US20190315512A1 - Drone delivery packaging system - Google Patents

Drone delivery packaging system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20190315512A1
US20190315512A1 US16/345,345 US201716345345A US2019315512A1 US 20190315512 A1 US20190315512 A1 US 20190315512A1 US 201716345345 A US201716345345 A US 201716345345A US 2019315512 A1 US2019315512 A1 US 2019315512A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
gusset
lid
tray
panel
locking
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US16/345,345
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English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth C. Smith
Craig W. Buscema
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WestRock Shared Services LLC
Original Assignee
WestRock Shared Services LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by WestRock Shared Services LLC filed Critical WestRock Shared Services LLC
Priority to US16/345,345 priority Critical patent/US20190315512A1/en
Assigned to WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES, LLC reassignment WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BUSCEMA, CRAIG W., SMITH, KENNETH C.
Publication of US20190315512A1 publication Critical patent/US20190315512A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/64—Lids
    • B65D5/68—Telescope flanged lids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/64—Lids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
    • B65D5/2038—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
    • B65D5/2038—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape
    • B65D5/2047—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
    • B65D5/24—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form with adjacent sides interconnected by gusset folds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/32—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper having bodies formed by folding and interconnecting two or more blanks each blank forming a body part, whereby each body part comprises at least one outside face of the box, carton or tray
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/36—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/44—Integral, inserted or attached portions forming internal or external fittings
    • B65D5/50—Internal supporting or protecting elements for contents
    • B65D5/5028—Elements formed separately from the container body
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/64—Lids
    • B65D5/68—Telescope flanged lids
    • B65D5/685—Telescope flanged lids having an inwardly or upwardly extending tab on the lid side wall cooperating with a tab on, or an opening in, the container side wall
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2313/00—Connecting or fastening means
    • B65D2313/10—Adhesive or cohesive means for holding the contents attached to the container

Definitions

  • the field of the invention relates generally to a packaging system including a carton and removable lid, and more particularly to a packaging system suitable for use as a drone delivery shipping container.
  • UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • drones by industry for delivering goods and products
  • Drones are convenient for rapid point-to-point delivery; however, using drones to deliver packages presents some challenges. For example, packages delivered via drone may be more likely to be delivered to locations that are exposed to the elements, e.g., dropped off in a puddle or left out in the rain. If a suitably water-resistant container is not used in these situations, the container and/or its contents may be ruined. As another example, a conventional shipping container may be difficult or impossible for a drone's pickup system to reliably grasp and release.
  • the shifting of contents within a container during flight may result in product damage or threaten the drone's flight performance and safety. Accordingly, it is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a packaging system that solves or mitigates one or more of the problems associated with drone delivery.
  • a lidded container that includes a tray and a removable lid.
  • the tray includes a bottom wall, first and second tray side walls, a first locking panel hingedly connected to an upper edge of the first tray side wall, and a second locking panel hingedly connected to an upper edge of the second tray side wall.
  • the removable lid includes a top wall, first and second lid side walls, first and second corner gussets disposed on an interior surface of the first lid side wall, and third and fourth corner gussets disposed on an interior surface of the second lid side wall.
  • the first, second, third, and fourth corner gussets define respective first, second, third, and fourth gusset angled edges.
  • the lidded container is configured to be placed in a closed and locked configuration by placing the removable lid over an open top of the tray and pressing downwards so as to cause the first and second locking panels to fold outwardly until exterior surfaces of respective first and second locking panels are at least substantially adjacent to respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tray side walls.
  • This configuration allows the first gusset angled edge to mate with a first complementary angled edge of the first locking panel, the second gusset angled edge to mate with a second complementary angled edge of the first locking panel, the third gusset angled edge to mate with a third complementary angled edge of the second locking panel, and the fourth gusset angled edge to mate with a fourth complementary angled edge of the second locking panel so as to lock the removable lid to the tray.
  • the first and second locking panels are substantially trapezoidal in shape.
  • first, second, third, and fourth corner gussets are substantially triangular in shape.
  • the tray includes first, second, third, and fourth tray corner gussets.
  • the first lid side wall defines a first access notch in a lower edge of the first lid side wall
  • the second lid wall defines a second access notch in a lower edge of the second lid side wall.
  • the first and second access notches are configured to provide access to the respective first and second locking panels when the lidded container is in the closed and locked configuration.
  • the first locking panel defines a first generally-rectangular notch in a lower edge of the first locking panel
  • the second locking panel defines a second generally-rectangular notch in a lower edge of the second locking panel.
  • the removable lid is configured to be removed from the tray by pressing inwardly on portions of first and second locking panels that are exposed through the first and second access notches so as to move the first, second, third, and fourth gusset angled edges out of alignment with the respective first, second, third, and fourth complementary angled edges, thereby allowing the removable lid to be lifted up and off of the tray.
