Abstract: A protective pad formed from a single piece of substantially flat, resilient material formed into at least two discrete sections, each section being foldable with respect to another section along a full fold line therebetween and fold retention means consisting essentially of a metallic strip mounted on the material and traversing each of the fold lines between adjacent sections, the metallic strips permitting each of the sections to be folded with respect to the next adjacent section and retained in any preselected angularized folded position and alternatively permitting the sections to be unfolded with respect to one another and positioned in a flat or unfolded posture.

Abstract: A packing brace is disclosed which is formed of resilient material and is structured as an integral band formed by a first section having a substantially U-shaped cross section and including an outer and inner bracing surface, a second section having a substantially U-shaped cross section and also including an outer and inner bracing surface, a pair of integrally formed hinge members pivotally joined to and interconnecting the first and second hinged sections between opposed legs of the U-shaped sections, each of the hinge members further including a centrally disposed hinge joint, and the first and second sections and the hinge members being integrally formed as a unitary construction.