A package for one or a plurality of card-like items is provided, having a protective outer shell and an inner insert into which the card-like items may be placed. The shell and insert may be a monolithic structure, or they may be produced separately, possibly of different materials--although both are typically corrugated cardboard. The insert has front, bottom, and rear articulated panels, each having a fold line along the length thereof so that each panel protrudes inwardly into the interior of the shell at the fold line, and a cover panel. At least one and usually a plurality of slots is formed in each of the articulated panels, so that an edge of any card-like item to be placed into the package is inserted into the slots. In general, as the edge of each card-like item intrudes into the slot in the bottom articulated panel, and the cover panel is closed over the top edge, at least the rear articulated panel tends to protrude further into the shell to secure the item. Compression tabs are provided to co-operate with the cover panel and the top of the shell, so as to enhance the clamping action for each card-like item. The spaces formed outside the insert and within the shell provide a measure of crush protection for the products, and the articulation of the panels of the insert provide a measure of shock absorption for each card-like item secured within the package.

A protective carton for a substantially flat product such as an electrical printed circuit board includes not only parallel rectangular exterior top and bottom panels, parallel rectangular exterior side panels, and parallel rectangular exterior end panels but also rectangular interior top and bottom panels and at least a pair of rectangular interior end panels. Each of the interior end panels forms an acute angle with respect to the interior bottom panel in order to clamp the product securely in place on the interior bottom panel. Each interior end panel is formed by lateral extensions of the interior top and bottom panels, with the lateral extensions of the interior top panels locking the lateral extensions of the interior bottom panel in place. The entire carton may be made of a material such as corrugated cardboard in order to minimize cost and facilitate eventual disposal.

A carton for use in shipping circuit boards. The carton has a pair of side members separated by top and bottom members configured to surround a circuit board with a closed end opposite an open end for receiving the circuit board. The closed end consists of three panels with one panel positioned perpendicular to the side members and a middle panel inserted into the carton cavity parallel to one side member with the remaining panel formed at an acute angle with respect to the middle panel inside the carton cavity to engage and position a circuit board within the carton to prevent movement thereof. A segment formed at the open end across the top member to extend partially down each side member is formed such that one side section rotates with respect to a side member so that a top section may be positioned parallel to the side member with the other side section positioned across the open end to retain the circuit board within the carton.

A space saving pizza box and method of use with the box being half as wide as it is long containing upper and lower stacked compartments with one-half of a circular pizza in each compartment and a panel separating the two compartments that is a cover for the lower compartment and a floor for the upper compartment.

According to the present invention there is provided a packaging assembly for enclosing and protecting a plurality of back-up pads having a generally disc or frusto-conically disc shaped resilient portion. The packaging assembly comprises an elongate bottom box portion comprising three axially elongate bottom side walls. The bottom side walls form an elongate main portion of the bottom box portion. The package assembly also includes a pair of bottom end walls disposed generally radially of the bottom box portion axis. A rack portion having first and second holding walls is present. The rack portion is disposed adjacent the elongate main portion of the bottom box portion and has a plurality of spaced surfaces forming slots corresponding to the shape of a back-up pad. The surfaces forming the slots are adapted to engage the surfaces of the back-up pads to retain a spaced relationship between back-up pads in the assembly. A top cover for enclosing the elongate main portion of the bottom box portion is also present to further protect the back-up pads.