Abstract
There is provided an integrated shipping container comprising an outer container including a base, two sidewalls, two end walls, and a top, and a product compartment inside of the outer container, the product compartment having a base, two sidewalls, two end walls, and a top, the product compartment including two upper suspension elements and two lower suspension elements extending inward into a product compartment cavity, the suspension elements providing a suspension with variable air cushions in a height of the integrated shipping container for a product contained in the integrated shipping container, wherein the outer container base, the sidewalls, and top extend past the end walls of the product compartment, creating cushion gap between the product compartment and the ends of the outer container, and the integrated shipping container with an air cushion in front of, below, and behind the product compartment to safely store and transport electronics.
Claims
1. An integrated shipping container comprising: an outer container including an outer container base, two outer container sidewalls, two outer container end walls, and an outer container top; and a product compartment inside of the outer container, the product compartment having an product compartment base, two product compartment sidewalls, two product compartment end walls, and a product compartment top, the product compartment including two upper suspension elements and two lower suspension elements, the suspension elements extending inward into a product compartment cavity of the product compartment, the suspension elements providing a suspension with variable air cushions in a height of the integrated shipping container for a product contained in the integrated shipping container; wherein the outer container base, the outer container sidewalls, and the outer container top extend past the end walls of the product compartment, creating cushion gap between the product compartment and the ends of the outer container, providing air cushions for the product compartment in a length of the integrated shipping container; and wherein a width of the product compartment is less than a width of the outer container and the integrated shipping container is configured to include an air cushion gap between a front of the outer container and a front of the product compartment providing air cushions in a width of the integrated shipping container.
2. The integrated shipping container of claim 1, wherein the outer container top comprises: an inner outer container top layer formed by an integrated shipping container panel extending from a top end of a product compartment rear wall to a top end of an outer container front wall; and an outer container top layer extending from a from a top end of an outer container rear wall towards the outer container front wall.
3. The integrated shipping container of claim 2, wherein the outer container top layer is adhesively connected to the inner outer container top layer proximate to the top end of the outer container front wall, and the outer container top layer includes a tear-away element to separate the outer container layer for opening the integrated shipping container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary integrated shipping container, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a blank for folding the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 5 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 6 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 7 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of an exemplary integrated shipping container, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 9 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 10 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0017] FIG. 11 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following description contains specific information pertaining to embodiments in the present disclosure. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments. Unless noted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals. Moreover, the drawings and illustrations in the present application are generally not to scale and are not intended to correspond to actual relative dimensions.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary integrated shipping container, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The integrated shipping container includes outer container 1, comprising outer container base 2, outer container sidewall 3, outer container sidewall 4, outer container end 5, outer container end 6, and outer container top 7. The integrated shipping container may be a shipping or storage container for personal electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablet computers, smart watches, and laptop computers. As shown in FIG. 1, outer container 1 includes tear-away strip 8 included in outer container top 7. Tear-away strip 8 may be perforated to allow for easy removal of tear-away strip 8 to open the integrated shipping container. As shown in FIG. 1, end 5 is open. In other embodiments, end 5 may include an outer container end wall enclosing end 5 of outer container 1. outer container end 6, obscured form view in FIG. 1, may be open or include outer container end wall.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a blank for folding the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The blank may be cut from a single piece of integrated shipping container material, such as corrugated cardboard, paper board, flexible plastics, foamed plastics, rigid plastics, corrugated plastics, or any combination thereof. The blank includes a plurality of folds where the blank may be folded to build the integrated shipping container. As shown in FIG. 2, the blank includes product compartment top 9, product compartment front wall 10, product compartment base 11, product compartment rear wall 12, outer container top (inner layer) 7a, outer container sidewall 3, outer container base 2, outer container sidewall 4, and outer container top (outer layer) 7b. In some embodiments, the integrated shipping container may include adhesive strip 13 for affixing outer container top layer 7b to outer container top layer 7a to seal the integrated shipping container when the integrated shipping container is in a close configuration and sealed to contain a product. As shown in FIG. 2, product compartment top 9 may include cushion tab 14 and product compartment base 11 may include cushion tabs 15 and 16. Cushion tabs 14, 15, and 16 may be in place to maintain an air cushion gap between product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3 when the blank is folded to build the integrated shipping container.