Aerodynamic tote package

• US 10,308,360 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sopper, Clark, Day, Matthew, Woodworth, Adam, Cohen, Joanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Skurdal, Corey N
• Application Number:
  US15/295,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/08 the articles being load-carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/16 of special shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/08 Hand holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/14 Suspension means handles B65D33/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/18 by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the container and opposite sides of the body portion, the remaining sides being formed primarily by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides, e.g. flaps hinged thereto B65D5/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2023 the folded-up portions being folded along non-rectilinear fold-lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2033 polygonal having more than four sides, e.g. hexagonal, octogonal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2038 at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/241 and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4208 Means facilitating suspending, lifting, handling, or the like of containers handles B65D5/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/00 Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents

Abstract

An example tote package is disclosed for carrying a load external to a UAV. The tote package may be generated by folding a sheet of material. The sheet may include a middle section, a first side section, and a second side section. When the sheet is folded, the middle section may create a bottom portion of the tote package. Additionally, the first side section may create a first side portion tapering up from the edge of the bottom portion to the middle of the top portion of the tote package. Furthermore, the second side section may create a second side portion tapering up from the opposite edge to the middle of the top portion. At the top portion, the first and second sections may connect to create a handle. The first side, second side, and middle sections may be folded to create front and back portions of the tote package.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a sheet of material configured to fold into a tote package that attaches to an aerial vehicle and carries a load within the tote package external to the vehicle, the sheet of material comprising;

a middle section that creates a bottom portion of the tote package when the sheet of material is folded to create the tote package;

a first side section that is folded at a first folding line connecting the first side section and the middle section, wherein folding the first side section creates a first side portion of the tote package that tapers up from the first folding line to a top portion of the tote package; and

a second side section that is folded at a second folding line opposite to the first folding line that connects the second side section and the middle section, wherein folding the second side section creates a second side portion of the tote package that tapers up from the second folding line to connect to the first side portion at the top portion and create a handle at the top portion of the tote package,

wherein the middle section, the first side section, and the second side section are folded to intersect to create a tapered, pointed front portion of the tote package that extends beyond the first folding line connecting the first side section and the middle section, and beyond the second folding line that connects the second side section and the middle section, and to create a back portion of the tote package.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the back portion of the tote package is tapered to form a point such that the back portion extends beyond the first folding line connecting the first side section and the middle section, and beyond the second folding line that connects the second side section and the middle section.

3. A method for forming a tote comprising:

providing a sheet of material having a first fold line positioned between a first side section and a bottom section and having a second fold line positioned between a second side section and the bottom section;

folding the first side section upwardly at the first fold line such that first side section tapers upwardly and inwardly from the first fold line to a top portion of the tote package;

folding the second side section at the second fold line such that the second side section tapers upwardly and inwardly from the second fold line to the top portion of the tote package;

connecting a front of the first side section to a front of the second side section;

connecting a rear of the first side section to a rear of the second side section;

connecting the first side section and the second side section at the top portion of the tote package to create a handle of the tote package

connecting a front of the bottom section to the front of the first side section and the front of the second side section to form a tapered point at a front of the tote package, where the tapered point extends beyond the first fold line and beyond the second fold line.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of connecting a rear of the bottom section to the rear of the first side section and the rear of the second side section to form a tapered point at a rear of the tote package, where the tapered point extends beyond the first fold line and beyond the second fold line.

5. A tote package comprising:

a bottom section;

a first side section extending upwardly and inwardly from a first side of the bottom section;

a second side section extending upwardly and inwardly from a second side of the bottom section;

wherein a top portion of the first side section and a top portion of the second side section are attached to form a top of the tote package;

wherein a front of the first side section and front of the second side section are attached to form a front of the tote package;

wherein a front of the bottom section is attached to the front of the first side section and attached to the front of the section side section to form the front of the tote package;

wherein the front of the bottom section, the front of the first side section, and front of the second side section intersect to form a tapered point on the front of the tote package and the tapered point on the front of the package extends from a bottom of the tote package.

6. The tote package of claim 5, wherein the bottom section has a hexagonal shape.

7. The tote package of claim 6, wherein the first side section has a hexagonal shape and the second side section has a hexagonal shape.

8. The tote package of claim 5, wherein a handle having an opening is formed where the top portion of the first side section is attached to the top portion of the second side section.

9. The tote package of claim 8, wherein one or more apertures are positioned adjacent the opening of the handle that serve as a vehicle connector where the one or more apertures are configured to be retained by a tote package adapter positioned within an aerial vehicle.

10. The tote package of claim 9, wherein the opening of the handle is positioned below the one or more apertures serving as the vehicle connector.

11. The tote package of claim 8, wherein a first flap extends from the top portion of the first side section and is configured to close the opening of the handle when the tote package is secured to an aerial vehicle during flight of the aerial vehicle.

12. The tote package of claim 11, wherein a second flap extends from the top portion of the second side section and is configured to further close the opening of the handle when the tote package is secured to the aerial vehicle during flight of the aerial vehicle.

13. The tote package of claim 5, wherein a first vertical stabilizer extends upwardly from the rear of the first side section.

14. The tote package of claim 13, wherein a second vertical stabilizer extends upwardly from the rear of the second side section, and the second vertical stabilizer is secured to the first vertical stabilizer.

15. The tote package of claim 5, wherein the first side section, the second side section, and the bottom section are formed from a single sheet of material.

16. The tote package of claim 15, wherein the handle is formed from the same sheet of material as the first side section, the second side section, and the bottom section.