Method and apparatus for associating documents with shipping containers

• US 7,124,881 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Fee, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US10/808,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 206/459.5, 206/232, 40312-313, 406/38, 229/71, 229/74, 283/81
• US Class Current: 206/232
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4233 Cards, coupons, labels or the like formed separately from the container or lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/545 the inserts or accessories being located within a pouch or envelope attached to the exterior of the packages, e.g. shipping mailers envelope construction B65D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A system for associating documents with articles in a shipping container. The system includes an envelope having a generally flat body portion with an open end, first and second overlying flap portions extending from the open end and having oppositely facing exterior surfaces. The system also includes a shipping container having a main body and at least one cover portion that cooperates with the main body to enclose the articles. The envelope is receivable between the at least one cover portion and the main body of the shipping container and at least one of the first and second flap portions is affixable to an exterior surface of the container.

Claims

1. A system for associating documents with articles in a shipping container, the system comprising:

an envelope having a generally flat body portion with an open end, first and second overlying flap portions extending from the open end and having oppositely facing exterior surfaces;

a shipping container having a main body and at least one cover portion that cooperates with the main body to enclose the articles,

wherein the envelope is placed between the at least one cover portion and the main body of the shipping container such that the body portion of the envelope is placed completely beneath the at least one cover portion and at least one of the first and second flap portions is affixed to the main body of the container.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the flap portions has an adhesive layer and the at least one of the first and second flap portions is folded towards the exterior of the container such that the adhesive layer contacts an exterior surface of the main body of the container.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cover portion includes an exterior surface.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the other of the first and second flap portions is affixed to the exterior surface of the at least one cover portion.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the container further includes a first end flap portion and a second end flap portion;

and

wherein the body portion of the envelope is located between the at least one cover portion and at least one of the first and second end flap portions.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one cover portion includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion, each cover portion includes an exterior surface;

and

wherein the one of the first and second flap portions is affixed to the exterior surfaces of the first and second cover portions.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the container further includes a first end flap portion and a second end flap portion;

and

wherein the body portion of the envelope is located between the at least one cover portion and at least one of the first and second end flap portions.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the container is a box.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second flap portions include interior surfaces having indicator marks thereon.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the indicator marks point toward the open end of the envelope.

11. A system for associating documents with articles in a shipping container, comprising:

an envelope having a generally flat body portion with an open end, at least one flap portion extending from the open end and having an exterior surface continuous with an exterior surface of the body portion;

a shipping container having a main body and at least one cover portion that cooperates with the main body to enclose the articles,

wherein the envelope is placed between the at least one cover portion and the main body of the shipping container such that the body portion of the envelope is placed completely beneath the at least one cover portion and the at least one flap portion is affixed to the main body of the container.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the body portion includes a front panel and a rear panel having exterior surfaces;

and

wherein the at least one flap portion extends from one of the front and rear panels.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one flap portion includes an interior surface having indicator marks thereon.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flap portion comprises first and second flap portions formed opposite each other at the open end, the first flap portion extending from the one of the front and rear panels, and the second flap portion extending from the other of the front and rear panels.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the envelope further comprises a second flap portion that is affixed to the at least one cover portion of the container.

16. A method for associating shipping documents with a shipping container having a main body with an exterior surface and at least one cover portion that cooperates with the main body to enclose a shipped article, the method comprising:

providing an envelope having a generally flat body portion with an open end for enclosing the shipping documents within the body portion, the envelope also including at least one flap portion extending from the open end;

placing the body portion of the envelope completely beneath the at least one cover portion with the open end of the envelope accessible at a side of the cover portion; and

affixing the at least one flap portion of the envelope to the exterior surface of the main body of the shipping container to secure the envelope against removal from the container.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the flap portion includes an adhesive layer on an exterior surface and affixing the flap portion includes folding the flap portion towards the exterior of the container and bringing the adhesive layer of the flap portion into contact with the exterior surface of the main body.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one cover portion includes an exterior surface and wherein the envelope further includes a second flap portion extending from the open end.

19. The method according to claim 18, further including the step of affixing the second flap portion to the exterior surface of the at least one cover portion.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the container further includes a first end flap portion and a second end flap portion, and wherein placing the envelope beneath the at least one cover portion includes placing the envelope between the at least one cover portion and at least one of the first and second end flap portions.

21. A method according to claim 16, further comprising placing at least one document associated with an article into the envelope.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein placing at least one document into the envelope occurs after placing the envelope beneath the at least one cover portion.

23. A package, comprising:

a container having a main body and a cover portion, the cover portion being configured to at least partially close an opening in the container; and

an envelope comprising

a body portion configured to receive an article through an open end, the body portion being substantially contained within the container and completely beneath the cover portion, and

a flap portion extending from the body portion, the flap portion being attached to the the main body of the container.

24. The package according to claim 23, wherein the flap portion comprises an adhesive layer and wherein the flap portion of the envelope is folded towards the exterior of the container such that the adhesive layer contacts the main body of the container.

25. The package according to claim 23, wherein the envelope comprises a second flap portion extending from the body portion,

wherein the second flap portion is affixed to the cover portion.

26. The package according to claim 23, wherein the flap portion includes an interior surface having indicator marks thereon.

27. The package according to claim 23, comprising documents relating to contents of the container disposed within the body portion of the envelope.