| abstract |
The present invention is a force resisting corrugated assembly (10), and can be constructed into a pallet or dunnage support made from corrugated paperboard that minimizes adverse environmental impact, occupies little space before it is configured, and effectively saves production, storage and transportation costs. The present corrugated paperboard assembly can be shipped and stored as either one or more die-cut and scored corrugated paperboard pieces, thereby eliminating excess volume, with the pieces being readily interconnectable to form a complete pallet or dunnage support assembly. Preferably, the paperboard of the present invention further has a low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), excellent glueability and recyclability. The present invention incorporates a lower and upper frame member foldably constructed from corrugated paperboard blanks. Each frame member has ribs (350) having locking slots. The lower and upper frame member can differ in dimensions, but in a preferred form incorporate nearly identical elements, thus simplifying production of the blanks and the folding steps necessary to form the present corrugated structure. After foldably constructing each frame member, the upper frame member is rotated 90 degrees relative to the lower frame member, and placed upside down over the lower frame member. The ribs (350t) of the lower frame member lock into the locking slots of the ribs (350b) of the upper frame member, and the ribs of the upper frame member lock into the locking slots of the ribs of the lower frame member. |