  • the lidded container forms part of a drone delivery system including a drone that is configured to carry the lidded container to a destination.
  • a set of blanks for forming a lidded container includes a tray blank for forming a tray and a lid blank for forming a lid.
  • the tray blank includes a first plurality of panels that are hingedly connected to one another and including, in series: a first locking panel that defines first and second angled locking edges; a first side panel configured to form a first tray side wall in a set-up tray; a bottom panel configured to form a bottom wall in the set-up tray; a second side panel configured to form a second tray side wall in the set-up tray; and a second locking panel defining third and fourth angled locking edges.
  • the lid blank includes: a top panel configured to form a top wall in a set-up lid; a first lid side wall panel hingedly connected along a first side of the top panel and configured to form a first side wall in the set-up lid; a second lid side wall panel hingedly connected along a second side of the top panel and configured to form a second side wall in the set-up lid; a first pair of gusset panels configured to form a first corner gusset in the set-up lid, the first corner gusset defining a first gusset angled edge; a second pair of gusset panels configured to form a second corner gusset in the set-up lid, the second corner gusset defining a second gusset angled edge; a third pair of gusset panels configured to form a third corner gusset in the set-up lid, the third corner gusset defining a third gusset angled edge; and a fourth pair of gusset panels configured to form
  • the set-up lidded container is configured to be placed in a closed and locked configuration by placing the set-up lid over an open top of the set-up tray and pressing downwards so as to cause the first and second locking panels to fold outwardly until exterior surfaces of respective first and second locking panels are at least substantially adjacent to respective exterior surfaces of the first and second tray side walls, such configuration allowing the first gusset angled edge to mate with the first angled locking edge, the second gusset angled edge to mate with the second angled locking edge, the third gusset angled edge to mate with the third angled locking edge, and the fourth gusset angled edge to mate with the fourth angled locking edge so as to lock the set-up lid to the set-up tray.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging system that includes at least a lidded carton according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled tray portion and lid portion of the packaging system of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank used to form the tray portion of FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a blank used to form the lid portion of FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 5-8 are views showing various steps in the construction of the packaging system of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the packaging system of FIG. 1 being transported by a drone.
  • the term “carton” refers, for the non-limiting purpose of illustrating the various features of the invention, to a container for shipping, transporting, storing, and/or dispensing articles, such as, e.g., one or more products being delivered to a consumer.
  • articles such as, e.g., one or more products being delivered to a consumer.
  • teachings of the invention can be applied to various containers suitable for carrying a wide variety of articles.
  • a packaging system 200 that includes at least a lidded carton 201 .
  • the lidded carton 201 includes a tray portion 202 and a removable lid 204 .
  • first or tray blank 10 for forming tray portion or tray 202 .
  • second or lid blank 12 for forming removable lid 204 .
  • the blanks 10 , 12 are formed from a sheet of suitable substrate. It is to be understood that, as used herein, the term “suitable substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be recognized that one or other numbers of blanks may be employed, for example, to provide the lidded carton described in more detail below.
  • blanks 10 , 12 can be formed from a paperboard, corrugated board, or cardboard in which one or both sides of the blanks, are printed and/or treated with one or more coatings, such as for example, one or more waterproof coatings and/or one or more coatings designed to provide a smooth and/or visually-attractive surface (e.g., a white or other colored surface).
  • one or more coatings such as for example, one or more waterproof coatings and/or one or more coatings designed to provide a smooth and/or visually-attractive surface (e.g., a white or other colored surface).
  • informational or promotional material such as, e.g., a brand name or logo, can be printed on a treated side.
  • additional printing and/or embossing processes may be applied to the surfaces of the blanks 10 , 12 to provide better airflow and reduced drag for optimized aerodynamics while in flight, potentially reducing drone energy requirements and increasing range and/or payload.
  • tray blank 10 is generally rectangular in shape and is generally symmetrical about central longitudinal and transverse axes.
  • Tray blank 10 has a base panel 14 .
  • Base panel 14 is hingedly connected to: a first side panel 16 via longitudinal fold line 48 ; a second side panel 18 via longitudinal fold line 44 ; a front end panel 20 via transverse fold line 50 ; and a rear end panel 22 via transverse fold line 46 .
  • the first and second side panels 16 , 18 , and front and rear end panels 20 , 22 taper outward slightly from base panel 14 . This taper creates a visual and outward taper from the base of the tray to the top of the tray, once assembled.
  • Foldably connected to the first side edge 76 of the front panel 20 is a first front gusset panel 24 .
  • Foldably connected to the second side edge 54 of the front panel 20 is a second front gusset panel 38 .
