Patent ID: 6737974
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: B65D,G09F,Y02W

Abstract:
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.