Packaging card having rigidity features

Abstract

A packaging backer card has features running along at least one edge thereof to create rigidity in the card. The features imparting rigidity may be integral with the backer card and may lie flat, in the same plane as the backer card, in a flattened configuration. The features imparting rigidity may be formed by folding at least a portion of the backer card along at least one side, where one or more tabs may be used to retain and lock the folds in the folded configuration. The folded configuration may create one or more longitudinal fold lines that contribute to reducing the likelihood of flexing, bending or drooping of the backer card. The backer card may be used to secure an item, such as a medical device, thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backer card comprising:
 a generally flat sheet, when the backer card is in a flattened configuration, having a plurality of tabs extending outward from the flat sheet, the plurality of tabs being in the same plane of the flat sheet when the backer card is in the flattened configuration;   a plurality of fold lines disposed lengthwise along at least one side edge of the backer card, the plurality of fold lines configured to form a geometric shape when folded and retained in a locked rail configuration;   a plurality of engagement members, each of the plurality of engagement members corresponding to each of the plurality of tabs, wherein   when the backer card is folded along the plurality of fold lines, each of the plurality of tabs engage with respective ones of the plurality of engagement members, and   at least one of (a) each of the plurality of tabs and (b) each of the plurality of engagement members includes a locking feature configured to retain the connection between the plurality of tabs and the plurality of engagement members and retain the locked rail configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The backer card of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric shape is triangular. 
     
     
         3 . The backer card of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric shape is rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The backer card of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more device engagement cutouts formed in the backer card, the one or more device engagement cutouts being in the same plane as the backer card in the flattened configuration and deformable to engage a device disposed on the backer card. 
     
     
         5 . The backer card of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs are formed as a pair of tabs. 
     
     
         6 . The backer card of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement members are formed as a pair of slots configured to receive the pair of tabs therein. 
     
     
         7 . The backer card of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of tabs fit into a first portion of the slots and the backer card is configured in a generally flat, pre-assembled configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The backer card of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of tabs are slidable from the first portion of the slots to a second portion of the pair of slots, forming the locked rail configuration with a rail on at least one side of the backer card. 
     
     
         9 . The backer card of  claim 8 , further comprising an indent between the first portion and the second portion of the pair of slots, the indent retaining the backer card in the locked rail configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The backer card of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement members are formed as a single slot. 
     
     
         11 . The backer card of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of tabs fit into a first portion of the single slot, extending over opposing sides thereof and the backer card is configured in a generally flat, pre-assembled configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The backer card of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of tabs are slidable from the first portion of the single slot to a second portion of the single slot, forming a locked rail configuration with a rail on at least one side of the backer card. 
     
     
         13 . The backer card of  claim 12 , further comprising an indent on each side of the single slot, the indent retaining the backer card in the locked rail configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The backer card of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement members are formed as a single slot extending from an outer edge of the backer card and configured to receive the pair of tabs therein. 
     
     
         15 . The backer card of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of tabs fit into the single slot and the backer card is configured in a generally flat, pre-assembled configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The backer card of  claim 15 , wherein the slots are slidable from a first portion of the tabs to a second portion of the tabs, forming the locked rail configuration with a rail on at least one side of the backer card. 
     
     
         17 . The backer card of  claim 16 , further comprising an indent in each of the tabs, the indent retaining the backer card in the locked rail configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The backer card of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs are formed as single tabs in a mushroom shape. 
     
     
         19 . The backer card of  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement members are formed as a slot configured to receive respective ones of the plurality of tabs therein. 
     
     
         20 . The backer card of  claim 6 , wherein each of the tabs fit into the slot in a first unlocked configuration and are movable within the slot to the locked rail configuration.