Reusable inflatable shipping packing system

Abstract

A reusable inflatable shipping packing system for securing cargo for shipment. The system may include a flexible, inflatable chamber formed by at least one outer wall and positioned in a shipping container around a piece of cargo. The shipping container may have at least one side surface, a bottom surface, and a lid capable of being opened for receiving the piece of cargo. The flexible, inflatable chamber may include a fitting attached to the outer wall of the flexible, inflatable chamber permitting fluids to be filled into the flexible, inflatable chamber. In one embodiment, air may be used to fill the flexible, inflatable chamber to fill the voids between a piece of cargo to be shipped and the surrounding shipping container into which the piece of cargo is placed to prevent damage of the piece of cargo during shipping.

1 . A reusable inflatable shipping packing system, comprising:
 a flexible, inflatable chamber formed by at least one outer wall;   a fitting attached to the outer wall of the flexible, inflatable chamber permitting fluids to be filled into the flexible, inflatable chamber;   wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber is attached to at least one support structure for confining a piece of cargo.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support structure is a divider configured to be positioned in a shipping container. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber formed by at least one outer wall comprises at least one side wall larger than two opposing end walls such that side walls of the flexible, inflatable chamber are greater in size than the end walls. 
     
     
         4 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one side wall forms at least one generally planar surface that may be wrapped around the piece of cargo. 
     
     
         5 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one side wall forms two generally planar surfaces that are generally parallel to each other such that the reusable inflatable shipping packing system is capable of being wrapped around the piece of cargo. 
     
     
         6 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 4 , further comprising a shipping container having at least one side surface, a bottom surface, and a lid capable of being opened for receiving the piece of cargo, wherein the at least one support structure is positioned within the shipping container. 
     
     
         7 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber is attached to an inner side surface of the shipping container. 
     
     
         8 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one support structure forms a plurality of cargo receiving chambers, and the flexible, inflatable chamber comprises at least one flexible, inflatable chamber positioned in each of the plurality of cargo receiving chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one flexible, inflatable chamber positioned in each of the plurality of cargo receiving chambers is attached to the at least one support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of cargo receiving chambers includes a fitting attached to the outer wall of the flexible, inflatable chamber permitting fluids to be filled into each flexible, inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber is formed from a plastic. 
     
     
         12 . A reusable inflatable shipping packing system, comprising:
 a shipping container having at least one side surface, a bottom surface, and a lid capable of being opened for receiving the piece of cargo, wherein the at least one support structure is positioned within the shipping container;   a flexible, inflatable chamber formed by at least one outer wall and positioned in the shipping container; and   a fitting attached to the outer wall of the flexible, inflatable chamber permitting fluids to be filled into the flexible, inflatable chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one support structure positioned in the shipping container and forming a plurality of cargo receiving chambers, and wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber comprises at least one flexible, inflatable chamber positioned in each of the plurality of cargo receiving chambers. 
     
     
         14 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one flexible, inflatable chamber positioned in each of the plurality of cargo receiving chambers is attached to the at least one support structure forming the at least one flexible, inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of cargo receiving chambers includes a fitting attached to the outer wall of the flexible, inflatable chamber permitting fluids to be filled into each flexible, inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber formed by at least one outer wall comprises at least one side wall larger than two opposing end walls such that side walls of the flexible, inflatable chamber are greater in size than the end walls. 
     
     
         17 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one side wall forms at least one generally planar surface capable of being wrapped around the piece of cargo. 
     
     
         18 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one side wall forms two generally planar surfaces that are generally parallel to each other such that the reusable inflatable shipping packing system is capable of being wrapped around the piece of cargo and one of the two generally planar surfaces is attached to an inner side surface of the shipping container. 
     
     
         19 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber is attached to an inner side surface of the shipping container. 
     
     
         20 . The reusable inflatable shipping packing system of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible, inflatable chamber is formed from a plastic.