Environmentally friendly textile soft goods retail packaging incorporating vacuum-sealable bags reusable by consumers

Abstract

Shipping bedding sets for retail sale includes making textile soft goods product for retail sale constituting bedding sets for differing sizes of beds; packing the textile soft goods products in a shipping container such that the respective retail packaging of the textile soft goods products for retail sale collectively consume the entire interior containment space of the shipping container, wherein the interior containment space of the retail packaging of each textile soft goods product for retail sale is substantially the same, but wherein at least some of the particular bed sizes differ from another one; and shipping the packed shipping container to a retailer, wholesaler, distributor or consumer.

1 . A consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale, comprising:
 (a) a vacuum-resealable bag having,
 (i) air impermeable walls defining an interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, 
 (ii) a one-way valve assembly configured to permit air to be evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag but to preclude air from entering the interior space of the vacuum sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and 
 (iii) a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-resealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iv) wherein the vacuum-resealable bag is configured to maintain a vacuum condition within the interior space when the closure mechanism seals the mouth of the vacuum-resealable bag and air is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from the interior space defined by the vacuum-resealable bag, and 
 (v) wherein the vacuum-resealable bag is configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the vacuum-resealable bag is reusable by a consumer for vacuum-packing after the one or more textile soft goods have been removed from the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag; and 
   (b) one or more textile soft goods located within the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag.   
     
     
         2 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more textile soft goods located within the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag are maintained in a compressed condition resulting from a pressure differential existing between a pressure in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag and a pressure exterior to the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         3 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 2 , further comprising retail packaging comprising a case in which the vacuum-resealable bag containing the textile soft goods is contained, wherein a hoop strength of the case is sufficient to maintain the textile soft goods in a compressed condition within the vacuum-resealable bag upon equalization of the pressure in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag and a pressure exterior to the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         4 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve assembly is located in a wall of the vacuum-resealable bag and is configured to receive a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner hose, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using a vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         5 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve assembly of the vacuum-resealable bag is configured to expel air from the interior space thereof upon rolling up of the vacuum-resealable bag by a consumer for creating a pressure differential between a pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag. 
     
     
         6 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the textile soft goods comprise a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set. 
     
     
         7 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein none of the textile soft goods are individually packaged. 
     
     
         8 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , further comprising printed media identifying the one or more textile soft goods contained in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, the printed media being physically associated with the vacuum-resealable bag for viewing by a consumer at retail sale. 
     
     
         9 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 8 , wherein the printed media further identifies the reusability of the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         10 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 8 , wherein the printed media comprises an adhesive label that is attached to the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         11 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 10 , wherein retail packaging of the textile soft goods product for retail sale comprises the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         12 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the vacuum-resealable bag is transparent such that one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are viewable there through. 
     
     
         13 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , further comprising retail packaging defining an interior space in which the vacuum-resealable bag containing the textile soft goods is contained. 
     
     
         14 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , further comprising retail packaging comprising a case in which the vacuum-resealable bag containing the textile soft goods is contained, the case configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the case is reusable by a consumer after the vacuum-resealable bag containing the bedding set has been removed therefrom by the consumer. 
     
     
         15 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the vacuum-resealable bag is transparent such that one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are viewable there through, and at least a portion of the case is transparent such that one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are further viewable there through, the vacuum-resealable bag being arranged within the case such that the one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are viewable through both the case and the vacuum-resealable bag by a prospective customer at retail sale. 
     
     
         16 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , further comprising printed media identifying the one or more textile soft goods contained in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, the printed media being physically associated with the vacuum-resealable bag for viewing by a consumer at retail sale, wherein the printed media comprises an adhesive label that is attached to the case containing the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         17 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , further comprising printed media identifying the one or more textile soft goods contained in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, the printed media being physically associated with the vacuum-resealable bag for viewing by a consumer at retail sale, wherein the case comprises a pocket, the pocket including a transparent panel through which contents of the pocket are viewable from an exterior of the case, and wherein the printed media comprises a rigid planar member comprising a card insert that is retained within the pocket of the case. 
     
     
         18 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 17 , wherein the pocket includes opposing front and rear transparent panels whereby contents of the pocket are viewable through both the front and rear transparent panels. 
     
     
         19 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , wherein the case defines an interior containment space that is practically entirely consumed by the vacuum-resealable bag contained therein. 
     
     
         20 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 19 , wherein the case comprises opposed transparent panels, and wherein corners of the transparent panels include non-transparent components that cover the corners of the vacuum-resealable bag and that reinforce the case and contribute to the hoop strength of the case. 
     
