Importance

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Abstract

A container for commercial packaging of goods protects against stresses of filling, storage, distribution, merchandising and use of the container. It includes a structural framework and a sheath conforming to at least portions of the framework, which has horizontal and vertical members which define lengthwise and upright structural elements forming panels joined at corners provided by the upright elements. There may be as few as least one lengthwise structural element of each panel with at least one vertical element at each corner. The panels are thus provided with windows therein to provide an essentially skeletonized structure. The structural elements are of recyclable and/or reuseable structural material and configuration as will provide the container with a strength which is at least about 80-85% of the strength of a non-windowed container of such structural material. The sheath has barrier properties to enclose the goods therein in protected relationship. Various methods of making the container structures are disclosed, including providing a first series of first type framework structural members, each defining a horizontal structural member for the container; and a second series of second type framework structural members, each defining a vertical structural member for the container. The horizontal and vertical members are joined in mutually perpendicular relation define respective rectangular panels and with the panels being joined in side-by-side relation as an array of panels corresponding to intended container walls which array is folded into a closed configuration to complete the framework. The sheath is then applied to the completed framework.

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First Claim