Packaging member

Abstract

A packaging member forming an enclosed region for securing an article therein includes a first and a second preformed rigid member. The first and the second member have two legs forming an L-shaped cross section along their length. A flexible layer hingedly connects one leg of the first member to one leg of the second member. Rotating the first member with respect to the second member about an axis along the flexible layer until the other leg of the first member contacts the other leg of the second member forms the enclosed region.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging member for securing an article comprising: 
 a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member each comprising a first leg and a second leg disposed substantially perpendicular to the first leg;    means for connecting the first leg of the first member to the first leg of the second member, the means for connecting being configured to permit the rotation of one member with respect to the other member about an axis of rotation until the second leg of the one member contacts the second leg of the other member to define an enclosed region for an article.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to ends of the first legs of the first member and the second member.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the means for connecting comprises a flexible member attached to outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the first legs of the first member and the second member.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the means for connecting comprises a flexible member attached to the first legs of the first member and the second member, the flexible member being disposed between inner surfaces of the first legs of the first member and the second member and outer surfaces of the first legs of the first member and the second member.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging member of  claim 3  wherein the flexible member is composed of paperboard.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging member of  claim 3  wherein the flexible member is composed of tape.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging member of  claim 3  wherein the flexible member is composed of cloth.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging member of  claim 1  further comprising a flap attached to the second leg of the first member, the flap being configured to be attached to the second leg of the second member.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging member of  claim 8  wherein the flap is composed of paperboard.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging member of  claim 8  wherein the flap is composed of tape.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging member of  claim 8  wherein the flap is composed of cloth.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging member of  claim 8  wherein the means for connecting and the flap comprise a single flexible layer.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first leg of the first member and the second leg of the first member have a first predetermined length, and  
 the first leg of the second member and the second leg of the second member have a second predetermined length.  
 
     
     
         14 . The packaging member of  claim 13  wherein the first predetermined length and the second predetermined length are substantially equal.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the enclosed region defines a substantially rectangular shape.  
     
     
         16 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the first member and the second member have a thickness from about 0.060 inches to about 0.500 inches.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the first member and the second member are configured to define the enclosed region of about 2 inches by 2 inches to about 4 inches by 4 inches.  
     
     
         18 . The packaging member of  claim 1  wherein the first member and the second member are configured to define the enclosed region of about 2 inches by 2 inches to about 3 inches by 5 inches.  
     
     
         19 . A packaging member for securing an article comprising a preformed member having a preselected length, the member comprising a web having opposed ends and a leg extending from each opposed end, the web and legs collectively defining a substantially U-shaped cross section along the length of the member; and, wherein the web has at least one score formed substantially along the preselected length of the member, the score being configured to operate as a hinged connection forming two adjacent web portions when the legs are directed toward each other until the legs contact one another to define an enclosed region.  
     
     
         20 . The packaging member of  claim 19  wherein the preformed member is composed of laminated paperboard.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging member of  claim 19  wherein the at least one score is formed in at least one of an outer surface of the member and inner surface of the member.  
     
     
         22 . A packaging member for securing an article comprising: 
 a preformed member having a preselected length, the preformed member including a web having opposed ends, a leg extending from each opposed end, the web and legs collectively defining a substantially U-shaped cross section along the length; and    a second member hingedly connected to one of the legs of the preformed member, the second member being configured to be rotatable in a direction toward the other leg of the preformed member until the second member contacts the other leg to define an enclosed region for an article.    
     
     
         23 . The packaging member of  claim 22  wherein the preformed member is composed of laminated paperboard.  
     
     
         24 . The packaging member of  claim 22  wherein the second member comprises at least one score, the at least one score being configured to separate the second member into a first portion and a second portion and provide a second hinged connection to permit the first portion to be moved to a position substantially perpendicular to the second portion, such that when the second member is rotatably directed into contact with the legs, the first portion further secures the second member to the legs of the preformed member.  
     
     
         25 . The packaging member of  claim 24  wherein the at least one score may be formed in at least one of an outer surface of the second member and inner surface of the second member.  
     
     
         26 . The packaging member of  claim 22  further comprising a first notch formed along an end of the second member adjacent the hinged connection for contacting one of the legs and a second notch formed along an opposed end of the second member for contacting the other leg, the first notch and the second notch further securing the second member to the legs of the preformed member.  
     
     
         27 . A packaging member for securing an article comprising: 
 a preformed member having a preselected length, the member having a first leg and a second leg forming a substantially L-shaped cross section across the length of the member; the first leg having two substantially parallel scores formed substantially along the preselected length of the member, each score configured to operate as a hinged connection, the two scores forming three adjacent leg portions in the first leg when the respective ends of the first leg and the second leg are directed toward each other and into contact with one another to define an enclosed region for securing an article therein.    
     
     
         28 . The packaging member of  claim 27  wherein the preformed member is composed of laminated paperboard.  
     
     
         29 . The packaging member of  claim 27  wherein each of the two scores may be formed in at least one of an outer surface of the first member and inner surface of the first member.