Means for packaging small articles

Claim 1

PACKAGING MEANS FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS HAVING ROD-LIKE END PORTIONS OF A SMALLER DIAMETER THAN THEIR MEDIAL PORTION, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A SINGLE SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT STRIP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FOR SUPPORTING THE COMPONENTS IN TRANSVERSE RELATION THERETO, SPACED PAIRS OF FLAPS CUT IN THE STRIP INTERMEDIATE ITS LONGITUDINAL MARGINS, THE FLAPS OF EACH PAIR BEING OPPOSED AND DIRECTED LENGTHWISE OF SAID STRIP OVERLYING AND CONFINING THE END PORTIONS OF A COMPONENT TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT THEREOF, EACH FLAP OF SAID PAIR HAVING AN UNSCORED BASE PORTION OF SUFFICIENT STIFFNESS TO SUBSTANTIALLY MAINTAIN THE FLAP IN THE PLANE OF SAID STRIP AFTER REPEATED FLEXING OF SAID FLAPS WHILE BEING CARRIED UP, OVER AND AROUND A ROLLER OF SMALL DIAMETER, SAID STRIP HAVING OPENINGS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY TO THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE COMPONENTS, SAID OPENINGS BEING SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE COMPONENTS SO THAT PART OF SAID MEDIAL PORTION PROJECTS THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID STRIP HAVING A ROW OF EQUALLY SPACED OPENINGS ALONG EACH LONGITUDINAL MARGIN THEREOF FOR COACTING WITH A TOOTH DRIVE MECHANISM.