INFLATABLE BOX AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
First Claim
1. A shipping package, comprising:
- a box or tube container;
wherein the tube container further comprises;
a bottom wall having an interior face, an exterior face, and a circular edge;
a side tubular wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, and a top edge, wherein the bottom edge of the side tubular wall is attached to the circular edge of the bottom wall;
a top wall having an interior face, an exterior face, and a circular edge, wherein the top wall is attached to the side tubular wall at at least one point on the top edge;
wherein the box further comprises;
a bottom wall having an interior face, an exterior face, at least a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;
a first side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the first edge of the bottom wall when assembled;
a second side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a third side edge and a fourth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the second edge of the bottom wall and the third side edge is in physical communication with the first side edge of the first side wall when assembled l;
a third side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a fifth side edge and a sixth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the third edge of the bottom wall and the fifth side edge is in physical communication with the fourth side edge of the second side wall when assembled;
a fourth side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a seventh side edge and a eighth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the fourth edge of the bottom wall, the seventh side edge is in physical communication with the sixth edge of the third side wall and the eighth side edge is in physical communication with the second side edge of the first side wall when assembled;
at least one top wall panel having an interior face and an exterior face, wherein the at least one top wall panel is in physical communication with the top edge of at least one of the first side wall, second side wall, third side wall, or fourth side wall;
at least one fluid bladder disposed on the interior of the box or tube container,where for the box, the at least one fluid bladder is disposed on the interior face of the bottom wall, first side wall, second side wall, third side wall, fourth side wall, and at least one top wall panel of the box;
where for the tube container, the at least one fluid bladder is disposed on the interior face of the bottom wall, the side tubular wall, and the top wall; and
a fluid inflation valve in fluid communication with an interior lumen of the fluid inflation bladder, wherein the fluid inflation valve is disposed on the fluid bladder, on the interior face of a side wall, on the interior face of a top wall panel, on the exterior face of a side wall, on the exterior face of a top wall panel, in a side wall, or in a top wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable box or tube container and method of use are disclosed. The inflatable container may be designed in any shape or size and be made up of any rigid material. The box is uniquely designed to allow for a simple one-step process using a box with an integrated inflating tube and bottom liner to expand internally by inflation with a gaseous fluid, thereby three-dimensionally cushioning an article to be shipped. This completely protects the article and removes the need for peanuts, paper or other fillers in boxes used for shipping goods once the box is closed. The box may further include a bleed valve that releases the gaseous fluid if the inflating tube and/or bottom liner are over-inflated.
32 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A shipping package, comprising:
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a box or tube container; wherein the tube container further comprises; a bottom wall having an interior face, an exterior face, and a circular edge; a side tubular wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, and a top edge, wherein the bottom edge of the side tubular wall is attached to the circular edge of the bottom wall; a top wall having an interior face, an exterior face, and a circular edge, wherein the top wall is attached to the side tubular wall at at least one point on the top edge; wherein the box further comprises; a bottom wall having an interior face, an exterior face, at least a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge; a first side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the first edge of the bottom wall when assembled; a second side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a third side edge and a fourth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the second edge of the bottom wall and the third side edge is in physical communication with the first side edge of the first side wall when assembled l; a third side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a fifth side edge and a sixth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the third edge of the bottom wall and the fifth side edge is in physical communication with the fourth side edge of the second side wall when assembled; a fourth side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a seventh side edge and a eighth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the fourth edge of the bottom wall, the seventh side edge is in physical communication with the sixth edge of the third side wall and the eighth side edge is in physical communication with the second side edge of the first side wall when assembled; at least one top wall panel having an interior face and an exterior face, wherein the at least one top wall panel is in physical communication with the top edge of at least one of the first side wall, second side wall, third side wall, or fourth side wall; at least one fluid bladder disposed on the interior of the box or tube container, where for the box, the at least one fluid bladder is disposed on the interior face of the bottom wall, first side wall, second side wall, third side wall, fourth side wall, and at least one top wall panel of the box; where for the tube container, the at least one fluid bladder is disposed on the interior face of the bottom wall, the side tubular wall, and the top wall; and a fluid inflation valve in fluid communication with an interior lumen of the fluid inflation bladder, wherein the fluid inflation valve is disposed on the fluid bladder, on the interior face of a side wall, on the interior face of a top wall panel, on the exterior face of a side wall, on the exterior face of a top wall panel, in a side wall, or in a top wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for cushioning a package for an item being shipped, comprising the steps of:
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providing a box or tubular container, wherein the tube container further comprises; a bottom wall having an interior face, an exterior face, and a circular edge; a side tubular wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, and a top edge, wherein the bottom edge of the side tubular wall is attached to the circular edge of the bottom wall; a top wall having an interior face, an exterior face, and a circular edge, wherein the top wall is attached to the side tubular wall at at least one point on the top edge; wherein the box further comprises; a bottom wall having an interior face, an exterior face, at least a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge; a first side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the first edge of the bottom wall when assembled; a second side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a third side edge and a fourth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the second edge of the bottom wall and the third side edge is in physical communication with the first side edge of the first side wall when assembled l; a third side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a fifth side edge and a sixth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the third edge of the bottom wall and the fifth side edge is in physical communication with the fourth side edge of the second side wall when assembled; a fourth side wall having an interior face, an exterior face, a bottom edge, a top edge, a seventh side edge and a eighth side edge, wherein the bottom edge is in physical communication with the fourth edge of the bottom wall, the seventh side edge is in physical communication with the sixth edge of the third side wall and the eighth side edge is in physical communication with the second side edge of the first side wall when assembled; at least one top wall panel having an interior face and an exterior face, wherein the at least one top wall panel is in physical communication with the top edge of at least one of the first side wall, second side wall, third side wall, or fourth side wall; at least one fluid bladder disposed on the interior of the box or tube container, where for the box, the at least one fluid bladder is disposed on the interior face of the bottom wall, first side wall, second side wall, third side wall, fourth side wall, and at least one top wall panel of the box; where for the tube container, the at least one fluid bladder is disposed on the interior face of the bottom wall, the side tubular wall, and the top wall; a fluid inflation valve in fluid communication with an interior lumen of the fluid inflation bladder, wherein the fluid inflation valve is disposed on the fluid bladder, on the interior face of a side wall, on the interior face of a top wall panel, on the exterior face of a side wall, on the exterior face of a top wall panel, in a side wall, or in a top wall; introducing an item into the box or tube container; closing the box or tube container; attaching the fluid inflation valve to a source of fluid under pressure; and flowing fluid into the at least one fluid bladder, such that the fluid inflates the at least one fluid bladder around the item. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification