Packaging cushion structure made from stiff paper-board sheets

Abstract

A product cushioning structure for supporting a shock sensitive product in an outer packaging container having a plurality of container walls has at least two interconnected outer container-contacting panels for supporting and stabilizing the cushioning structure within the outer packaging container in at least two mutually perpendicular directions. At least two inner product-supporting panels support the shock sensitive product within the cushioning structure. Intermediate wall sections extend between the outer container-contacting panels and the inner product-supporting panels. The intermediate wall sections, outer container-contacting panels and inner product-supporting panels are made of a stiff paper-board material and are joined together to form box-like cells between the respective inner product-supporting panels and outer container-contacting panels. The cells are crushable to provide shock absorption support to the product during shock loading conditions. They are arranged in or foldable into a mutually angled configuration so that the cushioning structure provides shock absorption support to the product during shock loading conditions in at least two mutually perpendicular directions. The box-like cells may comprise an open box-like component formed by the intermediate wall sections and the inner product-supporting panels, and a unitary planar component formed by the outer container-contacting panels. The unitary planar component is bonded to the open box-like component at the periphery thereof to inhibit splaying of the intermediate wall sections in the presence of a shock loading in a direction normal to the inner product-supporting panels.