Importance

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Abstract

New molded pulp and molded fiber structures provide interior package cushioning to protect products shipped in a package. The molded pulp fiber interior package cushioning (IPC) structure defines a cavity for receiving and holding a product to be shipped. The IPC structure incorporates a plurality of structural ribs in the form of elongate hollow ridges molded in the IPC structure and extending between different locations for reinforcing the IPC structure between the locations. The IPC structure comprises intersecting ribs extending in at least two orthogonal directions or axes. The ribs are crushable structures positioned and distributed around the cavity for protecting a product in the cavity by crushing and absorbing energy in response to mechanical shock acceleration caused by impacts and vibration accelerations imparted by transport modes, for accelerations approaching a design limit or threshold acceleration at which damage or breakage may occur to a sensitive element of the product shipped in the package. The IPC structure also incorporates a plurality of structural pods in the form of hollow recesses or wells substantially symmetrical in cross section and molded with selected depths in the IPC structure at different locations. The pods are also crushable structures positioned and distributed around the cavity to provide additional protection for a product. Other IPC cushioning structures include rows of pods, fillets, podded ribs, anti-hinge ribs, stacking ribs and pods, crush ribs, suspension ribs, shelves, cavities, reinforcing cavity shapes, corner protectors, etc.

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First Claim