  • Foldably connected to the front side edge 72 of first side panel 16 is a first forward side gusset panel 26 .
  • Foldably connected to the rear side edge 70 of first side panel 16 is a first rear side gusset panel 28 .
  • Foldably connected to the first side edge 66 of the rear end panel 22 is a first rear gusset panel 30 .
  • Foldably connected to the second side edge 69 of rear end panel 22 is a second rear gusset panel 32 .
  • Foldably connected to the front side edge 58 of second side panel 18 is a second forward side gusset panel 36 .
  • Foldably connected to the rear side edge 60 of second side panel 18 is a second rear side gusset panel 34 .
  • first front gusset panel 24 and the first forward side gusset panel 26 are joined by an angled crease line 74 .
  • the second front gusset panel 38 and the second forward side gusset panel 36 are joined by an angled crease line 56 .
  • the first rear gusset panel 30 and the first rear side gusset panel 28 are joined by an angled crease line 68 .
  • the second rear gusset panel 32 and the second rear side gusset panel 34 are joined by an angled crease line 62 .
  • the blank 10 forms four corner gussets 11 , 13 , 15 , 17 , each gusset being formed by two cooperating gusset panels. Each gusset collapses against itself during erecting to provide an enhanced seal around the sides of the finished tray.
  • First side locking panel 40 is generally trapezoidal in shape and includes an inwardly-angled front side edge 86 and an inwardly-angled rear side edge 88 .
  • a generally rectangular notch 84 is struck from the first side locking panel's outer edge 85 .
  • Notch 84 defines a notch edge 150 .
  • Second side locking panel 42 is generally trapezoidal in shape and includes an inwardly-angled front side edge 90 and an inwardly-angled rear side edge 92 .
  • a generally-rectangular notch 83 is struck from the second side locking panel's outer edge 87 .
  • Notch 83 defines a notch edge 151 .
  • lid blank 12 is generally rectangular in shape and is generally symmetrical about central longitudinal and transverse axes.
  • Lid blank 12 has a top panel 94 .
  • Top panel 94 is hingedly connected to: a first side panel 102 via longitudinal fold line 71 ; a second side panel 100 via longitudinal fold line 75 ; a front end panel 98 via transverse fold line 73 ; and a rear end panel 96 via transverse fold line 77 .
  • Foldably connected to the first side edge 105 of the front panel 98 is a first front gusset panel 51 .
  • Foldably connected to the second side edge 127 of the front panel 98 is a second front gusset panel 55 .
  • Foldably connected to the front side edge 109 of first side panel 102 is a first forward side gusset panel 53 .
  • Foldably connected to the rear side edge 111 of first side panel 102 is a first rear side gusset panel 65 .
  • Foldably connected to the first side edge 115 of the rear end panel 96 is a first rear gusset panel 63 .
  • Foldably connected to the second side edge 117 of rear end panel 96 is a second rear gusset panel 61 .
  • Foldably connected to the front side edge 123 of second side panel 100 is a second forward side gusset panel 57 .
  • Foldably connected to the rear side edge 121 of second side panel 100 is a second rear side gusset panel 59 .
  • first front gusset panel 51 and the first forward side gusset panel 53 are joined by an angled crease line 107 .
  • the second front gusset panel 55 and the second forward side gusset panel 57 are joined by an angled crease line 125 .
  • the first rear gusset panel 63 and the first rear side gusset panel 65 are joined by an angled crease line 113 .
  • the second rear gusset panel 61 and the second rear side gusset panel 59 are joined by an angled crease line 61 .
  • the blank 12 forms four corner gussets 140 , 142 , 144 , 146 , each gusset being formed by two cooperating gusset panels. Each gusset collapses against itself during erecting to provide an enhanced seal around the sides of the finished tray.
  • First side panel 102 includes a generally-rectangular access notch 129 struck from the first side panel's outer edge 130 .
  • Second side panel 100 includes a generally-rectangular access notch 131 struck from the second side panel's outer edge 132 .
  • the tray 202 may be constructed by applying glue or other adhesive to: an outside surface of gusset panel 24 and/or gusset panel 26 ; an outside surface of gusset panel 28 and/or gusset panel 30 ; an outside surface of gusset panel 32 and/or gusset panel 34 ; and an outside surface of gusset panel 36 and/or gusset panel 38 .
  • the first and second side wall panels 16 , 18 and front and rear end wall panels 20 , 22 are then folded inwardly about their respective fold lines 48 , 44 , 50 , 46 until they are generally perpendicular to base panel 14 . This folding brings the outside surfaces of cooperating gusset panels into contact with one another and secures them together.
  • Glue or other adhesive treatment can be applied to an interior surface of gusset panels 24 , 38 , 30 , 32 .
