Unitized packaging suspension system
A cushioning apparatus configured to be placed inside of a shipping container includes a plurality of inflation chambers. Each of the chambers is characterized as having a general shape, when inflated, of a truncated rectangular pyramid. Each of the plurality of inflation chambers is foldably coupled to another of the plurality of inflation chambers at an edge of said inflation chamber. The plurality of inflation chambers, when inflated, are configured to be folded into a shape that surrounds a void between said plurality of inflation chambers. There may be six inflation chambers.
1. A shipping system comprising:
an exterior shipping container;
an interior package box;
a cushioning apparatus, separate from said exterior container, configured to be placed inside of said shipping container, between an interior of said shipping container and said interior package box, said cushioning apparatus comprising:
a plurality of inflation chambers, wherein each of said chambers is configured to have a general shape, when inflated, of a truncated rectangular pyramid,
wherein each of said plurality of inflation chambers is foldably coupled to another of said plurality of inflation chambers at an edge of said inflation chamber,
wherein said cushioning apparatus is characterized as having a cruciform shape, and
wherein said plurality of inflation chambers, when inflated, are configured to be folded into a shape that surrounds said interior package box between said plurality of inflation chambers.
2. The cushioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interior package box is surrounded on six sides.
3. The cushioning apparatus of claim 1 comprising six inflation chambers.
4. The cushioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interior package box comprises a parallelepiped shape.
5. The cushioning apparatus of claim 1 configured so that an inflation fluid may be communicated among at least two of said plurality of inflation chambers.
6. The cushioning apparatus of claim 5 configured so that all of said plurality of inflation chambers may be inflated by a single coupling to an inflation apparatus.
7. The cushioning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an inflation port coupling ring, configured to magnetically hold one of said plurality of inflation chambers to an inflating apparatus.
8. A shipping system comprising:
a shipping container;
a package box;
a cushioning apparatus configured to be placed inside of said shipping container, comprising:
a plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids formed from sheet material,
wherein each of said truncated rectangular pyramids is foldably coupled to another of said plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids at an edge,
wherein said cushioning apparatus is characterized as having a cruciform shape, and
wherein said plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids are configured to be folded into a shape that defines a bounded void in three dimensions disposed between said plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids,
wherein said void is configured to contain said package box.
9. The cushioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein said void is surrounded on six sides.
10. The cushioning apparatus of claim 8 comprising six truncated rectangular pyramids.
11. The cushioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein said void is configured to accommodate a cubical protected item.
12. The cushioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein said void is configured to accommodate a non-cubical protected item.
13. The cushioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids comprises a non-square base.
14. The cushioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids comprises a base that is a different shape from a base of another of said plurality of truncated rectangular pyramids.
15. A shipping system comprising:
an exterior shipping box;
an interior package box;
a unitized packaging suspension system removably inserted into said shipping box, said packaging system comprising:
a plurality of inflated air pillows, wherein each of said air pillows is characterized as having a general shape of a truncated rectangular pyramid,
wherein each of said plurality of air pillows is foldably coupled to another of said plurality of air pillows at an edge of said air pillows,
wherein said plurality of air pillows are folded into a shape that surrounds a void between said plurality of inflation chambers; and
a protected item encapsulated within said interior package box.
16. The shipping box of claim 15 comprising six air pillows.
17. The shipping box of claim 15 wherein all of said plurality of inflated air pillows are configured to communicate an inflation gas between adjacent air pillows.