Packing insert

Abstract

A packing insert is shown, which includes a first face, a second face, opposite the first face, a first side support and a second side support. The first side support is flexibly connected to the first face and the second face, preferably to one edge of each face. When not fully extended, the side supports bend inwards between the first face and the second face. The first side support and the second side support are in positions with respect to the first face and the second face and each other such that when they are bent inwards between the first face and the second face, the first support member does not interfere with the second support member. In a preferred arrangement, the first side support is flexibly connected to the first face and the second face at a position which is different from that of the second side support, so that when the first side support and the second side support are bent inwards sufficiently far, they pass each other without interfering with each other. In one preferred arrangement, each side support includes a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the first face and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the second face. The forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face. In one arrangement, each side support includes a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member. In another arrangement, each side support includes a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member. In yet another arrangement, each side support includes a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.

1 . A packing insert, comprising in combination: 
 a first face;    a second face, opposite the first face;    a first side support, flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the first face and flexibly connected at the opposite end to one edge of the second face, and bending inwards between the first face and the second face; and    a second side support, flexibly connected at one end to the edge of the first face which is opposite the edge connected to the first side support and flexibly connected at the opposite end to the edge of the second face which is opposite the edge connected to the first side support, and bending inwards between the first face and the second face, wherein the first side support and the second side support are in positions with respect to the first face and the second face and each other such that when they are bent inwards between the first face and the second face, the first support member does not interfere with the second support member.    
     
     
         2 . A packing insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side support is flexibly connected to the first face and the second face at a position which is different from that of the second side support that when the first side support and the second side support are bent inwards sufficiently far, that they pass each other without interfering with each other.  
     
     
         3 . A packing insert according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the first side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the first face and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the second face, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face; and    the second side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to the edge of the first face which is opposite the edge connected to the first side support and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to the edge of the second face which is opposite the edge connected to the first side support, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face.    
     
     
         4 . A packing insert according to  claim 3 , wherein the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         5 . A packing insert according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         6 . A packing insert according to  claim 3 , wherein the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         7 . A packing insert according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         8 . A packing insert according to  claim 3 , wherein the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         9 . A packing insert according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         10 . A packing insert according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the first face and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to one edge of the second face, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face; and    the second side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to the edge of the first face which is opposite the edge connected to the first side support and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to the edge of the second face which is opposite the edge connected to the first side support, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face.    
     
     
         11 . A packing insert according to  claim 10 , wherein the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         12 . A packing insert according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         13 . A packing insert according to  claim 10 , wherein the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         14 . A packing insert according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         15 . A packing insert according to  claim 10 , wherein the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         16 . A packing insert according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         17 . A packing insert, comprising in combination: 
 a first face;    a second face, opposite the first face;    a first side support, flexibly connected at one end to the first face and flexibly connected at the opposite end to the second face, and bending inwards between the first face and the second face; and    a second side support, flexibly connected at one end to the first face opposite the connection to the first side support and flexibly connected at the opposite end to the second face opposite the connection to the first side support, and bending inwards between the first face and the second face, wherein the first side support and the second side support are in positions with respect to the first face and the second face and each other such that when they are bent inwards between the first face and the second face, the first support member does not interfere with the second support member.    
     
     
         18 . A packing insert according to  claim 17 , wherein the first side support is flexibly connected to the first face and the second face at a position which is different from that of the second side support that when the first side support and the second side support are bent inwards sufficiently far, that they pass each other without interfering with each other.  
     
     
         19 . A packing insert according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the first side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to the first face and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to the second face, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face; and    the second side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to the first face opposite the connection to the first side support and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to the second face opposite the connection to the first side support, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face.    
     
     
         20 . A packing insert according to  claim 19 , wherein the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         21 . A packing insert according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         22 . A packing insert according to  claim 19 , wherein the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         23 . A packing insert according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         24 . A packing insert according to  claim 19 , wherein the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         25 . A packing insert according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         26 . A packing insert according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the first side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to the first face and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to the second face, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face; and    the second side support comprises a forward support member flexibly connected at one end to the first face opposite the connection to the first side support and a rear support member flexibly connected at one end to the second face opposite the connection to the first side support, wherein the forward support member and the rear support member are rotatably connected to each other at their ends which are opposite the first face and the second face.    
     
     
         27 . A packing insert according to  claim 26 , wherein the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         28 . A packing insert according to  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a multi-position locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         29 . A packing insert according to  claim 26 , wherein the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         30 . A packing insert according to  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a cam-locking hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.    
     
     
         31 . A packing insert according to  claim 26 , wherein the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.  
     
     
         32 . A packing insert according to  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the first side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member; and    the second side support further comprises a tension spring hinge rotatably connecting the forward support member to the rear support member.