     
         21 . A method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale, comprising the steps of:
 (a) making a first textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packing, within an interior space of a first vacuum-sealable bag, textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set for a first particular site of bed, 
 (ii) maintaining the bedding components in a compressed condition within the first vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a first pressure differential between a first pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the first vacuum-sealable bag includes a one-way valve assembly configured such that air, which is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from an interior space defined by the first vacuum-sealable bag, is kept from reentering the first vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the first vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the first vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a first retail packaging such that an interior containment space defined by the first retail packaging is practically entirely consumed by the first vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the first vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the first particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the first retail packaging; 
   (b) making a second textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packing, within an interior space of a second vacuum-sealable bag, textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set for a second particular size of bed, 
 (ii) maintaining the bedding components in a compressed condition within the second vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a second pressure differential between a second pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the second vacuum-sealable hag includes a one-way valve assembly configured such that air, which is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from an interior space defined by the second vacuum-sealable bag, is kept from reentering the second vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the second vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the second vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a second retail packaging such that an interior containment space defined by the second retail packaging is practically entirely consumed by the second vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the second vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the second particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the second retail packaging; 
   (c) making a third textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packing, within an interior space of a third vacuum-sealable bag, textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set for a third particular size of bed, 
 (ii) maintaining the bedding components in a compressed condition within the third vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a third pressure differential between a third pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the third vacuum-sealable, bag includes a one-way valve assembly configured such that air, which is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from an interior space defined by the third vacuum-sealable bag, is kept from reentering the third vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the third vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the third vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a third retail packaging such that an interior containment space defined by the third retail packaging is practically entirely consumed by the third vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the third vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the third particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the third retail packaging; 
   (d) making a fourth textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packing, within an interior space of a fourth vacuum-sealable bag, textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set for a fourth particular size of bed, 
 (ii) maintaining the bedding components in a compressed condition within the fourth vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a fourth pressure differential between a fourth pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the fourth vacuum-sealable bag includes a one-way valve assembly configured such that air, which is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from an interior space defined by the fourth vacuum-sealable bag, is kept from reentering the fourth vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the fourth vacuum-sealable: bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the fourth vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a fourth retail packaging such that an interior containment space defined by the fourth retail packaging is practically entirely consumed by the fourth vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the fourth vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the fourth particular size of bed by physically, associating printed media with the fourth retail packaging; and 
   (e) packing the respective first, second, third and fourth textile soft goods products for retail sale in a shipping container such that the respective retail packaging of the textile soft goods products for retail sale collectively consume the entire interior containment space of the shipping container, wherein the interior containment space of the retail packaging of each textile soft goods product for retail sale is substantially the same, but wherein at least some of the particular bed sizes differ from another one; and   (f) shipping the packed shipping container to a retailer, wholesaler, distributor or consumer.   
     
     
         22 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth textile soft goods products each have the same volume and footprint. 
     
     
         23 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth textile soft goods products are identical in size to each other. 
     
     
         24 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the first particular size of bed is a size of a twin bed. 
     
     
         25 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the second particular size of bed is a size of a double. 
     
     
         26 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the third particular size of bed is a size of a queen bed. 
     
     
         27 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the fourth particular size of bed is a size of a king bed. 
     
     
         28 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the first pressure differential is less than the fourth pressure differential. 
     
     
         29 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein each respective vacuum-sealable bag is configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the vacuum-sealable bag is reusable for vacuum-packing by a consumer after the bedding set has been removed therefrom. 
     
     
         30 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 29 , wherein the printed media of each of the first retail packaging, the second retail packaging, the third retail packaging, and the fourth retail packaging further identifies the reusability of the vacuum-sealable bag contained therein 
     
     
         31 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the one-way valve assembly of each respective vacuum-sealable hag is located in a wall of the respective vacuum-sealable bag and is configured to receive a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner hose, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated by a consumer using a vacuum cleaner post retail purchase. 
     
     
         32 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein the one-way valve assembly of the vacuum-sealable bag is configured to expel air from the interior space thereof upon rolling up of the vacuum-sealable bag by a consumer for creating a pressure differential between a pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag. 
     
     
         33 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first retail packaging, the second retail packaging, the third retail packaging, and the fourth retail packaging comprises a case that is reusable by the consumer. 
     
     
         34 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 33 , wherein each respective case does not include an airtight seal closing off the interior containment space in which the respective vacuum-sealable bag is contained. 
     
     
         35 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 33 , wherein a hoop strength of each case is sufficient to maintain the textile soft goods of the respective vacuum-sealable bag contained therein in a compressed condition upon a loss of the respective pressure differential. 
     
     
         36 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of each respective vacuum-sealable bag is transparent such that one or more contents of the respective vacuum-sealable bag are viewable therethrough, and at least a portion of each respective retail packaging is transparent such that the contents of the respective vacuum-sealable bag contained therein are further viewable therethrough. 
     
     
         37 . A method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale, comprising:
 (a) making a plurality of textile soft goods products for retail sale comprising, for each textile soft goods product, the steps of,
 (i) vacuum-packaging textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set for a particular size of bed, wherein the textile soft goods are arranged together within an interior space of a vacuum-sealable bag, 
 (ii) maintaining the bedding components in a compressed condition within the vacuum-sealable hag by maintaining a pressure differential between a pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the vacuum-sealable bag includes a one-way valve assembly configured such that air, which is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from an interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable hag, is kept from reentering the vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and a reusable closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the vacuums-sealable bag having the plurality of individual bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within an interior containment space of retail packaging, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the retail packaging; 
   (b) packing each of the textile soft goods products in a shipping container such that the products collectively consume the entire interior containment space of the shipping container, wherein the retail packaging of each of the textile soft goods products for retail sale has substantially the same dimensions, but wherein at least one of the bedding sets of the products is for a particular bed size that is different than at least one of the bedding sets of another one of the products; and   (c) shipping the packed shipping container to a retailer, wholesaler, distributor or consumer.   
     
     
         38 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 37 , wherein none of the bedding components of each of the textile soft goods products are individually packaged. 
     
     
         39 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 37 , wherein the interior containment space defined by the retail packaging is practically entirely consumed by the vacuum-sealable bag contained therein. 
     
     
         40 . The method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale of  claim 37 , wherein a hoop strength of the retail packaging of each of the textile soft goods products is sufficient to maintain the respective bedding components contained in the respective vacuum-sealable bag in a compressed condition upon a loss of the respective pressure differential.