Packaging Article Holder

Abstract

An article holder for a package utilizes a strip of heat-formed plastic with recessed embossments and lateral fold lines separating adjacent formed side panels. The fold lines provide lines of relative structural weakness about which the strip can be folded into a closed, wrap-around support framework. Recessed embossments on overlapping panels provide attachment by simple press fit such that no adhesives or die cutting are required and the structural strength of the strip material is maximized. Recessed embossments configured to receive opposite ends of packaged articles hold packaged articles in a fixed position. Angled corner supports traverse the width of the strip adjacent to each fold line such that when the strip is folded the support surfaces are in face-to-face abutment, providing added rigidity and resistance from twisting.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
         1 . A holder for packaged articles comprising:
 an elongate strip of heat-formed plastic having raised areas relative to recessed embossments, at least one pair of said embossments adapted to closely receive opposite ends of packaged articles;   linear fold lines on said strip located laterally across said strip in between said raised areas, said fold lines being of relative structural weakness compared to said raised areas and about which said strip can be manually folded, said fold lines dividing said strip into adjacent panels;   a first panel at one end of said strip having embossments which match the embossments in size and position in a last panel at the opposite end of the strip; and   wherein when said strip is folded about said fold lines said first and last panels overlap providing securement by pressfit attachment of their respective embossments one into the other constituting a wrap-around framework for securely holding said articles between opposing embossments.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged article holder of  claim 1  further including embossed corner supports on the strip located on opposite sides of each corner fold line, each support consisting of a single laterally extending planar surface traversing said strip and oriented at an angle to said strip such that when said strip is folded at said fold lines said support surfaces are in face-to-face abutment. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged article holder of  claim 2  further described as having only four corner fold lines and five panels. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged article holder of  claim 3  wherein said corner supports are oriented at a 45° angle to said strip and said holder is rectangular when the first and last panels are secured together. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged article holder of  claim 1  further including at least one article securely held within said wrap-around frame, the ends of said article captured within opposing embossments. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged article holder of  claim 5  wherein said embossments are non-apertured wells which cup the ends of said at least one article. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged article holder of  claim 6  wherein said wells include end walls which abut ends of said at least one article. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged article holder of  claim 1  wherein said panels are three-dimensional and have a U-shaped lateral cross-section in non-embossed raised areas of said panels. 
     
     
         9 . A two-part packaging system including an outer package and a closely inter-fitting article holder of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 9  wherein said outer package is a box. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged article holder of  claim 2  wherein said corner supports traverse substantially the entire width of the strip. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged article holder of  claim 1  which is composed of a unitary thermoplastic strip.