Inflatable shipping device

Abstract

An inflatable shipping device for protecting at least one fragile item during shipment is provided. The inflatable shipping device includes a housing defining a gas receiving cavity and being constructed of a flexible and substantially gas impermeable material. The housing has a flattened state when the gas receiving cavity is substantially free of gas and an expanded state when gas is introduced into the gas receiving cavity. The housing has a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, an opposed second end, and a flexible inner-liner defining at least one item receiving chamber positioned between the first end and the second end. The item receiving chamber communicates with the first side of the housing and the item receiving chamber is sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the fragile item. The inflatable shipping device is also provided with an inflation assembly for introducing gas into the gas receiving cavity defined by the housing. In one embodiment, the housing is provided with a helical shape so as to surround and thereby define the item receiving chamber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for protecting at least one fragile item during shipment, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an inflatable shipping device, comprising: 
 a housing defining a gas receiving cavity and being constructed of a flexible and substantially gas impermeable material, the housing having a flattened state when the gas receiving cavity is substantially free of gas and an expanded state when gas is introduced into the gas receiving cavity, the housing having a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, and a flexible inner liner defining at least one item receiving chamber positioned between the first end and the second end, the item receiving chamber communicating with the first side of the housing, and the item receiving chamber being sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the fragile item and extend about at least a portion of the fragile item to prevent the fragile item from tipping over when the fragile item is positioned in the item receiving chamber; and  
 means for introducing gas into the gas receiving cavity defined by the housing; and  
   disposing the fragile item into the item receiving chamber of the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least two spatially disposed item receiving chambers with each of the item receiving chambers being disposed between the first end and the second end of the housing and both item receiving chambers communicating with the first side of the housing.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inner liner is automatically formable about various different shapes of fragile items to engage and closely follow the contours of each shape of fragile item when each fragile item is disposed in the item receiving chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inner liner is preformed into a predetermined shape of the fragile item to closely follow the contours of the predetermined shape of fragile item.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing only surrounds a bottom and a lower portion of the fragile item to prevent tipping of the fragile item during shipment.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with a predetermined shape adapted to extend only about a portion of the fragile item whereby at least two of the inflatable shipping devices are necessary to cushion and support each fragile item.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fragile item includes a flower pot.