Packaging structure

Abstract

A rigid, shaped board structure is formed from a sheet of material having a length and width. The sheet has a first side and a second side. The sheet of material is folded in an accordion fold defining a plurality of flutes. The flutes have first and second legs opposing one another, defined by parallel material fold lines such that a width of the first legs is about equal to a width of the second legs. An adhesive is applied on at least one of each opposing first and second legs. The sheet of material with the adhesive thereon is compressed to fold along the fold lines to form a flat compressed board. The flat compressed board is folded along at least one board fold line parallel to the material fold lines to form the rigid, shaped board structure.

1 . A rigid, shaped board structure, comprising:
 a sheet of material having a length and width, the sheet of material having a first side and a second side, the sheet of material being folded along its length in an accordion fold defining a plurality of flutes, the flutes having first and second legs opposing one another, defined by parallel material fold lines such that a width of the first legs is about equal to a width of the second legs;   an adhesive on at least one of each opposing first and second legs, wherein the sheet of material with the adhesive thereon is compressed to fold along the fold lines to form a flat compressed board, and wherein the flat compressed board is folded along at least one board fold line parallel to the material fold lines to form the rigid, shaped board structure.   
     
     
         2 . The board structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is a fibrous material. 
     
     
         3 . The board structure of  claim 2 , wherein the fibrous material is paper. 
     
     
         4 . The board structure of  claim 1  wherein the board fold line is at an angle of 90°. 
     
     
         5 . The board structure of  claim 1  further including multiple board fold lines. 
     
     
         6 . The board structure of  claim 1  wherein the rigid shaped board defines first and second edges, the edges having a wrapping thereover. 
     
     
         7 . The board structure of  claim 1  further comprising a wrapping surrounding the board. 
     
     
         8 . The board structure of  claim 1  wherein the rigid, shaped board structure is formed from multiple sheets of material, at least two of the sheets of material being folded in an accordion fold. 
     
     
         9 . A method for making a rigid board structure, the method comprising:
 folding a sheet of material in an accordion fold to define a plurality of flutes, the flutes having first and second legs opposing one another forming parallel material fold lines such that a width of the first legs is about equal to a width of the second legs;   applying an adhesive to at least one of opposing first and second legs;   compressing the sheet of material with the adhesive thereon to fold along the material fold lines to form a flat compressed board; and   folding the flat compressed board along at least one board fold line, the board fold line being parallel to the material fold lines to form the rigid shaped board structure.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the material is a fibrous material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fibrous material is paper. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the board fold line is at an angle of 90°. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the board is folded at multiple board fold lines parallel to the material fold lines to form the rigid shaped board structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the rigid, shaped board structure defines first and second edges, the edges having a wrapping thereover. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the folded, compressed board is wrapped in material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the folding a sheet of material is a first sheet of material and further including folding a second sheet of material along material fold lines.