Packaging bags, packaging systems, methods of shipping, and methods of manufacturing packaging systems

Abstract

Packaging systems and methods are provided in which a shipping bag has an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of cushion pieces are directly affixed to the inner surface, the outer surface, or both the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag by an adhesive. The cushion pieces may be dispersed at various locations inside or outside the shipping bag to protect a unit being packaged and arranged to achieve optimal load bearing for a unit being packaged. In exemplary embodiments, each cushion piece is located at an optimal location one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. Each cushion piece can automatically locate itself at an optimal location on one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. Exemplary methods further comprise determining an optimal location for each cushion piece relative to the unit based on the optimized load bearing and transferring each optimal location to the inner surface of the shipping bag. The step of determining an optimized load bearing for the unit to be shipped may comprise weighing the unit and referring to cushioning curve data for the material of the shipping bag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system comprising:
 a shipping bag having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a plurality of cushion pieces directly affixed to the inner surface of the shipping bag by an adhesive.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cushion pieces are dispersed at various locations within the shipping bag to protect a unit being packaged. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cushion pieces are arranged to achieve optimal load bearing for a unit being packaged. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein each cushion piece is located at an optimal location on the inner surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein each cushion piece automatically locates itself at an optimal location on the inner surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shipping bag is made of a waterproof material such that it provides a moisture barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a shipping carton configured to house the shipping bag. 
     
     
         8 . A method of packaging a unit for shipping, the method comprising:
 providing a shipping bag made of a material suitable for shipping, the shipping bag having an inner surface and an outer surface;   providing a plurality of cushion pieces;   determining an optimized load bearing for a unit to be shipped;   determining an optimal location for each cushion piece relative to the unit based on the optimized load bearing;   transferring each optimal location to one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag; and   directly affixing each cushion piece to one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag at its optimal location using adhesive.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of determining an optimized load bearing for the unit to be shipped comprises weighing the unit and referring to cushioning curve data for the material of the shipping bag. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising placing the unit inside the shipping bag. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising sealing the shipping bag. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each cushion piece automatically locates itself at each respective optimal location on one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to the unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising placing the shipping bag inside a shipping carton. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising removing the shipping bag from the shipping carton, unsealing the shipping bag, removing the unit from the shipping bag, and re-using the shipping bag to ship another unit. 
     
     
         15 . A packaging system comprising:
 a shipping bag having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a plurality of cushion pieces directly affixed to one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag by an adhesive, the cushion pieces being dispersed at various locations on one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag to protect a unit being packaged;   wherein the cushion pieces are arranged to achieve optimal load bearing for the unit being packaged.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the optimized load bearing for the unit to be packaged is determined by a weight of the unit and cushioning curve data for the shipping bag. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein each cushion piece is located at an optimal location on one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein each cushion piece automatically locates itself at an optimal location on one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the shipping bag is made of polyethylene. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the cushion pieces are made of polyethylene.