Package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The inner sheet of the package includes a shrinkable material that can be activated to immobilize articles disposed in the article reservoir.

A package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The inner sheet of the package includes a shrinkable material that can be activated to immobilize articles disposed in the article reservoir.

A shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped and one or more expansion chambers. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.

A shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped and one or more expansion chambers. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.

A shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped and one or more expansion chambers. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.

A package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The package also includes an external wrap surrounding at least a portion of the package to provide a relatively planar outwardly-facing surface.

A method for forming a shipping support for a washing machine appliance includes attaching an elongated post to a corrugated sheet. The elongated post is oriented perpendicular to flutes of the corrugated sheet when the elongated post is attached to the corrugated sheet. The method also includes attaching the corrugated sheet to a frame. The frame has a truncated pyramid base at a center of the frame. The truncated pyramid base is formed with a plurality of supports attached to a plurality of flaps of the frame.

Packaging is provided that inflates within the interior and exterior of a desired article, such as a pair of shoes. The pack is sized to the article's height, width, depth and in the case of shoes, has two distinct inserts that fit inside each one of a pair of shoes. When the package is inflated, both the interior and exterior of the shoes are cushioned and supported for shipment and storage. This invention allows the user to deflate the packaging, fold it to a reduced size, and either store the packaging or mail it back to the manufacturer to be repurposed for a continued life cycle.

An inflatable protective packaging unit and associated inflation systems are disclosed. The unit can include an inflatable component that includes overlaid flexible plies connected to each other to define a fluid chamber therebetween. The inflatable component can define an inflation region in fluid communication with the fluid chamber to allow fluid from the inflation region into the fluid chamber. The unit can further include a receiver separably attached to the inflatable component at the inflation region and configured to direct fluid into the inflation region. The inflation system can be configured to discretely engage the inflatable protective packaging unit and provide fluid for inflation. Once inflated, the system may eject the unit, and cause the inflatable component to separate from the receiver.

A substrate housing structure includes a container, a cover, a bag, and a band. The container holds substrates therein. The over covers an opening of the container. The bag is disposed in a space between. the cover and a storing object including at least the substrates that are stacked. The bag is filled with flowable matter. The band is wrapped around the container and the cover.