Insert for receiving and protecting a product and a method of forming the insert

1. An insert for receiving and protecting a product, said insert comprising:

a bottom air cell formed from a blank which is configured to be positioned below the product and further configured such that said bottom air cell cannot receive a portion of the product therein;

a first side air cell formed from said blank having first means for receiving a first end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said first side air cell, said first side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a first end of said bottom air cell; and

a second side air cell formed from said blank having second means for receiving a second end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said second side air cell, said second side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a second end of said bottom air cell.

2. An insert as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of said air cells of said insert are formed by folding said blank into a generally tubular configuration and by securing a first portion of said blank to a second portion of said blank.

3. An insert as defined in claim 2 , wherein said first portion of said blank is secured to said second portion of said blank by an adhesive.

4. An insert as defined in claim 2 , wherein said first portion of said blank is secured to said second portion of said blank by inserting at least one tab member of said blank into at least one aperture of said blank.

5. An insert as defined in claim 1 , wherein said first and second side air cells are generally perpendicular to said bottom air cell such that said insert is a generally U-shaped structure.

6. An insert as defined in claim 5 , wherein said first and second side air cells remain generally perpendicular to said bottom air cell without assistance from either the product engaging said first and second side air cells or a box in which said insert is positioned.

7. An insert as defined in claim 1 , wherein said insert has a predefined length and wherein said bottom air cell generally extends said entire predefined length of said insert.

8. An insert for receiving and protecting a product, said insert comprising:

a bottom air cell formed from a blank which is configured to be positioned below the product, said bottom air cell is formed from said blank by first and second bottom panels, an intermediate bottom panel which connects said first and second bottom panels to one another, a first outer bottom panel which is connected to said first bottom panel opposite said connection of said first bottom panel with said intermediate bottom panel, and a second outer bottom panel which is connected to said second bottom panel opposite said connection of said second bottom panel with said intermediate bottom panel, said first and second outer bottom panels configured to overlap one another and be secured to one another;

a first side air cell formed from said blank having first means for receiving a first end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said first side air cell, said first side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a first end of said bottom air cell; and

a second side air cell formed from said blank having second means for receiving a second end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said second side air cell, said second side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a second end of said bottom air cell;

wherein each of said air cells of said insert are formed by folding said blank into a generally tubular configuration and by securing a first portion of said blank to a second portion of said blank.

9. An insert as defined in claim 8 , wherein said first side air cell is formed from said blank by first and second side panels, an intermediate side panel which connects said first and second side panels to one another, a first outer side panel which is connected to said first side panel opposite said connection of said first side panel with said intermediate side panel, and a second outer side panel which is connected to said second side panel opposite said connection of said second side panel with said intermediate side panel, said first and second outer side panels configured to overlap one another and be secured to one another, said first receiving means being associated with said first side panel.

10. An insert as defined in claim 9 , wherein said first side panel is connected to said first bottom panel by a connecting panel of said blank, and wherein said second side panel is connected to said second bottom panel.

11. An insert as defined in claim 10 , wherein said connecting panel closes off said lower end of said first side air cell and is positioned between said first side air cell and said bottom air cell proximate to said first end of said bottom air cell, and wherein a portion of said second side panel closes off said first end of said bottom air cell.

12. An insert as defined in claim 10 , wherein said connecting panel has a width which is smaller than a width of said first bottom panel and which is smaller than a width of said first side panel.

13. An insert as defined in claim 12 , wherein said connecting panel does not extend to said connection of said first bottom panel with either said first outer bottom panel or said intermediate bottom panel, and wherein said connecting panel does not extend to said connection of said first side panel with either said first outer side panel or said intermediate side panel.

14. An insert as defined in claim 8 , wherein said second side air cell is formed from said blank by first and second side panels, an intermediate side panel which connects said first and second side panels to one another, a first outer side panel which is connected to said first side panel opposite said connection of said first side panel with said intermediate side panel, and a second outer side panel which is connected to said second side panel opposite said connection of said second side panel with said intermediate side panel, said first and second outer side panels configured to overlap one another and be secured to one another, said second receiving means being associated with said first side panel.

15. An insert as defined in claim 14 , wherein said first side panel is connected to said first bottom panel by a connecting panel of said blank, and wherein said second side panel is connected to said second bottom panel.

16. An insert as defined in claim 15 , wherein said connecting panel closes off said lower end of said second side air cell and is positioned between said second side air cell and said bottom air cell proximate to said second end of said bottom air cell, and wherein a portion of said second side panel closes off said second end of said bottom air cell.

17. An insert as defined in claim 15 , wherein said connecting panel has a width which is smaller than a width of said first bottom panel and which is smaller than a width of said first side panel.

18. An insert as defined in claim 17 , wherein said connecting panel does not extend to said connection of said first bottom panel with either said first outer bottom panel or said intermediate bottom panel, and wherein said connecting panel does not extend to said connection of said first side panel with either said first outer side panel or said intermediate side panel.

19. An insert for receiving and protecting a product, said insert comprising:

a bottom air cell formed from a blank which is configured to be positioned below the product;

a first side air cell formed from said blank having first means for receiving a first end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said first side air cell, said first side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a first end of said bottom air cell;

a second side air cell formed from said blank having second means for receiving a second end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said second side air cell, said second side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a second end of said bottom air cell; and

at least one spacer tab formed from said blank extending outwardly from at least one of said first and second side air cells, each said spacer tab configured to provide protection to said first and second side air cells when said insert is packed inside of a box.

20. A method of forming an insert for receiving and protecting a product, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a blank having anchoring tabs;

folding a first portion of said blank over onto a second portion of said blank;

securing said first portion of said blank to said second portion of said blank to form said blank into a generally tubular structure which is separated into a first air cell, a second air cell, and a third air cell, said second air cell being positioned between said first and third air cells;

folding said first air cell relative to said second air cell such that a lower end of said first air cell is configured to be positioned above said second air cell proximate to a first end of said second air cell, at least one of said anchoring tabs of said blank being associated with said first air cell; and

folding said third air cell relative to said second air cell such that a lower end of said third air cell is configured to be positioned above said second air cell proximate to a second end of said second air cell, at least one of said anchoring tabs of said blank being associated with said third air cell.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:

providing said blank with an adhesive on said first portion thereof; and

securing said first portion of said blank to said second portion of said blank with said adhesive.

22. A method as defined in claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:

providing said blank with at least one tab member and at least one aperture for receiving said at least one tab member; and

inserting said at least one tab member into said at least one aperture in order to secure said first portion of said blank to said second portion of said blank.

23. A method as defined in claim 20 , wherein at least one of the steps of said method are performed automatically.

24. An insert for receiving and protecting a product, said insert comprising:

a bottom air cell formed from a blank which is configured to be positioned below the product;

a first side air cell formed from said blank having first means for receiving a first end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said first side air cell, said first side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a first end of said bottom air cell, said first side air cell being separated from said bottom air cell such that said first side air cell is not in communication with said bottom air cell; and

a second side air cell formed from said blank having second means for receiving a second end of the product therein when the product comes into contact with said second side air cell, said second side air cell having a lower end which is configured to be positioned above said bottom air cell proximate to a second end of said bottom air cell.

25. The insert as defined in claim 24 , wherein said second side air cell is separated from said bottom air cell such that said second side air cell is not in communication with said bottom air cell.