Patent ID: 8047378

Claim:
A reusable shipping container for shipping an item, comprising: first and second outer trays, wherein the first and second trays are interchangeable; and first and second cushions, each cushion being received in one of the outer trays, and each cushion comprising a hollow dome having an open bottom side opposite the dome, the dome comprising a continuous and convex surface extending substantially across the respective outer tray, wherein the first and second outer trays are engageable to close the container, with the domes of the first and second cushions facing each other and the open bottom sides of the cushions facing away from each other, and wherein a perimeter edge of each cushion removably rests on a floor of the respective outer tray, the perimeter edge of each cushion resting at an outer periphery of the floor such that the open bottom side of the cushion has substantially the same dimensions as the floor, wherein each dome is made of a resilient material that is deflectable to receive an item between the facing domes during shipment, and wherein the cushions have shape memory that returns the cushions to their dome shape when such item is removed, the cushions retaining their dome shape when removed from the outer trays, and wherein the first and second trays and the first and second cushions are made from the same material.