Patent ID: 8146748

Claim:
A packaging device for an item of three-dimensional shape comprising: a non-porous deformable outer wrap characterized in being deformable in three dimensions to at least partially surround the item of three-dimensional shape therein; a mass of loose fill elements reactive to a heat source and transforming within said outer wrap from a first volume to a second volume in response to said heat source; said mass of loose fill elements disposed within said outer wrap and occupying said first volume in a first storage state sufficient to permit said packaging device to be stored; said mass of elements disposed within said outer wrap occupying said second volume in a second use state to shape about the item of three dimensional shape and to permit said elements to deform within said outer wrap to accommodate the three-dimensional shape of the item; said outer wrap and said elements disposed within said outer wrap are biodegradable; wherein said elements are adapted to change within said outer wrap from said first storage state to said second use deformable state wherein said second use state is an expanded three dimensional structure; said outer wrap includes at least two self-contained compartments each one of said self-contained compartments hingedly connected to at least another one of said self-contained compartments for relative movement thereto; wherein said elements are distributed in each of said at least two self-contained compartments and occupy a minority of said space within said outer wrap in said first storage state and a majority of said space within said outer wrap in said second use state; and, wherein each of said self-contained compartments includes a portion of said elements.