foam peanuts, also known as foam popcorn, packing peanuts or packing noodles, are a common loose-fill packaging and cushioning material used to prevent damage to fragile objects during shipping. they are shaped to interlock when compressed and free flow when not compressed. they are roughly the size and shape of an unshelled peanut and commonly made of expanded polystyrene foam. 50–75 millimetres (2-3 in) of peanuts are typically used for cushioning and void filling packaging applications. the original patent was filed for by robert e. holden in 1962 and was granted in 1965.