Shipping container and system along with shipping method employing the same

• US 6,737,974 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EGGS Overnight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kent H. Dickinson
• Inventors: Dickinson, Kent H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/956,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/825.49, 340/5.8, 235/375, 235/384, 235/376, 235/385, 206/599, 206/725, 206/504, 206/386, 206/509, 206/503, 206/515, 206/499, 206/526, 206/511, 206/459.5, 534/47, 534/52, 531/11.R, 534/67, 535/21, 535/23, 534/43, 383/5, 383/396, 383/42, 383/50
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/06 Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00037 Bundles surrounded by carton blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00043 Intermediate plates or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00055 Clapping elements, also placed on the side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00111 Arrangements of flexible binders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/004 Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/25 Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/34 with special means for indicating unauthorised opening B65D33/2516, B65D33/2585 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/0096 the dimensions of the supports corresponding to the periphery of the load, e.g. pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/03 Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3888
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A reusable container and method for a shipping system includes a container body, a closure, a removable label and a label panel. The label has an area to receive shipping information and a layer of an adhesive material. The label panel has an exposed surface to which the adhesive adheres but from which the label may be removed without tearing. A locking structure may be provided. A locking member can engage the locking structure to secure contents during shipment. The container may be a flexible pouch that may include an inner cushioning layer and an outer fabric layer. The pouch may be formed of two panels that have a zippered mouth and a grommet allows a cable tie to lockably secure the zipper in a closed position. A signal transmitter can be included with the container. The system includes special cartons and pallets for a plurality of containers.

Claims

1. A shipping system adapted to be used to transport parcels between a sender location and a recipient location, comprising:

(A) a plurality of flexible containers each having an interior adapted to receive a parcel for shipment to an intended recipient, each said container including;

(1) first and second flexible body panels joined about a majority of the perimeter thereof to define a container body having a sealed edge with an unjoined portion defining a mouth communicating with the interior;

(2) a closure movable between

(a) an open position such that a parcel may be inserted into the interior and removed from the interior and

(b) a closed position to retain the received parcel in the interior as a received parcel;

(B) a plurality of cartons each having a bottom and a surrounding side wall forming a carton interior, said surrounding side wall including a shoulder structure located proximately to an upper edge thereof,

(1) each said carton adapted to receive a plurality of said flexible containers with received parcels in the carton interior thereof as a filled carton;

(2) a plurality of said filled cartons being stackable one on top of another as a stacked ensemble such that a bottom portion of an upper carton will nest with a top portion of a lower carton with the bottom of the upper carton resting on and supported by the shoulder structure of the lower carton thereby to enclose the interior of the lower carton;

(C) a plurality of support pallets, each said support pallet adapted to support at least one stacked ensemble of filled cartons placed thereon as a supported ensemble;

(D) a plurality of cover pallets, each said cover pallet adapted to be placed over at least one supported ensemble, thereby to enclose the interior of an uppermost carton in the supported ensemble; and

(E) connector assemblies adapted to fasten a respective said support pallet to a respective said cover pallet that is positioned over the supported ensemble as a pallet pair thereby to secure said pallet pair together to define a palletized load.

2. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein said support pallets and said cover pallets have a common construction.

3. A shipping system according to claim 2 wherein said support pallets and said cover pallets are constructed such that two palletized loads may be stacked one on top of another with adjacent ones of said support pallets and cover pallets interlocking with one another.

4. A shipping system according to claim 3 wherein each of said support pallets and said cover pallets has rails defining interlocking structures therefor.

5. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein each said support pallet is sized and adapted to support a plurality of stacked ensembles of cartons organized as columns thereon.

6. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said flexible containers have RF transmitters secured thereto, each said RF transmitter operative to transmit a unique identifier signal.

7. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said containers further include;

(A) a removable label including a strip constructed of a selected strip material and having an area adapted to receive information corresponding to an address of an intended recipient of the received parcel and a layer of a selected adhesive; and

(B) a label panel secured to said container body, said label panel including an exposed surface portion formed of a material to which the selected adhesive will adhere sufficiently to retain the label on the container body during shipment yet from which the label may be forcefully removed without tearing said strip material.

8. A shipping system according to claim 7 wherein said label panel is formed by a layer of plastic material coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, said layer being affixed to one of said first and second body panels.

9. A shipping system according to claim 7 wherein said material on the exposed surface area is polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said containers further include:

(A) a locking structure and

(B) a locking member operative to engage said locking structure and movable into a locked state thereby to secure the closure in the closed position.

11. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein each said closure is a zipper having a pull tab.

12. A shipping system according to claim 11 wherein at least some of said containers further include:

(A) a first grommet disposed on said first body panel and

(B) a second grommet disposed on said second body panel, each of said first and second grommets located proximately to said pull tab when said zipper is closed thereby to define a locking structure and including a locking member operative to engage said first and second grommets and said pull tab thereby to secure the zipper in the closed position.

