Packaging protection arrangement and support element therefor

Abstract

A support panel for use in protecting a piece of merchandise packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion. The support panel includes a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is sized and configured to house the bubble portion therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion. The support panel also includes a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle that is sized and configured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support panel for use in protecting a piece of merchandise packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion, the support panel comprising:
 a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is structured to house the bubble portion therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion; and   a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle and is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The support panel of  claim 1  comprising:
 the support enclosure being mounted adjacent to the planar portion; 
 the receptacle extending through a second face of the support panel into the support enclosure; 
 the support enclosure comprising a plurality of lateral support panels and at least one central support panel; 
 each of the plurality of lateral support panels being angularly offset from the planar portion; 
 the plurality of lateral support panels being perimetrically connected around the central support panel; and 
 the central support panel being positioned offset from the planar portion, across the plurality of lateral support panels. 
 
     
     
         3 . The support panel of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of lateral support panels is angularly offset from the planar portion by an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         4 . The support panel of  claim 1  comprising:
 a filtering material; and 
 the filtering material being superimposed onto the planar portion and the support enclosure. 
 
     
     
         5 . The support panel of  claim 1  comprising:
 a quantity of desiccant material; and 
 the quantity of desiccant material being integrated into the support panel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The support panel of  claim 1  comprising:
 the at least one support enclosure being a plurality of support enclosures; and 
 the plurality of support enclosures being distributed across the support panel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The support panel of  claim 1  comprising:
 a back panel; 
 a tamper-evident seal; and 
 the tamper-evident seal being perimetrically connected in between the support panel and the back panel. 
 
     
     
         8 . A system employing a protective enclosure and support panel for use in protecting a piece of merchandise packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion, the system comprising:
 a support panel comprising:
 a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is structured to house the bubble portion therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion; and 
 a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle and is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure; and 
   a transparent protective enclosure that is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure, and wherein the protective enclosure is structured to prevent displacement of the merchandise relative to the planar portion and the bubble portion.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  comprising:
 the support enclosure being mounted adjacent to the planar portion; 
 the receptacle extending through a second face of the support panel into the support enclosure; 
 the support enclosure comprising a plurality of lateral support panels and at least one central support panel; 
 each of the plurality of lateral support panels being angularly offset from the planar portion; 
 the plurality of lateral support panels being perimetrically connected around the central support panel; and 
 the central support panel being positioned offset from the planar portion, across the plurality of lateral support panels. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of lateral support panels is angularly offset from the planar portion by an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  comprising:
 a filtering material; and 
 the filtering material being superimposed onto the planar portion and the support enclosure. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  comprising:
 a quantity of desiccant material; and 
 the quantity of desiccant material being integrated into the support panel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  9  comprising:
 the at least one support enclosure being a plurality of support enclosures; and 
 the plurality of support enclosures being distributed across the support panel. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for protecting merchandise packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion of a packaging arrangement, the method comprising:
 providing a support panel having:
 a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is structured to house the bubble portion of the packaging arrangement therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion; and 
 a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle and is structured to be disposed against the card portion of the packaging arrangement when the bubble portion of the packaging arrangement is housed within the support enclosure; 
   inserting the bubble portion of the packaging arrangement into the support enclosure of the support panel; and   pressing the planar portion of the support panel against the card portion of the packaging arrangement.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing a transparent protective enclosure that is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure, and wherein the protective enclosure is structured to prevent displacement of the merchandise relative to the planar portion and the bubble portion; and;   mounting the packaging arrangement and the support panel within the protective enclosure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sealing the protective enclosure.