Patent ID: 12240667

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion provides examples of embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the described embodiment are examples of possible configurations of the invention and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions contained herein are to be regarded as illustrative of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

The present invention, as described herein and in the accompanying figures comprises a secure shipping container. An exemplary embodiment of a shipping container comprises an outer sleeve10aand an inner sleeve20a, formed from foldable outer and inner sleeve blanks10,20respectively. Examples of foldable blanks are depicted inFIGS.1A and1B.

A shown inFIG.1A, an outer sleeve blank10comprises an outer sleeve base panel11, an outer sleeve first side panel12, an outer sleeve top panel13, an outer sleeve side tab14, an outer sleeve end closure15, and an outer sleeve slot panel16. The outer sleeve slot panel further comprises an outer sleeve slot17.

As shown inFIG.1B, an inner sleeve blank20comprises an inner sleeve base panel21, an inner sleeve side panel22, an inner sleeve first end panel23, an inner sleeve second end panel24, an inner sleeve slot panel25. The inner sleeve slot panel further comprises an inner sleeve slot26, which in cooperation with the outer sleeve slot17is configured to allow a user to remove the inner sleeve20afrom the outer sleeve10a, and thereby gain access to the contents of the shipping container as described below.

Conveniently, the outer sleeve blank10is foldable along outer sleeve fold lines18, to form the finished outer sleeve10aand the inner sleeve blank20is foldable along inner sleeve fold lines27to form the finished inner sleeve20a, as depicted inFIG.2A.

One embodiment of a method for folding an outer sleeve blank10into an assembled outer sleeve10ais as follows. The outer sleeve first panel12, is folded at a fold line18until approximately a right angle is formed between the outer sleeve first panel12and the outer sleeve base panel11. The outer sleeve blank10is then folded at a fold line18between the outer sleeve first panel12and the outer sleeve top panel13such that the planes of the outer sleeve base panel11and outer sleeve top panel13are substantially parallel. The outer sleeve side tab14is then folded along a fold line18and secured to the inner surface of the outer sleeve slot panel16, thus forming at this stage a tube with openings at each end. Next, the outer sleeve end closure15and tab15aare folded inwards towards what will become the interior of the outer sleeve10a, thus enclosing one end of the finished outer sleeve10a, the other end remaining open to provide access to the interior of the outer sleeve19, and into which to eventually insert the inner sleeve10a.

The dimensions of the outer sleeve end closure15can be sized such that it completely closes an end of the finished outer sleeve10a. Tab15ais configured to be secured to the surface of the outer sleeve top panel13that is facing the interior19of the assembled outer sleeve10a. Tab15acan be secured in place by any of a variety of methods, fasteners and/or adhesives known to those of skill in the art. In this exemplary embodiment, the completed outer sleeve10acan be seen to form a substantially rectangular tube having a top, bottom, sides, one closed end and one open end that provides access to the interior of the outer sleeve19.

Similarly, an embodiment of a method for folding an inner sleeve blank20into a completed inner sleeve20a, is as follows. Inner sleeve side panel22, inner sleeve first end panel23, inner sleeve second end panel24, and inner sleeve slot panel25, are folded in the same direction such that each will form substantially a right angle relative to the plane of the inner sleeve base panel21. Inner sleeve first end panel23and inner sleeve second end panel24can be secured to the inner sleeve side panel22and inner sleeve slot panel25by tabs28. Tabs28can be secured in place by any of a variety of methods, fasteners and/or adhesives known to those of skill in the art.

In this exemplary embodiment, the finished inner sleeve20aforms a tray with having a base, sides, and ends, and an open top29providing access into the interior of the inner sleeve20a, and into which materials to be shipped in the assembled container can be placed prior to inserting the inner sleeve20ainto the outer sleeve10a.

While the exemplary embodiments of an outer and inner sleeve shown herein are rectangular in cross-sectional profile, the scope of the invention is not limited to shipping containers only of a rectangular shape. Those of skill in the art will recognize that shipping containers might be formed having round, elliptical, triangular, square, or any other number of sides and will still operate as a secure shipping according to the present disclosure.

Following folding of the inner and outer sleeve blanks into the inner and outer sleeves, one can assemble these two components into a finished shipping container100. In one embodiment, a user will place material desired to be shipped securely into the interior of the inner sleeve29, as depicted by the arrow and reference numeral inFIG.2A. The inner sleeve20acan then be inserted into the open end19of the outer sleeve10ato as shown inFIG.2B. The inner sleeve20awill be inserted such that the inner sleeve slot26and outer sleeve slot17are positioned on the same side of the shipping container100, and such that the inner sleeve slot26and outer sleeve slot17will be in substantial alignment with each other. It can also be seen from the example shown inFIG.2Bthat the length of the inner sleeve20ais preferably less than that of the outer sleeve10a, so that when the inner sleeve20ais inserted into the outer sleeve10a, the inner sleeve first end panel23is recessed, as depicted inFIGS.3A and3B. For clarity, reference numeral20ainFIG.2Bis meant to refer to the entire inner sleeve positioned within the outer sleeve10a. InFIGS.3A and3B, reference numeral23is meant to refer to the inner sleeve first end panel by itself.

