초록 ▼

A shipping system comprises an article of furniture and a packaging assembly. The packaging assembly includes a container and a protective insert. The container houses the article of furniture. The protective insert is disposed within the container and is positioned to help protect the article of fu

A shipping system comprises an article of furniture and a packaging assembly. The packaging assembly includes a container and a protective insert. The container houses the article of furniture. The protective insert is disposed within the container and is positioned to help protect the article of furniture from damage. The protective insert has at least one convertible portion that is adapted to be removed from a surrounding portion of the protective insert, transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, and form at least a portion of an accessory product for the article of furniture when the convertible portion is in the second configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of packing a furniture member with one or more furniture accessories, the method comprising: providing a shipping assembly having an outer container that is adapted to house the furniture member and a protective member, the protective member is a separate piece from the outer container;m

1. A method of packing a furniture member with one or more furniture accessories, the method comprising: providing a shipping assembly having an outer container that is adapted to house the furniture member and a protective member, the protective member is a separate piece from the outer container;manipulating a portion of the protective member to create one or more modifiable sections, the one or more modifiable sections being adapted to transition from a shipping configuration to an accessory configuration, wherein in the accessory configuration the one or more modifiable sections form the one or more furniture accessories; andpacking the furniture member in the outer container with the modifiable sections in the shipping configuration. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective member is an insert adapted to be housed in the outer container with the furniture member. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein perforating the portion of the protective member includes perforating the protective member to create a plurality of modifiable sections. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating fold lines in the one or more modifiable sections in order to facilitate the transition of the one or more modifiable sections from the shipping configuration to the accessory configuration. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more modifiable sections are disposed in the shipping configuration as part of the shipping assembly to protect the furniture member. 6. A method of packaging a product for shipping comprising: providing an outer container for receiving a primary product in a disassembled state, the primary product in an assembled state having a plurality of interconnected parts;providing a packaging member operably associated with the outer container, the packing member including at least one convertible portion, the at least one convertible portion being separable from a remaining portion of the packaging member and being modifiable into a secondary product that is complementary to the primary product when the primary product is in the assembled state wherein no portion of the secondary product and no portion of the primary product is formed from the outer container; andinserting the primary product in the disassembled state into the outer container. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the packaging member is made of sheet material and is at least partially in a flat configuration. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one convertible portion includes at least one demarcated fold line for modifying the at least one convertible portion into the secondary product. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the packing member includes a plurality of convertible portions, each of the plurality of convertible portions being separable from a remaining portion of the packaging member and being modifiable into a secondary product that is complementary to the primary product when the primary product is in the assembled state. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondary product is configured to be supported by at least one surface of the primary product. 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondary product is substantially smaller than the primary product. 12. A method of packing a furniture member with one or more furniture accessories, the method comprising: providing a plurality of parts that when assembled form a furniture member;providing a packaging assembly including an outer container for housing the plurality of parts and a protective insert to help protect at least one of the plurality of parts from damage, the protective insert having at least one convertible portion adapted to be removed from a surrounding portion of the protective insert and transitioned between a first flat configuration to an independent erected second configuration, whereby the convertible portion forms an accessory product for the furniture member when the convertible portion is in the second configuration; and,inserting the protective insert in the outer container. 13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein: the protective insert includes a plurality of convertible portions adapted to be removed from a remaining portion of the protective insert and transitioned between a first flat configuration to an independent erected second configuration, whereby each of the plurality of convertible portions forms an accessory product for the furniture member when each of the plurality of convertible portions is in the second configuration. 14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein: the plurality of parts includes a desk top; and,the accessory product formed from each of the plurality of convertible portions is adapted be supported on the desk top when the plurality of parts are assembled to form the furniture member and the accessory product is in the second configuration. 15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein: one of the plurality of parts forms a substantially horizontally extending support surface of the furniture member and the accessory product formed from each of the plurality of convertible portions is adapted to be supported on top of the substantially horizontally extending support surface of the furniture member when the plurality of parts are assembled to form the furniture member and the accessory product is in the second configuration. 16. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: inserting the plurality of parts in the outer container; and,positioning the protective insert between at least one of the plurality of parts and another of the plurality of parts. 17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein: the convertible portion is defined by weakened areas in the protective insert. 18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein: the plurality of parts includes a desk top and the accessory product when in the second configuration is adapted to be supported on the desk top when the plurality of parts are assembled. 19. The method as recited in claim 12, further including the step of: positioning the protective insert in the outer container such that the protective insert extends substantially parallel to a top and a bottom of the outer container. 20. The method of claim 12, wherein: the outer container and the protective insert are formed of cardboard;the furniture member includes at least one of a desk, a shelf, an ottoman, a chair, and a table; and,wherein the accessory product includes at least one of a portfolio, a pencil holder, a coaster, a CD case, a picture frame, a CD holder, a file divider, a file folder, a desk organizer, a cup holder, a decorative utensil holder, an inbox, and an electronic device holder.