In the preferred embodiments, the present invention provides substantially improved slit sheet cushioning products by advantageously combining novel paper properties with novel slit patterns for improved features and characteristics. In some illustrative and non-limiting example embodiments, cushioning products of the present invention can include, e.g., a novel slit sheet material in combination with extensible paper employed as, e.g., a cushioning pad or as cushioning within an envelope product, wherein the cushioning product can be substantially more resilient, but, yet, e.g., thinner for better utilization of space.

Disclosed are a honeycomb cell shock-protection paper pad structure, and a fabrication method and a fabrication apparatus, for overcoming springing back of a stretched honeycomb cell paper shock-protection pad. The honeycomb shock-protection paper pad structure includes paper strips that have an unconnected site of which upper and lower ends are formed with folded-edge bend portions and a connected site that is formed with a central bend portion. A shape-fixing method includes stretching a cellular-form shock-protection paper pad for extension, bending upper and lower ends of the paper strips of the stretched honeycomb cell shock-protection paper pad toward one side, and conducting shape-fixing rolling with paired rollers. A shape-fixing apparatus includes a chassis portion, an edge scraper portion including flexible upper and lower scraper blades mounted obliquely on the chassis portion, and a shape-fixing roller portion including rigid shaping paired roller mounted on the chassis portion.