Packaging structure

A packaging assembly for holding an object securely against a rigid backing, said packaging assembly comprising:

• a substantially rigid panel with a first pair of generally parallel fold lines adjacent opposite side edges of said panel that define respective folding side portions;
• a second pair of fold lines in said rigid panel substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to said first pair of fold lines that define respective folding end portions in said rigid panel;
• wherein said first and second pairs of fold lines define a center panel portion in said rigid panel, said center panel portion being substantially continuous;
• a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said center panel portion and past said first pair of fold lines onto said folding side portions of said rigid panel;
• means for securing said film to said folding side portions of said rigid panel while defining at least one unsecured edge portion of said film adjacent to one of said second fold lines through which unsecured edge portion an object to be packaged can be inserted between said film and said center panel portion and for cooperating with said folding side portions to tighten said film against objects between said film and said center panel portion when said folding side portions are folded away from said film;
• and
• a box having interior dimensions corresponding to the peripheral dimensions of said rigid panel when folded so that said rigid panel can be securely held within the box.

A packaging structure for holding an object securely against a rigid backing, said packaging structure comprising;

• a substantially rigid panel having a center panel portion and an opening formed therein adjacent to one end of said center panel portion;
• a first fold line adjacent to said opening and defining a folding side portion;
• a second fold line in said folding side portion generally parallel to said first fold line thereby defining proximal and distal folding segments in said folding side portion;
• a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said center panel portion and past said first fold line onto said folding side portion;
• means for securing said film to said folding side portion while defining at least one unsecured edge portion of said film through which unsecured edge portion an object to be packaged can be inserted between said film and said center panel portion;
• and
• a projection on said distal folding segment adapted for being received in said opening when said proximal segment is folded towards said film and said distal segment is folded against said proximal segment thereby causing said film to be pressed against the opening and tightened against the object being packaged.

A method for packaging an object in a packaging structure including a substantially rigid panel having a pair of folding side portions, a pair of folding end portions, and a flexible film material secured to the folding side portions and defining at least one unsecured edge portion adjacent a respective folding end portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• folding the side portions in a direction towards the film;
• inserting the object in the packaging structure through an opening defined by the unsecured edge portion of the film and the rigid panel;
• folding the side portions in a direction opposite to that of said first folding step until the side portions are adjacent the surface of the panel opposite the film;
• and
• folding the end portions in a direction towards the film to secure the side portions in the folded position.

A packaged structure wherein an object is securely held against a rigid backing, said packaged structure comprising:

• a substantially rigid panel with a first pair of generally parallel fold lines adjacent opposite side edges of said panel that define respective folding side portions;
• a second pair of fold lines in said rigid panel substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to said first pair of fold lines that define respective folding end portions in said rigid panel;
• a packaged object having predetermined peripheral dimensions and positioned against a center panel portion of said rigid panel defined by said first and second pairs of fold lines, said center panel portion defining at least one opening therein having peripheral dimensions smaller than the peripheral dimensions of said packaged object such that said object cannot be moved through said opening;
• a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said center panel portion and past said first pair of fold lines onto said folding side portions of said rigid panel;
• and
• means for securing said film to said folding side portions of said rigid panel while defining at least one unsecured edge portion of said film adjacent to one of said second fold lines through which unsecured edge portion said object is inserted between said film and said center panel portion and for cooperating with said folding side portions to tighten said film against objects between said film and said center panel portion when said folding side portions are folded away from said film.

A packaging structure for holding an object securely against a rigid backing, said packaging structure comprising:

• a substantially rigid panel with a pair of generally parallel fold lines adjacent opposite side edges of said panel that define respective folding side flaps adapted to be folded in the same direction and a center panel portion therebetween;
• a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said center panel portion and past said fold lines onto said folding side flaps of said rigid panel;
• and
• means for securing said film to said folding side flaps of said rigid panel while defining at least one unsecured edge portion of said film and for cooperating with said folding side flaps to tighten said film against objects between said film and said center panel portion when said folding side flaps are folded away from said film, said securing means being spaced from said fold lines and providing an enlarged opening between said unsecured edge portion of said film and said center panel portion when said side flaps are folded in a direction towards said film to allow the object to be inserted between said film and said center panel portion.