Reconfigurable packaging and corresponding blank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065300-B2
Application number	US-202318212421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2023
Priority date	Nov 22, 2021
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Reconfigurable packaging for a cooking appliance includes a base including a base panel defining lower wing slots and opposing sidewalls extending from the base panel. The base defines a storage cavity. A cover is coupled to the base and configured to enclose the storage cavity. The cover includes a cover panel defining upper wing slots, a first side wing extending from a first side of the cover panel, and a second side wing extending from a second side of the cover panel. The first side wing and the second side wing are operable between a first folded position engaging the upper wing slots and a second folded position engaging the lower wing slots.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Packaged appliances, comprising:
a first cooking appliance defining a first cooking cavity of a first size;
a second cooking appliance defining a second cooking cavity of a second size, the second size being less than the first size, wherein each of the first cooking appliance and the second cooking appliance includes:
a first sidewall with first rack supports coupled thereto; and
a second sidewall with second rack supports coupled thereto; and

reconfigurable packaging defining a storage cavity, wherein the reconfigurable packaging includes:
a base defining lower wing slots;
a cover coupled to the base and defining upper wing slots;
a first side wing extending from the cover in a first direction; and
a second side wing extending from the cover in a second direction, wherein the first side wing and the second side wing are operable between a first folded position engaging the upper wing slots and a second folded position engaging the lower wing slots, wherein the first and second side wings are disposed in the first folded position to define a first width to be positioned within the first cooking cavity and in the second folded position to define a second lesser width to be positioned within the second cooking cavity.

2. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , wherein a corner of the first side wing is disposed between adjacent ones of the first rack supports and a corner of the second side wing is disposed between adjacent ones of the second rack supports when the reconfigurable packaging is in the first cooking appliance.

3. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to be disposed on a bottom within the first cooking cavity.

4. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second side wings forms a triangular shape in the first folded position, the triangular shape of the first side wing being on an opposing side of the base from the triangular shape of the second side wing.

5. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , wherein a connector portion of the first side wing is disposed adjacent to the first rack supports and a connector portion of the second side wing is disposed adjacent to the second rack supports when the reconfigurable packaging is in the second cooking appliance.

6. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , wherein an engagement portion of each of the first side wing and the second side wing are configured to be disposed on a bottom in the second cooking cavity.

7. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable packaging is constructed of corrugated cardboard.

8. The packaged appliances of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cooking accessory disposed within the storage cavity of the reconfigurable packaging.

9. A packaged appliance assembly, comprising:
at least one cooking appliance;
reconfigurable packaging defining a storage cavity and positioned within the at least one cooking appliance, wherein the reconfigurable packaging includes:
a base defining lower wing slots;
a cover coupled to the base and defining upper wing slots;
a first side wing extending from the cover in a first direction; and
a second side wing extending from the cover in a second direction, wherein the first side wing and the second side wing are operable between a first folded position engaging the upper wing slots and a second folded position engaging the lower wing slots based on a size of the at least one cooking appliance; and

an appliance accessory disposed within the storage cavity.

10. The packaged appliance assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one cooking appliance defines a cooking cavity, and wherein the reconfigurable packaging is disposed in a horizontal position on a bottom of the cooking cavity.

11. The packaged appliance assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one cooking appliance includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall at least partially defining a cooking cavity, and wherein the first side wing is disposed adjacent to the first sidewall and the second side wing is disposed adjacent to the second sidewall.

12. The packaged appliance assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one cooking appliance includes a first cooking appliance defining a first cooking cavity of a first size and a second cooking appliance defining a second cooking cavity of a second size, the second size being less than the first size.

13. The packaged appliance assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first and second side wings are disposed in the first folded position to define a first width to be positioned within the first cooking cavity and in the second folded position to define a second lesser width to be positioned within the second cooking cavity.

14. The packaged appliance assembly of claim 9 , wherein the reconfigurable packaging defines a first width when the first and second side wings are in the first folded position and a second lesser width when the first and second side wings are in the second folded position.

15. The packaged appliance assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first and second side wings define triangular shapes adjacent to sidewalls of the base when in the first folded position, and wherein the first and second side wings extend along the sidewalls of the base and along a bottom surface of the base in the second folded position.

16. A packaged appliance, comprising:
a body defining a cavity between a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
reconfigurable packaging disposed on a bottom of the cavity, wherein the reconfigurable packaging extends from adjacent to the first sidewall to adjacent to the second sidewall in a horizontal position, the reconfigurable packaging including:
a base defining lower wing slots;
a cover coupled to the base and defining upper wing slots, the base and the cover defining a storage cavity;
a first side wing extending from a first side of the cover; and
a second side wing extending from a second opposing side of the cover, wherein the first side wing and the second side wing are operable between a first folded position engaging the upper wing slots to define a first width and a second folded position engaging the lower wing slots to define a second lesser width based on a width of the cavity; and
at least one accessory disposed within the storage cavity.

17. The packaged appliance of claim 16 , wherein each of the first side wing and the second side wing includes a connector portion, an engagement portion, and a distal tab, wherein the connector portions extend at acute angles relative to the cover and toward the base, the engagement portions extend proximate to the base and toward the cover, and the distal tabs extend into the upper wing slots when the first and second side wings are in the first folded position.

18. The packaged appliance of claim 16 , wherein each of the first side wing and the second side wing includes a connector portion, an engagement portion, and a distal tab, wherein the connector portions extend toward a bottom surface of the base, the engagement portions extend along the bottom surface of the base, and the distal tabs extend into the lower wing slots when the first and second side wings are in the second folded position.

19. The packaged appliance of claim 16 , further comprising:
an insert disposed within the storage cavity, wherein the at least one accessory includes a tray and a basket, and wherein the insert is disposed between the tray and the basket.

20. The packaged appliance of claim 16 , wherein the reconfigurable packaging includes a coupl

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Gayakwad Sachin R
• Kalbande Tushar A
• Kormanik Jessica Lea
• Niphadkar Renuka D

Classifications

• F24C15/16

  Shelves, racks or trays inside ovens; Supports therefor · CPC title

• F24C7/10

  with special adaptation for travelling, e.g. collapsible · CPC title

• B65D2585/682

  cookers or dryers · CPC title

• B65D85/68

  for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form · CPC title

• B65D5/5052

  and provided with slits or recesses in which at least a part of the contents are located (B65D5/504 takes precedence) · CPC title