  • Gussets 11 , 13 are folded inwardly about respective crease lines 76 , 54 , bringing the interior surfaces of gusset panels 24 , 38 into contact with an interior surface of front end panel 20 and securing them thereto.
  • Gussets 15 , 17 are folded inwardly about respective crease lines 66 , 64 , bringing the interior surfaces of gusset panels 30 , 32 into contact with an interior surface of rear end panel 22 and securing them thereto.
  • First and second side locking panels 40 , 42 are folded outwardly about respective fold lines 78 , 44 until they are generally parallel to base panel 14 . This results in the fully-assembled tray 202 as shown in FIG. 2 and prepares tray 202 to receive lid 204 .
  • the lid 204 may be constructed by applying glue or other adhesive to: an outside surface of gusset panel 51 and/or gusset panel 53 ; an outside surface of gusset panel 55 and/or gusset panel 57 ; an outside surface of gusset panel 59 and/or gusset panel 61 ; and an outside surface of gusset panel 63 and/or gusset panel 65 .
  • the first and second side wall panels 102 , 100 and front and rear end wall panels 98 , 96 are then folded inwardly about their respective fold lines 71 , 75 , 73 , 77 until they are generally perpendicular to top panel 94 .
  • lid 204 is placed over top of the tray 202 and pressed downwards. This forces the locking panels 40 , 42 to fold outwardly until their exterior surfaces are substantially parallel and adjacent to (e.g., in face-contacting relationship with) the exterior surfaces of respective first and second side panels 16 , 18 .
  • This configuration causes the angled edges 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 of lid gussets 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 to automatically mate with respective complementary angled edges 86 , 88 , 90 , 92 of first and second locking panels 40 , 42 , thereby locking the lid 204 in place so as to create a secure connection between lid 204 and tray 202 .
  • the lid 204 can be locked to tray 202 without the need for an adhesive connection therebetween, although in certain embodiments glue or other adhesive may be used to strengthen the connection.
  • glue or other adhesive may be used to strengthen the connection.
  • a user can push inwardly on the portions of locking panels that are exposed to view through access notches 129 , 131 . This moves the angled edges 86 , 88 , 90 , 92 of locking panels out of alignment with respective angled edges 162 , 163 , 160 , 161 of gussets 152 , 153 , 150 , 151 allowing the lid 204 to be lifted up and off of tray 202 .
  • Access notches 129 , 131 provide access to respective notches 84 , 83 of first and second locking panels 40 , 42 .
  • Notches 40 , 42 may be used by the pickup system of a drone 300 (see FIG. 9 ) to lock onto the shipping container 201 and prevent the shipping container 201 from shifting during transport.
  • the drone's pickup system may include, e.g., first and second grasping arms 302 , 304 that engage respective first and second notches 83 , 84 via notch edges 151 , 150 .
  • a drone delivery system 200 includes, in addition to lidded container 201 , an adhesive sheet 206 .
  • Adhesive sheet 206 may be of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,340,317, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a lower surface of adhesive sheet 206 may be centered on and adhered to interior surface of base panel 14 (as shown in FIG. 5 ) during assembly of the drone delivery system 200 .
  • One or more shipped articles 210 may be placed on the upper surface of adhesive sheet 206 , and the adhesive sheet 206 may then be adhered to itself so as to envelop the article 210 and fix it securely in place within the tray 202 (as shown in FIG. 7 ). This may be desired both to prevent damage to the article 210 from shifting during transport, as well as to prevent a weight shift that could negatively impact the drone's flight performance and safety.
  • one or both sides of blanks 10 , 12 are treated with a water-proof or water-resistant coating.
  • the use of gusset panels by tray 202 and lid 204 to form webbed corners also advantageously provides container 201 with enhanced water resistance. Water resistance may be considered particularly desirable based on the increased likelihood that a drone delivery service will need to deliver container to a location that is exposed to the elements.
  • Exemplary embodiments of blanks and methods for forming containers are described above in detail.
  • the apparatus and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of apparatus and/or steps of the methods may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein.
  • the methods may also be used in combination with other containers and methods, and are not limited to practice with only the containers and methods as described herein. Rather, the exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection with many other container applications.
  • the shipping containers and systems described herein may be suitable for use in applications other than drone delivery, e.g., as a general purpose shipping or storage container.

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US16/345,345 2016-11-04 2017-10-27 Drone delivery packaging system Abandoned US20190315512A1 (en)

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US11174025B2 (en) * 2018-11-29 2021-11-16 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for delivering goods
WO2022137202A1 (en) * 2020-12-24 2022-06-30 Avidrone Aerospace Incorporated Unmanned aircraft payload system and method
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WO2018085136A1 (en) 2018-05-11
EP3535194A1 (de) 2019-09-11
EP3535194A4 (de) 2020-07-01

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