Clam suspension

Abstract

Provided herein are frames, packaging assemblies, and associated methods for supporting an object. The frame may include a first panel having a first distal end spaced from the first base end, and a second panel having a second distal end spaced from the second base end. The frame may further include at least one pivot axis pivotally connecting the first base end of the first panel and the second base end of the second panel, such that the first panel and the second panel may rotate relative to one another about the at least one pivot axis. A flexible support may extend between the first distal end and the second distal end, and at least one of the distal ends may pivot towards an opposing one of the distal ends in response to application of a force from an object to the flexible support.

1 .- 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A frame comprising:
 a first panel defining a first distal end and a first base end, wherein the first distal end is spaced from the first base end;   a second panel defining a second distal end and a second base end, wherein the second distal end is spaced from the second base end;   at least one pivot axis pivotally connecting the first base end of the first panel and the second base end of the second panel, such that the first panel and the second panel are configured to rotate relative to one another about the at least one pivot axis; and   a flexible support extending between the first panel and the second panel;   wherein the first distal end is configured to move relative to the second distal end; and   wherein at least one of the first distal end of the first panel and the second distal end of the second panel is configured to pivot towards an opposing one of the second distal end of the second panel or the first distal end of the first panel in response to application of a force from an object to the flexible support in a direction at least partially towards the first base end and the second base end.   
     
     
         83 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel is configured to engage the object, such that at least a portion of the frame is configured to apply a lateral force to the object when the force is applied. 
     
     
         84 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are configured to engage the object therebetween, such that the frame is configured to apply lateral forces to the object when the force is applied. 
     
     
         85 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein:
 the first panel further comprises:
 a first wall section extending between the first distal end and the first base end; and 
 a first flap connected to the first wall section at the first distal end by a first fold line; and 
   the second panel further comprises:
 a second wall section extending between the second distal end and the second base end; and 
 a second flap connected to the second wall section at the second distal end via a second fold line. 
   
     
     
         86 . The frame of  claim 85 , wherein the first flap and the second flap extend at least partially towards each other,
 wherein the flexible support is disposed adjacent the first flap and the second flap, and   wherein the first flap and the second flap are configured to be disposed on an opposite side of the flexible support from the object.   
     
     
         87 . The frame of  claim 85 , wherein the first flap is connected to the second flap, and wherein the flexible support comprises the first flap and the second flap. 
     
     
         88 . The frame of  claim 87 , further comprising a flexible sheet of material connecting the first flap and the second flap, wherein the flexible sheet of material is configured to be disposed between the object and each of the first flap and the second flap or each of the first flap and the second flap is configured to be disposed between the object and the flexible sheet of material. 
     
     
         89 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein the first panel further comprises a first wall section extending between the first distal end and the first base end,
 wherein the second panel further comprises a second wall section extending between the second distal end and the second base end,   wherein the first wall section defines an inner surface oriented towards the second panel,   wherein the first wall section defines an outer surface oriented away from the second panel, and   wherein the flexible support is attached to one or more of the outer surface of the first wall section, the first distal end of the first panel, and a first flap.   
     
     
         90 . The frame of  claim 89 , wherein the second wall section defines an inner surface oriented towards the first panel,
 wherein the second wall section defines an outer surface oriented away from the first panel, and   wherein the flexible support is attached to one or more of the outer surface of the second wall section, the second distal end of the second panel, and a second flap.   
     
     
         91 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein the flexible support comprises a flexible sheet of material. 
     
     
         92 . The frame of  claim 91 , wherein the flexible sheet of material extends between the first distal end of the first panel and the second distal end of the second panel. 
     
     
         93 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein the at least one pivot axis comprises a common pivot axis connecting the first panel and the second panel, such that each of the first panel and the second panel are configured to pivot with respect to one another about the common pivot axis, wherein the first panel and the second panel are integrally connected or attached to each other. 
     
     
         94 . The frame of  claim 93 , wherein the first panel further comprises:
 a first wall section extending between the first distal end and the first base end; and   a first hinge section extending from an inner surface of the first wall section at least partially perpendicular to the inner surface of the first wall section,   wherein the inner surface of the first wall section extends between the first distal end and the first base end of the first wall section, and   wherein the first hinge section is disposed at least partially on the common pivot axis.   
     
     
         95 . The frame of  claim 94 , wherein the first hinge section defines a taper such that a height of the first hinge section decreases towards the common pivot axis, such that the common pivot axis defines the narrowest point of the first hinge section and the second hinge section. 
     
     
         96 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein the at least one pivot axis comprises a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis. 
     
     
         97 . The frame of  claim 96 , wherein the first base end is disposed at least partially on the first pivot axis,
 wherein the second base end is disposed at least partially on the second pivot axis,   wherein the frame further comprises a base section connecting the first base end of the first panel and the second base end of the second panel, and   wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel is integral with or attached to the base section.   
     
