Packaging structure

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

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from a side edge of said panel to define a folding side portion;
• a second fold line in said rigid panel oriented transverse to said first fold line and defining a folding end portion, said first and second fold lines delimiting a remaining portion of said rigid panel;
• a flexible film material having opposed ends, said film material being superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said remaining portion and past said first fold line onto said folding side portion, one end of said film material being connected to said remaining portion of said rigid panel and the other end of said film material being connected to said folding side portion so as to define at least one region in which an edge portion of said film material between said opposed ends is not secured to said rigid panel, whereby at least a portion of an object may be positioned between said rigid panel and said film material and said film material may be tightened against at least the portion of the object when said folding side portion is folded away from said film material to a retaining position;
• said rigid panel having an unfolded condition in which said folding side portion and said folding end portion are substantially coplanar with said remaining portion and having a folded condition in which said folding side portion is in said retaining position and said folding end portion is transverse to said remaining portion;
• and
• a box having interior dimensions corresponding to the peripheral dimensions of said rigid panel in said folded condition so that said rigid panel can be securely held in said folded condition within said box.

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

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from a side edge of said panel to define a folding side portion and a remaining portion;
• an opening formed in said remaining portion adjacent to said first fold line;
• a second fold line formed 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 remaining portion and past said first fold line onto said folding side portion, said film material having one end connected to said remaining portion and another end connected to said folding side portion so as to define at least one region in which an edge portion of said film material between said opposed ends is not secured to said rigid panel, whereby at least a portion of an object may be positioned between said rigid panel and said film material;
• and
• a projection on said distal segment adapted to be received in said opening when said proximal segment is folded toward said film material and said distal segment is folded against said proximal segment, thereby causing said film material to be pressed against said opening and to tighten against at least the portion of the object being packaged.

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

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from a side edge of said panel to define a folding side portion;
• a second fold line in said rigid panel oriented transverse to said first fold line and defining a folding end portion, said first and second fold lines delimiting a remaining portion of said rigid panel;
• an object having at least a portion positioned against said remaining portion of said panel, said remaining portion of said panel defining at least one opening therein having at least one dimension smaller than corresponding dimensions of said portion of said object such that said portion of said object cannot be moved through said opening;
• and
• a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said remaining portion and past said first fold line onto said folding side portion, said film material having one end connected to said remaining portion of said rigid panel and another end connected to said folding side portion so as to define at least one region in which an edge portion of said film material between said ends is not secured to said rigid panel;
• said fold lines being arranged so that said film material is tightened against at least said portion of said object when said folding side portion is folded away from said film material to a retaining position, and so that said folding side portion is held in said retaining position when said folding end portion is folded toward said film material.

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

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from a side edge of said panel to define a folding side portion;
• a second fold line in said rigid panel oriented transverse to said first fold line and defining a folding end portion, said first and second fold lines delimiting a remaining portion of said rigid panel, said folding side portion being connected to said folding end portion;
• and
• a flexible film material having opposed ends, said film material being superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said remaining portion and past said first fold line onto said folding side portion, one end of said film material being connected to said remaining portion of said rigid panel and the other end of said film material being connected to said folding side portion so as to define at least one region in which an edge portion of said film material between said opposed ends is not secured to said rigid panel, whereby at least a portion of an object may be positioned between said rigid panel and said film material and said film material may be tightened against at least the portion of the object when said folding side portion is folded away from said film material to a retaining position, and said folding side portion is held in said retaining position when said folding end portion is folded toward said film material.

A method for packaging an object in a packaging structure including a substantially rigid panel having a folding side portion, a folding end portion arranged transverse to said folding side portion, said folding side portion and said folding end portion delimiting a remaining portion of said rigid panel, and a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and having one end connected to said remaining portion of said rigid panel and another end connected to said folding side portion so as to define at least one region in which an edge portion of said film material between said ends is not secured to said rigid panel, said method comprising the steps of:

• folding said side portion in a direction toward said film material;
• inserting at least a portion of said object into said packaging structure through an opening defined by said unsecured edge portion of said film material and said rigid panel;
• folding said side portion in a direction away from said film material to a retaining position in which said film material is tightened against at least said portion of said object;
• and
• folding said end portion in a direction toward said film to secure said side portion in said retaining position.