16 will respec
`tively be disposed in a flush, or Surface-to-surface, contact
`mode with respect to those side wall members of the
`package, article, product, palletized load, or the like which
`intersect each other and define the corner or edge region
`upon which the conventional, PRIOR ART external corner
`or edge protector 10 is disposed. As a result of Such structure
`characteristic of the conventional, PRIOR ART external
`corner or edge protector 10, the conventional, PRIOR ART
`external corner or edge protector 10 will exhibit predeter
`mined flexural strength or flexural resistance property values
`within the vertex portion 12 thereof along the entire longi
`tudinal or axial extent thereof.
`As has been noted hereinbefore, however, it desirable,
`from a manufacturing or fabrication point of view or per
`spective, to manufacture, produce, or fabricate external
`corner or edge protectors from a reduced amount of material
`while preserving the aforenoted flexural strength or flexural
`resistance property values, within the vertex portion of the
`external corner or edge protectors, along the entire longitu
`dinal or axial extents thereof. Alternatively, the same amount
`of material as used to fabricate or manufacture a conven
`tional PRIOR ART external corner or edge protector can be
`utilized whereby enhanced flexural strength or flexural resis
`tance property values, characteristic of the external edge or
`corner protector within the vertex portion thereof and along
`the entire longitudinal or axial extent, can likewise be
`achieved. Accordingly, with reference being made to FIG. 2,
`a first embodiment of a new and improved external corner or
`edge protector, as constructed in accordance with principles
`and teachings characteristic of the present invention, is
`disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference char
`acter 110. As was the case with the conventional, PRIOR
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`cross-sectional dimension of the respective distal end por
`tions 122,124 of the leg members 114,116 of the external
`corner or edge protector 110 has remained as T.
`In other words, for example, assuming that the thickness
`or cross-sectional dimension of each one of the leg members
`114,116 of the external corner or edge protector 110 has
`effectively been reduced in a symmetrical manner, that is,
`upon both its external and internal Surface portions thereof,
`then the respective distal end portions 122,124 of the leg
`members 114,116 of the external corner or edge protector
`110 project inwardly and outwardly away from the respec
`tive interior surface portions 118,120 of the leg members
`114,116 of the external corner or edge protector 110, as well
`as with respect to the exterior surface portions of the leg
`members 114,116 of the external corner or edge protector
`110, by an amount 0.5x. It can be seen that each one of the
`leg members 114,116, taken in conjunction with the vertex
`portion 112, therefore has a cross-sectional configuration
`which resembles an I-beam structural member. It can there
`fore be correspondingly appreciated that the respective
`interior surface portions 118,120 of the leg members 114,116
`of the external corner or edge protector 110 will be offset or
`set back from the external surface portions of the side wall
`members of the package, article, product, palletized load, or
`the like, which intersect each other and define the corner or
`edge region upon which the external corner or edge protec
`tor 110 is disposed, through means of the distance or
`dimension 0.5x.
`In addition, it is to be further appreciated that, in order to
`in fact position each one of the leg members 114, 116 of the
`external corner or edge protector 110 upon the external
`surface portions of the side wall members of the package,
`article, product, palletized load, or the like, or viewed from
`an alternative point of view, in order to permit the interior
`surface portions of the distal end portions 122,124 of the leg
`members 114,116 of the external corner or edge protector
`110 to actually be seated upon the external surface portions
`of the side wall members of the package, article, product,
`palletized load, or the like, each one of the leg members
`114,116 of the external corner or edge protector 110 will
`have to be expanded outwardly with respect to each other, as
`denoted by the oppositely oriented arrows E.E., an additional
`distance of 0.5x. As a result of such laterally outward
`expansive movements of the leg members 114,116 of the
`external corner or edge protector 110 with respect to each
`other, compressive forces FF are going to effectively be
`transmitted to the vertex portion 112 of the corner or edge
`protector 110 along moment arms which are effectively
`defined by means of the length dimensions L.L of the leg
`members 114, 116 of the external corner or edge protector
`110, whereby such transmitted forces FF will manifest
`themselves as flexural resistance forces within the vertex
`portion 112 of the external corner or edge protector 110 so
`as to effectively rigidify the vertex portion 112 of the corner
`or edge protector 110.
`It is to be appreciated that, in accordance with well-known
`principles of physics, particularly Newton's Third Law of
`Motion, for every action or force, there is a correspondingly
`equal, and oppositely directed, reaction or force, and accord
`ingly, when external forces EF are impressed upon the
`vertex portion 112 of the corner or edge protector 110 so as
`to tend to flex or bend the vertex portion 112 of the edge or
`corner protector 110, the flexural resistance forces F.F.
`rigidifying the vertex portion 112 of the corner or edge
`protector 110 will in fact resist such external forces EF so as
`to preserve the structural integrity of the corner or edge
`protector 110. It can therefore be appreciated further that the
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`US 7,383,952 B2
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`external corner or edge protector 110 as disclosed within
`FIG. 2 will exhibit flexural strength or resistance values
`which are comparable to the flexural strength or resistance
`values characteristic of the conventional PRIOR ART exter
`nal corner or edge protector 10 as illustrated within FIG. 1
`despite the fact that the external corner or edge protector 110
`has reduced material and weight as compared to the con
`ventional PRIOR ART external corner or edge protector 10
`as illustrated within FIG. 1.
`With reference being made to FIG. 3, it is seen that a
`second embodiment of a new and improved external corner
`or edge protector is disclosed and is generally indicated by
`the reference character 210, and it is submitted that the
`external corner or edge protector 210 as disclosed within
`FIG. 3 is substantially the same as the external corner or
`edge protector 110 as disclosed within FIG. 2, except as will
`be noted hereinafter, and therefore, the particular component
`parts of the external corner or edge protector 210, which
`corres