Packaging material

Abstract

A packaging material comprising a plurality of thimble shaped cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members are formed into a predetermined shape having a closed lower end, a tubular sidewall, and an opened upper end. The cushioning members are formed of a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface being a bondable surface. The cushioning members are formed to have a plurality of overlapping folds formed between the opened upper end and the closed lower end such that the overlapping folds are fixed to retain the cushioning members in the predetermined shape.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A package, comprising: 
 a container;    an article positioned in the container; and    a plurality of cushioning members positioned in the container so as to substantially surround the article and provide cushioning support for the article within the container, each of the cushioning members comprising a flexible sheet of material formed into a substantially cup shaped member having a lower end, an upper end, and a sidewall with a plurality of overlapping folds extending between the upper end and the lower end, at least a portion of the overlapping the folds bondably connected to retain the cup shape of the cushioning member.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of material is circularly shaped such that the cushioning members have a substantially smooth circumferential rim at the upper end thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of material is square shaped such that the cushioning members have a jagged circumferential rim at the upper end thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the overlapping folds are bondably connected with an adhesive applied to at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of material.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the overlapping folds are bondably connected with a cohesive applied to at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of material.  
     
     
         6 . In a method of forming a cushioning member for use as a packaging material comprising a plurality of the cushioning members, each of the cushioning members formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface and formed into a cup shaped member having a lower end, an upper end, and a sidewall with a plurality of overlapping folds extending between the upper end and the lower end, the improvement comprising the steps of: 
 applying a bonding material to at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet of material; and    bondably connecting at least a portion of the overlapping portions of the folds to retain the cup shape of the cushioning member.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the bonding material is an adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the bonding material is a cohesive.