Thermoformed fragility packaging

A unitary fragility packaging article for packaging at least one shock sensitive item within a container having multiple panels, includes in a preferred embodiment a platform portion defining a floor for supporting at least a portion of the item and having a peripheral edge including generally parallel front and rear edges and generally parallel side edges; a plurality of ribs disposed on the platform portion to project from the floor and to divide the floor into a plurality of item-supporting cells; and at least one of the cells being provided with at least a portion of a crush depression for forming a cushion distance between the floor and an adjacent panel of the container. Other features provided as needed include crush depressions in sidewalls and flaps as well as in the main platform, ribs or cell partitions with controlled rigidity, cell floors with relatively flexible portions defined by troughs, inclined flap cell walls and corresponding tapered cell ribs for easier insertion of fragile items, strengthened upper ends of flap and sidewall cells, structurally strengthened central divider ribs on main platforms and lids, and selective cushioning for the main platform and flaps.