Article suspension package, system and method

A package to immobilize and cover an article to be packaged, which package comprises:

• a) a base having a top surface and a bottom surface and formed of a stiff sheet material having perforated fold lines and cut lines to form a base with two opposingly spaced, upright side walls and two interconnected opposingly spaced upright end walls;
• b) the base includes a plurality of at least one pair of spaced apart, opposing, tension-biased, article-suspension flaps extending from the opposing walls toward an open area in the center of the base;
• the flaps of sufficient size and tension to receive the article to be packaged and to suspend and immobilize the article within the base;
• c) the base includes at least one pair of opposing, extended, side panels adapted to move between an outwardly extended, nonuse position to a generally upright, article-protective use position wherein the side panels extend above the plane of the packaged article in the base;
• d) means to secure the side panels in the use position;
• and
• e) film material means extending in a snug relationship over the top surface of the base and secured thereto to cover the article to be packaged, the film material means forming an overlapping film area with an open slot to permit the insertion or removal of the article;
• the film material comprised of a thin, stretchable polymer film material, whereby the article to be packaged is supported and immobilized on the surface of the tension-biased flaps and covered by the film material means.