Corner post for use with an article having a contoured vertical edge

1. An elongated corner post ( 10 ) for protecting a packaged article ( 50 ) having a curved vertical edge, the corner post ( 10 ) comprising:

an outer wall ( 12 ) having first and second substantially planar outer wall members ( 14 , 16 ) joined at a right angle along an outer corner ( 18 ) and terminating in first and second outer wall vertical edges ( 11 , 13 );

a first transverse end wall ( 28 ) extending from the first outer wall vertical edge ( 11 ) and terminating in a first inner wall vertical edge ( 19 );

a second transverse end wall ( 30 ) extending from the second outer wall vertical edge ( 13 ) and terminating in a second inner wall vertical edge ( 21 ); and

a curvilinear inner wall ( 20 ) extending from the first inner wall vertical edge ( 19 ) to the second inner wall vertical edge ( 21 ), the inner and outer walls being laterally spaced from one another and joined at opposing ends by the first and second transverse end walls ( 28 , 30 ) to define at least one hollow space ( 22 ) therebetween, the inner wall ( 20 ) having an exterior side facing away from outer wall ( 12 ), wherein the exterior side is one continuous concave curved surface contoured to conform to the curved vertical edge of the packaged article ( 50 ).

2. The elongated corner post ( 10 ) of claim 1 further comprising:

a bead ( 24 ) integrally formed in the second substantially planar outer wall member ( 16 ) along at least part of the length of the outer wall ( 12 ) and extending toward the inner wall ( 20 ) and terminating in an apex ( 26 ).

3. The elongated corner post ( 10 ) of claim 2 wherein, if the corner post ( 10 ) is subjected to a lateral force of sufficient magnitude and is thereby deformed, the bead ( 24 ) will move into engagement with the second transverse end wall ( 30 ) to resist further deformation.

4. The elongated corner post ( 10 ) of claim 2 wherein the bead ( 24 ) comprises first and second side walls ( 31 , 32 ), the first side wall ( 31 ) being further from the second transverse end wall ( 30 ) than is the second side wall ( 32 ), and wherein the first bead side wall ( 31 ) forms an obtuse included angle with the second substantially planar outer wall member ( 16 ), and the second bead side wall ( 32 ) forms an acute included angle with the substantially planar outer wall member ( 16 ).

5. The elongated corner post ( 10 ) of claim 4 wherein the second substantially planar outer wall member ( 16 ) comprises an outer wall segment ( 34 ) extending between the bead ( 24 ) and the second transverse end wall ( 30 ), and wherein the second bead side wall ( 32 ) is longer than the outer wall segment ( 34 ) between the bead ( 24 ) and the end wall ( 30 ).

6. The elongated corner post ( 10 ) of claim 1 wherein the first transverse end wall ( 28 ) and the first substantially planar outer wall member ( 14 ) form an obtuse angle, and the second end wall ( 30 ) and the second substantially planar outer wall member ( 16 ) form a right angle.

7. A combination article and packaging system comprising:

a packaged article ( 50 ) having at least one curved vertical edge;

a packaging sleeve ( 40 ) positioned around the packaged article ( 50 ) and having at least one inside corner defining a right angle and having a rectilinear shape; and

a corner post ( 10 ) interposed between the packaged article ( 50 ) and the packaging sleeve ( 40 ), the corner post ( 10 ) comprising an outer wall ( 12 ) having first and second substantially planar outer wall members ( 14 , 16 ) joined at a right angle along an outer corner ( 18 ) and terminating in first and second outer wall vertical edges ( 11 , 13 ), the outer wall ( 12 ) being in substantially abutting relationship with the packaging sleeve, a first transverse end wall ( 28 ) extending from the first outer wall vertical edge ( 11 ) to a first inner wall vertical edge ( 19 ), a second transverse end wall ( 30 ) extending from the second outer wall vertical edge ( 13 ) to a second inner wall vertical edge ( 19 ), and an inner wall ( 20 ) laterally spaced from the outer wall and extending from the first inner wall vertical edge ( 19 ) to the second inner wall vertical edge ( 21 ), the inner wall ( 20 ) having an exterior side facing away from the outer wall ( 12 ) that is one continuous concave curved surface that completely conforms to the curved vertical edge of the packaged article.

8. The combination article and packaging system of claim 7 wherein the corner post ( 10 ) further comprises a bead ( 24 ) integrally formed in the second substantially planar outer wall member ( 16 ) and extending toward the inner wall ( 20 ) and terminating in an apex ( 26 ), and wherein, if the corner post ( 10 ) is subjected to a lateral force of sufficient magnitude and is thereby deformed, the bead ( 24 ) will move into engagement with the second transverse end wall ( 30 ) to resist further deformation.