     
         98 . The frame of  claim 97 , wherein the base section further comprises a central portion and a first upright portion, wherein the first upright portion extends from the central portion of the base section, wherein the first panel is connected to the first upright portion of the base section,
 wherein the base section further comprises a second upright portion opposing the first upright portion, wherein the second upright portion extends from the central portion of the base section, and wherein the second panel is connected to the second upright portion of the base section.   
     
     
         99 . The frame of  claim 98 , wherein at least a portion of the first panel is disposed on an opposite side of the first upright portion relative to the second panel, and wherein the first upright portion of the base section is configured to apply an outward force to the first panel in a direction opposite the second panel. 
     
     
         100 . The frame of  claim 98 , wherein at least a portion of the first panel is disposed on a same side of the first upper portion relative to the second panel. 
     
     
         101 . The frame of  claim 96 , wherein the first panel defines a first pivot distance between the first distal end and the first pivot axis,
 wherein the second panel defines a second pivot distance between the second distal end and the second pivot axis, and   wherein a sum of the first pivot distance and the second pivot distance is greater than a distance between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.   
     
     
         102 . The frame of  claim 82 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are disposed in a first support section, the frame further comprising:
 a second support section comprising:
 a third panel defining a third distal end and a third base end, wherein the third distal end is spaced from the third base end; 
 a fourth panel defining a fourth distal end and a fourth base end, wherein the fourth distal end is spaced from the fourth base end; 
 at least one second support pivot axis pivotally connecting the third base end of the third panel and the fourth base end of the fourth panel, such that the third panel and the fourth panel are configured to rotate relative to one another about the at least one second support pivot axis; and 
 a second flexible support extending between the third panel and the fourth panel; 
 wherein the third distal end is configured to move relative to the fourth distal end; 
 wherein at least one of the third distal end of the third panel and the fourth distal end of the fourth panel is configured to pivot towards an opposing one of the fourth distal end of the fourth panel or the third distal end of the third panel in response to application of a force from the object to the second flexible support at least partially towards the third base end and the fourth base end; and 
   wherein the first support section is connected to the second support section,   wherein the first support section and the second support section are configured to cooperate to support the object,   wherein the first panel and the third panel are configured to engage a first side of the object, and wherein the second panel and the fourth panel are configured to engage a second side of the object opposite the first side of the object.   
     
     
         103 . The frame of  claim 102 , wherein the first support section is pivotally connected to the second support section, such that the first support section and the second support section are configured to rotate relative to one another, and
 wherein the first support section and the second support section are configured to pivot generally perpendicular to the at least one pivot axis and the at least one second support pivot axis.   
     
     
         104 . A packaging assembly for supporting an object, the packaging assembly comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a first panel defining a first distal end and a first base end, wherein the first distal end is spaced from the first base end; 
 a second panel defining a second distal end and a second base end, wherein the second distal end is spaced from the second base end; 
 at least one pivot axis pivotally connecting the first base end of the first panel and the second base end of the second panel, such that the first panel and the second panel are configured to rotate relative to one another about the at least one pivot axis; and 
 a flexible support extending between the first panel and the second panel; 
 wherein the first distal end is configured to move relative to the second distal end; and 
 wherein at least one of the first distal end of the first panel and the second distal end of the second panel is configured to pivot towards an opposing one of the second distal end of the second panel or the first distal end of the first panel in response to application of a force from an object to the flexible support at least partially towards the first base end and the second base end; and 
   a box configured to enclose the frame and the object,
 wherein the frame is configured to be disposed between the object and at least one surface of the box. 
   
     
     
         105 . The packaging assembly of  claim 104 , wherein the box defines two opposing sides and four edges,
 wherein the two opposing sides define a larger surface area than the four edges,   wherein the frame is disposed between the object and at least one of the four edges, and   wherein at least a portion of the first panel is disposed adjacent a first side of the two opposing sides, and   wherein at least a portion of the second panel is disposed adjacent a second side of the two opposing sides.   
     
     
         106 . A frame comprising:
 a first panel defining a first distal end and a first base end, wherein the first distal end is spaced from the first base end;   a second panel defining a second distal end and a second base end, wherein the second distal end is spaced from the second base end;   at least one pivot axis pivotally connecting the first base end of the first panel and the second base end of the second panel, such that the first panel and the second panel are configured to rotate relative to one another about the at least one pivot axis; and   means for supporting an object at least partially between the first panel and the second panel;   wherein at least one of the first distal end of the first panel and the second distal end of the second panel is configured to pivot towards an opposing one of the second distal end of the second panel or the first distal end of the first panel in response to application of a force from an object to the means for supporting the object at least partially between the first panel and the second panel in a direction at least partially towards the first base end and the second base end.