Patent ID: 7565975
Filing Date: 2009-07-28
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A mail flat assembly for mailing a rigid article while meeting mail flat standards for uniformity and flexibility for automated mail processing, the mail flat assembly being generally rectangular and presenting a length, a width, and a thickness, the mail flat assembly being selectively shiftable between a generally planar relaxed condition and a nonplanar stressed condition, the mail flat assembly comprising: a tray comprising a sheet of polymeric material having structure defining: an article selectively retained within the first well, the article being generally rigid in at least one dimension; and a packaging assembly at least partially covering the tray to define an interior volume of the mail flat assembly, the packaging assembly having an exterior volume such that the length of the mail flat assembly is not more than fifteen inches, the width is not more than twelve inches, and the thickness is not more than three-quarters of an inch, wherein the mail flat assembly is shiftable from the relaxed condition to the stressed condition via application of a downward force when the mail flat assembly is placed on a horizontal surface in each of three configurations, wherein the downward force is applied to the extended portions in each of the three configurations such that the mail flat assembly is flexed at least one inch from the horizontal surface thereby defining the nonplanar stressed condition, wherein the mail flat assembly returns from the stressed condition to the relaxed condition upon removal of the downward force, and wherein a relationship between the depth of the first well and the interior volume of the mail flat assembly allows at least a portion of the article to extend outside of the first well not more than two inches when the assembly is in the stressed condition in each of the three configurations without permanently altering the article in the at least one dimension and without causing the article to be extended outside of the interior volume of the packaging assembly, and to return to the first well when the assembly is shifted from the stressed condition to the relaxed condition.