Reinforced packaging system

Abstract

A reinforced packaging system is provided that includes a slit and an insert at a location in the foam frame that is susceptible to puncture. The presence of the slit and insert provides localized support against puncture by the shipped unit or an external component of the shipped unit. The insert may be composed of a paper, plastic, or other suitable product that is able to absorb the force from the shipped unit and transfer this force across the insert and the adjacent foam.

1 . A packaging system, comprising: 
 a foam frame sized to receive an object; and    an insert positioned within the foam frame, wherein the insert is positioned within the foam frame such that there is a substantial amount of foam thickness interior to and exterior to the insert.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert has a substantially planar shape.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the foam frame exists between the object and one side of the substantially planar insert, and wherein at least a portion of the foam frame exists on a side opposite to the one side of the substantially planar insert.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is positioned at a location that is prone to puncture.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is paper, corrugated cardboard, plastic, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is positioned proximate a corner of the foam frame.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , 
 wherein the foam frame includes an elevated corner piece; and    wherein the insert is within the elevated corner piece.    
   
   
       8 . A packaging system, comprising: 
 a foam frame sized to receive an object, wherein the foam frame has a plurality of inserts therein, and wherein at least a portion of the foam frame exists between the object and the insert.    
   
   
       9 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein each insert is positioned at a location that is prone to puncture.  
   
   
       10 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the inserts is comprised of paper, corrugated cardboard, plastic, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The packaging system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the inserts is positioned proximate a corner of the foam frame.  
   
   
       12 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the foam frame includes an elevated corner piece; and    wherein at least one of the inserts and its associated corner piece are positioned within the corner piece.    
   
   
       13 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein each insert is positioned such that there is a substantial amount of foam thickness interior to and exterior to the insert.  
   
   
       14 . A packaging system, comprising: 
 a foam frame sized to receive an object, the foam frame having a first composition; and    an insert positioned within the foam frame, the insert having a second composition and wherein at least a portion of the foam frame exists between the object and the insert.    
   
   
       15 . The packaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the insert has a substantially planar shape.  
   
   
       16 . The packaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the insert is comprised of corrugated cardboard.  
   
   
       17 . The packaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the insert is proximate a corner of the foam frame.  
   
   
       18 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein insert is at a location in the foam frame that is susceptible to puncture.  
   
   
       19 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the foam frame includes an elevated corner piece; and    wherein the insert is within the corner piece.