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the blank includes supports 17 and 18, extending from product compartment top 9, and connected to suspension elements 19 and 20. When the blank is folded into the integrated shipping container, suspension element 19 and 20 extend into the product compartment. In some embodiments, suspension element 19 and 20 each may extend through a portion of the length of the product compartment. In some embodiments, suspension element 19 and 20 may each extend through a length that is less than half the length product compartment top 9. Supported at the outer end by supports 17 and 18, suspension elements 19 and 20 may provide a retention force on a product placed in the product compartment and provide suspension support between the product and product compartment top 9.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the blank includes supports 21 and 22, extending from product compartment base 11, and connected to suspension elements 23 and 24. When the blank is folded into the integrated shipping container, suspension element 23 and 24 extend into the product compartment. In some embodiments, suspension element 23 and 24 each may extend through a portion of the length of the product compartment. In some embodiments, suspension element 23 and 24 may each extend through a length that is less than half the length product compartment base 11. Supported at the outer end by suspension support elements 21 and 22, suspension elements 23 and 24 may provide a retention force on a product placed in the product compartment and provide suspension support between the product and product compartment base 11.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the integrated shipping container includes product compartment end wall 25 and end wall securing element 26 and product compartment end wall 27 and end wall securing element 28 extending from the ends of outer container top 7. When the blank is folded into the integrated shipping container, end walls 25 and 27 may fold over the ends of the product compartment to enclose a product inserted therein. End wall securing elements 26 and 28 may be secured between product compartment base 11 and outer container base 2.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the integrated shipping container is formed from one blank folded to form the product compartment contained in the outer container. The folding of the product compartment creates an air gap between the product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3, an air gap between product compartment base 11 and outer container base 2, and an air gap between product compartment rear wall 12 and outer container sidewall 4. A product space is shown between suspension elements 20 and 24. A product that is inserted in the integrated shipping container may be cushioned by the suspension elements in the product compartment. The product may also be protected by the air gaps around the product compartment. The cross-section shown in FIG. 3 crosses through cushion tab 14, extending from product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the cross section passes through cushion tab 16, extending from product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3. Additionally, the cross-section passes through suspension elements 20 and 24, clearly showing the product space defined therebetween.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cross-section shows the air gap created between product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3. As shown in FIG. 5, cushion tabs 14, 15, and 16 extend from the product compartment towards outer container sidewall 3 (not shown). FIG. 6 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cross section shows product compartment top 9, supports 17, 18, 21, and 22, with suspension elements 19, 20, 23, and 24 extending therefrom, respectively. In some embodiments, suspension elements 19, 20, 23, and 24 may provide a cushion for a product in the integrated shipping container. The cushions above and below the product that are formed and maintained by suspension elements 19, 20, 23, and 24 may be a variable cushion because the cushion and suspension force may change with the weight of the product, the orientation of the integrated shipping container, and with any external forces applied due to movement, transportation, or falling. In some embodiments, the open ends of the outer container may provide a cushion effect by deformation in the event of a fall or impact.
[0027] End wall 25 extends from the end of outer container top 7 and product compartment end wall securing element is inserted between product compartment base 11 and outer container base 2. The air cushion formed by the outer container extension beyond the end walls of the product compartment is clearly shown. FIG. 7 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, the air cushion maintained by the extension of product compartment end walls 25 and 27, as well as product compartment end wall securing elements 26 and 28, is shown.
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of an exemplary integrated shipping container, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cross-section shows product compartment end wall securing elements 26 and 28 is inserted between product compartment base 11 and outer container base 2 (not shown). FIG. 9 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, product compartment base 11 does not fill the width of outer container 1, leaving an air gap between outer container sidewall 4 and product compartment rear wall 12 (not visible). The air gap between product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3 and maintained by cushion tabs 15 and 16 is visible.
[0029] FIG. 10 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cross-section shows the inside of the product compartment and the product space formed by the suspension elements. FIG. 11 shows another cross-section of the exemplary integrated shipping container of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cross-section shows the cushion space above the suspension elements and cushion tab 14 maintaining the air cushion between product compartment front wall 10 and outer container sidewall 3.
[0030] In other embodiments, the integrated shipping container may be used as an insert in a larger shipping container. In some embodiments, the integrated shipping container may be used as one of a plurality of inserts in a larger shipping container.
[0031] From the above description, it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts described in the present application without departing from the scope of those concepts. Moreover, while the concepts have been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of those concepts. As such, the embodiments described are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the present application is not limited to the particular embodiments described above, but many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