There being no means with which to grasp the recessed surface of the inner sleeve first end panel23, the inner sleeve20ais now securely situated within the outer sleeve10a. In some embodiments, the inner sleeve20ais sized such that frictional forces between the external surfaces of the inner sleeve20acontacting the internal surfaces of the outer sleeve10aare sufficient to maintain the inner sleeve20asecurely within the outer sleeve10a. In some cases, however, it may be further desirable to include fasteners and/or adhesives to better secure the inner sleeve20awithin the interior of the outer sleeve10ain order to prevent the inner sleeve20afrom inadvertently sliding out of the outer sleeve20aonce it has been inserted.

As described above, when the inner sleeve20ais inserted into the outer sleeve10a, the inner sleeve slot26and outer sleeve slot17will be substantially aligned with each other. Removal of the inner sleeve20afrom the outer sleeve10acan accomplished by means of manipulation of the inner sleeve20avia the outer sleeve slot17and inner sleeve slot26with an opener30. As shown inFIG.3A, in one method for removal of the inner sleeve20afrom the outer sleeve10a, the opener30is positioned such that it can be inserted into the outer sleeve slot17. The opener30is then inserted into outer sleeve slot17and also through the aligned inner sleeve slot26such that the inner sleeve slot26is engaged by the opener30. As shown inFIG.3B, the user then moves the opener30forward towards the open end19of the outer sleeve10a. Because the outer sleeve slot17is sized to have a length greater than that of the inner sleeve slot26, the effect of moving the opener30is to slide the inner sleeve20atowards the open end19of the outer sleeve10a, as depicted inFIG.3B. By moving the inner sleeve20aa sufficient distance, the interior of the inner sleeve29is made accessible and the contents that had been previously placed within the inner sleeve20acan be removed.

It will also be appreciated that the positioning of the slots as shown in the example are one possible location for them. The slots could be placed on either of the sides of the outer sleeve10aand inner sleeve20a. Alternatively, one could produce a shipping container100in which there is a single slot in the outer sleeve end closure15and removal of the inner sleeve20ais accomplished by inserting an opener30in the slot and moving the inner sleeve20atowards the open end of the outer sleeve10aby applying a force to the inner sleeve second end panel24, which in this example would not be required to have a slot.

Those of skill in the art will also appreciate that the inner sleeve20acan be reversibly moved between a content inaccessible configuration (FIG.3A) and a content accessible configuration (FIG.3B), and any position therebetween. The inner sleeve20acan also be completely removed from the outer sleeve10aif desired. As the directional arrows show inFIG.3B, the opener30can be used to move the inner sleeve20ato a content accessible position. It will also be implicitly understood that the opener30can also operate to accomplish the reverse action, i.e. to move the inner sleeve20ainto the interior19of the outer sleeve10aand to a content inaccessible position. Conveniently, the design of this shipping container makes it readily reusable.

The opener30can be any of a number of objects, the only criteria being that the opener is sized to be insertable into the outer sleeve slot17and able to engage the inner sleeve slot26to permit movement of the inner sleeve20arelative to the outer sleeve10a. In some embodiments conveniently, the slots17,26are sized such that a typical credit card can be used as the opener30. It will also be appreciated that other configurations and mechanisms are possible for the slots17,26and opener30. For example, the slots could be sized to admit a standard house or vehicle key, or other common tools. In some embodiments, it may be possible to include a sensor mechanism and latch or lock such that the lock is released when a card with the appropriate signaling device is inserted into the slot in the sleeves. Such as signaling device may comprise an RFID chip or other commonly electro-mechanical devices.

The embodiments shown in the present disclosure are rectangular in shape. However, it is also possible to design variants of the present invention where the inner and outer sleeves are tubes with circular, elliptical, oval, or other cross-section shapes, without departing from the inventive concept as described herein. The only requirement is that the cross-sectional shapes of the inner and outer sleeves are complimentary in form and sized such that the inner sleeve will be frictionally retained within the outer sleeve.

In terms of materials, a wide variety of materials may be used to fashion the components of the present invention. In some cases, the inner and outer sleeves may be made of cardboard or other rigid paper products, plastics, or metals, or combinations thereof. The components of the shipping container may also be secured in place with the use of fasteners and/or adhesives of various kinds known in the art.

Those of skill in the art will recognizes there are a number of variants that can be fashioned but which incorporated the essential features of the invention as described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.