Packaging material

Abstract

A packaging material for use in filling baskets and protecting articles during a shipping process. The packaging material includes a flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface. A mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft, the mass is connected to a flexible backing so as to substantially cover at least one side of the flexible backing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging material, comprising: 
 a flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface; and    a mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft, the mass substantially covering and connected to the first surface of the flexible backing.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein the flexible backing has an adhesive disposed on the second surface.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein the flexible backing has a cohesive disposed on the second surface.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein a second mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft substantially covers and is connected to the second surface of the flexible backing.  
     
     
         5 . A packaging material, comprising: 
 a first flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface;    a mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft, the mass substantially covering and connected to the first surface of the flexible backing; and    a second flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface of the second flexible backing connected to the mass such that the mass is interposed between the first flexible backing and the second flexible backing.    
     
     
         6 . The packaging material of  claim 5  wherein the first flexible backing has an adhesive disposed on the second surface thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging material of  claim 6  wherein the second flexible backing has an adhesive disposed on the first surface thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging material of  claim 5  wherein the first flexible backing has a cohesive disposed on the second surface thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging material of  claim 8  wherein the second flexible backing has a cohesive disposed on the first surface thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A package, comprising: 
 a container;    an article positioned within the container; and    a packaging material comprising a flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface, and a mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft connected to the first surface of the flexible backing, the packaging material positioned in the container so as to substantially surround the article.    
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the flexible backing of the packaging material is bondingly connected to the container.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the packaging material further comprises a second mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft substantially covering and connected to the second surface of the flexible backing.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the container is a basket and wherein the packaging material is positioned in the interior of the basket such that the flexible backing substantially conforms to the contour of the interior surface of the basket thereby lining the interior surface of the basket with the article positioned on the mass of strips of material.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the flexible backing is bondably connected to the interior surface of the basket.  
     
     
         15 . A package, comprising: 
 a container;    an article positioned within the container; and    a packaging material comprising: 
 a first flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface,  
 a mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft, the mass substantially covering and connected to the first surface of the flexible backing; and  
 a second flexible backing having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface of the second flexible backing connected to the mass such that the mass is interposed between the first flexible backing and the second flexible backing.  
   
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein one of the first and second flexible backings of the packaging material is bondingly connected to the container.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 15  wherein one of the first and second flexible backings of the packaging material is bondingly connected to the container and one of the first and second flexible backings is connected to the article.