Packaging support structure

Abstract

Apparatus and related methods directed to packaging support structures having a material with first and second outer layers spaced apart from each other by a spacer layer defining a plurality of voids between the first and second outer layer. The material can include a plurality of through-slots extending through the material and along a first direction. The material can be foldable in the region of the slots to produce a central fold along a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The packaging support structure can accommodate a plurality of respective products in the slots such that the products and slots cooperatively provide a stiff resultant structure that is resistant to compression forces along the second direction with the central fold enabling the material between the slots to extend into a space created between the products providing resistance to compression forces over a significant portion of the product area.

1 . A packaging support structure comprising a material having first and second outer layers spaced from each other by a spacer layer defining a plurality of voids between the first and second outer layers, the packaging support structure defining a plurality of slots extending through the material and along a first direction, wherein the material is foldable in the region of the slots to produce a central fold along a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         2 . The packaging support structure of  claim 1  defining a central cut along the second direction in the first or second layer to facilitate folding the material to produce the central fold. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging support structure of  claim 2  defining a first cut along the second direction in the first or second layer to facilitate folding the material to produce a first fold to one side of the plurality of through-slots. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging support structure of  claim 3  defining a second cut along the second direction in the first layer or second to facilitate folding the material to produce a second fold to the other side of the plurality of through-slots from the first fold. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging support structure of  claim 4 , wherein the first cut and the second cut are in the same first or second outer layer as the central cut. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging support structure of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first cut or the second cut in the different first or second layer as the central cut. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a sheet material. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer layer comprises a plurality of walls defining the voids there between, the walls extending between the first and second outer layer and through the spacer layer along the second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer layer comprises a corrugated sheet material. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer layer comprises alveolar polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging support structure of  claim 1 , including one or more objects to be inserted and packaged in each slot. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more objects are disc-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging support structure of  claim 11 , wherein each object has a protrusion extending from a disc-shaped body and wherein two objects are mounted in a shared slot with the protrusions facing outwards. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging support structure of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more objects are lab-on-a disc devices and each protrusion comprises a liquid pouch. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging support structure of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid pouch contains a buffer solution. 
     
     
         16 . A container containing one or more packaging support structures of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the container is constructed by a folding a container material. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein an inner dimension of the container in the first direction is smaller than the dimension of the unfolded one or more packaging support structures in the first direction. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein an inner dimension of the container in the second direction is substantially the same as the dimension of the one or more packaging support structures in the second direction.