Claims
- 1. A packaging structure for holding an object securely against a rigid backing, said packaging structure comprising:a substantially rigid panel having a first pair of fold lines spaced from opposite side edges of said panel to define respective folding side portions; a second pair of fold lines spaced from opposite end edges of said rigid panel and oriented transverse to said first pair of fold lines, said second pair of fold lines defining respective folding end portions, said first and second pairs of fold lines delimiting a center portion of said rigid panel; a first additional fold line in each of said folding side portions defining proximal and distal side segments in each of said folding side portions; a second additional fold line in each of said folding end portions defining proximal and distal end segments in each of said folding end portions; a flexible film material having opposed ends, said film material being superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said center portion and past at least one of said first pair of fold lines onto one of said folding side portions of said rigid panel, said opposed ends of said film material being connected to said rigid panel 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 at least one of said folding side portions is folded away from said film material.
- 2. A packaging structure according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary fold line in each of said distal end segments.
- 3. A packaging structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said distal end segments has a predetermined dimension between said second additional fold line and said end edge of said panel, and each of said proximal end segments has a width between said second fold line and said second additional fold line which is less than said predetermined dimension.
- 4. A packaging structure according to claim 1, wherein said center portion of said rigid panel is substantially continuous.
- 5. A packaging structure according to claim 1, wherein said unsecured edge portion of said film material is adjacent to one of said second fold lines.
- 6. A packaging structure according to claim 1, further comprising a patterned cut in each of said folding side portions for defining a tab in each of said folding side portions, said tabs projecting towards said film material and separating said film material from said center portion of said rigid panel when said folding side portions are folded away from said film material.
- 7. A packaging structure according to claim 6, wherein each of said tabs is defined at least in part by said proximal side segment of said folding side portion.
- 8. A packaging structure according to claim 7, wherein each of said tabs is defined by said proximal and distal side segments of said folding side portion.
- 9. A packaging structure according to claim 6, wherein each of said folding side portions includes a further fold line which defines a base of said tab, wherein said tab is foldable relative to said folding side portion.
- 10. A packaging structure according to claim 9, wherein said tab extends from said base and terminates at a free end spaced from said first fold line, said free end of said tab being positionable above said center portion when said folding side portion is folded downward relative to said center portion.
- 11. A packaging structure for holding an object securely against a rigid backing, said packaging structure comprising:a substantially rigid panel having a first pair of fold lines spaced from opposite side edges of said panel to define respective folding side portions and a center portion therebetween; an additional fold line in each of said folding side portions defining proximal and distal folding segments in each of said folding side portions; a flexible film material having opposed ends, said film material being superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and extending over said center portion and past at least one of said first pair of fold lines onto one of said folding side portions of said rigid panel, said opposed ends of said film material being connected to said rigid panel 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 at least one of said folding side portions is folded away form said film material; and a patterned cut in each of said folding side portions for defining a tab in each of said folding side portions, said tabs projecting towards said film material and separating said film material from said center portion of said rigid panel when said folding side portions are folded away from said film material.
- 12. A packaging structure according to claim 11, wherein each of said tabs is defined at least in part by said proximal segment of said folding side portion.
- 13. A packaging structure according to claim 12, wherein each of said tabs is defined by said proximal and distal segments of said folding side portion.
- 14. A packaging structure according to claim 11, wherein each of said folding side portions includes a further fold line which defines a base of said tab, wherein said tab is foldable relative to said folding side portion.
- 15. A packaging structure according to claim 14, wherein said tab extends from said base and terminates at a free end spaced from said first fold line, said free end of said tab being positionable above said center portion when said folding side portion is folded downward relative to said center portion.
- 16. A method of packaging an object in a packaging structure including a substantially rigid panel having a pair of folding side portions defined by a first pair of fold lines and a center portion between said pair of folding side portions, a patterned cut defining a tab in each of said folding side portions, each tab being connected to one of said folding side portions by a further fold line, and a flexible film material superimposed on one surface of said rigid panel and having opposed ends secured to said rigid panel with at least one end secured to one of said folding side portions 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, the method comprising:clearing said film material away from said center portion of said rigid panel; placing at least a portion of said object between said film material and said center portion of said rigid panel; folding said folding side portions along said first fold lines in a direction away from said film material and along said further fold lines so that said tabs project upwardly relative to said center portion and raise said film material relative to at least said portion of said object.
- 17. A method of packaging an object according to claim 16, wherein said step of clearing said film material includes the step of folding said folding side portions in a direction towards said film material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/947,566, filed Oct. 9, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,590, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/541,144, filed on Oct. 11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,695.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/541144 |
Oct 1995 |
US |
Child |
08/947566 |
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US |