Packaging structure

A packaging structure, comprising

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from an end edge of said panel and defining a main panel and a folding end portion;
• a second fold line in said main panel oriented transverse to said first fold line and defining a pair of folding panels;
• and
• a flexible film material having opposed ends, said film material being superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending across said second fold line onto said pair of folding panels, one end of said film material being connected to one of said pair of folding panels and the other end of said film material being connected to the other one of said pair of folding panels 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;
• said rigid panel having an unfolded condition in which said pair of folding panels are substantially aligned with one another in a plane and having a folded condition in which said pair of folding panels are folded toward said film material so as to be transverse to one another;
• said fold lines being arranged so that said film material is tightened against at least said portion of said object when said rigid panel is in said unfolded condition, and so that said folding end portion holds said rigid panel in said unfolded condition when said folding end portion is folded transverse to said plane.

A packaged object, comprising

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from an end edge of said panel and defining a main panel and a folding end portion;
• a second fold line in said main panel oriented transverse to said first fold line and defining a pair of folding panels;
• an object having at least a portion positioned against said main panel;
• and
• a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending across said second fold line onto said pair of folding panels, said film material having one end connected to one of said pair of folding panels and another end connected to the other one of said pair of folding panels 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 rigid panel having an unfolded condition in which said pair of folding panels are substantially aligned with one another in a plane and having a folded condition in which said pair of folding panels are folded toward said film material so as to be transverse to one another;
• said fold lines being arranged so that said film material is tightened against at least said portion of said object when said folding panels are folded away from said film material to said unfolded condition, and so that said rigid panel is held in said unfolded condition when said folding end portion is folded transverse to said plane.

A packaging assembly, comprising

• a substantially rigid panel having a first fold line spaced from a side edge of said panel and defining a folding side portion;
• a second fold line in said rigid panel spaced from an end edge of said panel and oriented transverse to said first fold line to define a folding end portion, said first and second fold lines delimiting a remaining portion of said rigid panel;
• an intermediate fold line in said folding end portion defining proximal and distal folding segments in said folding end portion, said proximal segment having a predetermined dimension between said second fold line and said intermediate fold line and said distal segment having a width between said intermediate fold line and said end edge of said panel which is greater than said predetermined dimension;
• 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 proximal and distal segments of 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 in an assembled condition with said proximal segment oriented transverse to said remaining portion and said distal segment folded against said proximal segment;
• and
• a box adapted to receive said rigid panel in an inserted position with said rigid panel in said folded condition, said box having a height between said remaining portion of said rigid panel in said inserted position and a top end of said box which is substantially equal to said predetermined dimension of said proximal segment.

A method for packaging an object in a packaging structure including a substantially rigid panel having a main panel, a folding end portion and a pair of folding panels arranged transverse to said folding end portion, and a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and having one end connected to one of said pair of folding panels and another end connected to the other one of said pair of folding panels 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 pair of folding panels in a direction toward said film material so that said pair of panels are transverse to one another;
• 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 pair of folding panels 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 said pair of folding panels are substantially aligned with one another in a plane;
• and
• folding said folding end portion in a direction transverse to said plane.