13. A shipping system according to claim 12 wherein said locking member includes a cable tie.

14. A shipping system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second body panels are formed with a multi-layered construction including a cushioning layer interposed between first and second fabric layers.

15. A shipping system according to claim 14 wherein at least some of said containers further include a signal transmitter secured thereto.

16. A shipping system adapted to be used to transport parcels between a sender location and a recipient location, comprising:

(A) a plurality of flexible containers each having an interior adapted to receive a parcel for shipment to an intended recipient, each said container including;

(1) first flexible body panel and a second flexible body panel, said first and second body panels of similar size and shape and joined about a majority of the perimeter thereof to define a container body having a sealed edge with an unjoined portion defining a mouth communicating with the interior;

(2) a closure movable between

(a) an open position such that a parcel may be inserted into the interior and removed from the interior and

(b) a closed position to retain the received parcel in the interior as a received parcel;

(3) a label panel secured to said container body, said label panel including an exposed surface portion formed of a material different than said container body yet to which material the selected adhesive will adhere sufficiently to retain the label on the container body during shipment yet from which the label may be forcefully removed without tearing said strip material;

(4) a removable label including a strip constructed of a selected strip material and having an area adapted to receive information corresponding to an address of an intended recipient of the received parcel and a layer of a selected adhesive;

(B) a plurality of cartons each having a bottom and a surrounding side wall forming a carton interior,

(1) each said carton adapted to receive a plurality of said flexible containers with received parcels in the carton interior thereof as a filled carton;

(2) a plurality of said filled cartons being stackable one on top of another as a stacked ensemble;

(C) a plurality of support pallets, each said support pallet adapted to support at least one stacked ensemble of filled cartons placed thereon as a supported ensemble;

(D) a plurality of cover pallets, each said cover pallet adapted to be placed over at least one supported ensemble; and

(E) connector assemblies adapted to fasten a respective said support pallet to a respective said cover pallet that is positioned over the supported ensemble as a pallet pair thereby to secure said pallet pair together to define a palletized load.

17. A shipping system according to claim 16 wherein said label panels are formed by a layer of plastic material coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, said layer being affixed to one of said first and second body panels.

18. A shipping system according to claim 16 wherein said material on the exposed surface portion is polytetrafluoroethylene.

19. A shipping system according to claim 16 wherein at least some of said containers further include:

(A) a locking structure and

(B) a locking member operative to engage said locking structure and movable into a locked state thereby to secure the closure in the closed position.

20. A shipping system according to claim 16 wherein each said closure is a zipper having a pull tab and wherein at least some of said containers further include:

(A) a first grommet disposed on said first body panel and

(B) a second grommet disposed on said second body panel, each of said first and second grommets located proximately to said pull tab when said zipper is closed thereby to define a locking structure and including a locking member operative to engage said first and second grommets and said pull tab thereby to secure the zipper in the closed position.

21. A shipping system adapted to be used to transport parcels between a sender location and a recipient location, comprising:

(A) a plurality of flexible containers each having an interior adapted to receive a parcel for shipment to an intended recipient, each said container including;

(1) first and second flexible body panels joined about a majority of the perimeter thereof to define a sealed edge with an unjoined portion defining a mouth communicating with the interior;

(2) a closure movable between

(a) an open position such that a parcel may be inserted into the interior and removed from the interior and

(b) a closed position to retain the received parcel in the interior as a received parcel;

(B) at least eight cartons each having a bottom and a surrounding side wall forming a carton interior with an open top region opposite the bottom,

(1) each said carton adapted to receive a plurality of said flexible containers with received parcels in the carton interior thereof as a filled carton;

(2) a plurality of said filled cartons being stackable one on top of another as a stacked ensemble with adjacent ones of said cartons in each stacked ensemble interlocking with one another and with a upper carton forming a closure for a lower carton;

(C) a support pallet adapted to support at least four stacked ensembles of filled cartons placed thereon as a supported ensemble array;

(D) a cover pallet adapted to be placed over at least one supported ensemble array with said cover pallet operative to enclose the open top regions of each uppermost carton in each of said stacked ensembles; and

(E) connector assemblies adapted to fasten a respective said support pallet to a respective said cover pallet that is positioned over the supported ensemble as a pallet pair thereby to secure said pallet pair together to define a palletized load.

22. A shipping system according to claim 21 wherein said support pallets and said cover pallets have a common construction.

23. A shipping system according to claim 21 wherein said support pallets and said cover pallets are constructed such that two palletized loads may be stacked one on top of another with adjacent ones of said support pallets and cover pallets interlocking with one another.

24. A shipping system according to claim 23 wherein each of said support pallets and said cover pallets has rails defining interlocking structures therefor.