Shipping container systems

Abstract

There is disclosed a container system comprising an outer container comprising a base and a plurality of upstanding walls, a first closure flap wherein the first closure flap overlays the base and substantially covers an opening formed by the top ends of the upstanding walls when the outer container is in a closed configuration, and wherein the first closure flap includes a retention element that extends from the closure flap downward into the cavity of the outer container when the outer container is in a closed configuration, and a suspension insert including a product retention compartment, and a plurality of suspension elements maintaining a cushion gap is on all sides of the product retention compartment when the shipping container system is in a closed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container system comprising:
 an outer container comprising a base and a plurality of upstanding walls defining a cavity, a first closure flap extending from a top end of one of the plurality of upstanding walls opposite the base wherein the first closure flap overlays the base and substantially covers an opening formed by the top ends of the upstanding walls when the outer container is in a closed configuration, and wherein the first closure flap includes a retention element that extends from the closure flap downward into the cavity of the outer container when the outer container is in a closed configuration; and   a suspension insert including a product retention compartment comprising a top section connected to a bottom section, and a suspension element extending outwardly from a first end of the product retention compartment, wherein the suspension element abuts against a first upstanding wall of the outer container when the suspension insert is installed in the outer container, wherein a cushion gap is on all sides of the product retention compartment when the suspension insert is installed in the outer container, wherein the bottom section of the product retention compartment comprises a first bottom panel connected to a first side of the top section and folds to connect to a second side of the product retention compartment opposite the first side of the top section.   
     
     
         2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom section of the product retention compartment further comprises a second bottom panel connected to the second side of the top section opposite the first side of the top section, and the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel fold to connect on the bottom section of the product retention compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the product retention compartment has a volume when a product is inserted into the product retention compartment and the top section and the bottom section of the product retention compartment physically contact the product contained therein. 
     
     
         4 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension insert further comprises a second suspension element extending outwardly from a second end of the product retention compartment, wherein the suspension element abuts against a second upstanding wall of the outer container when the suspension insert is installed in the outer container, wherein the first upstanding wall and the second upstanding wall are opposite each other. 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein the second suspension element extends from a second end of the top section of the product retention compartment, wherein the second end is opposite the first end of the top section of the product retention compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein the first suspension element and the second suspension element exert a retention force while abutting against the first upstanding wall and the second upstanding wall of the outer container. 
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein the retention force holds the suspension insert secure in a height of the outer container and along a length of the outer container while maintaining the cushion gap between the product retention compartment and the outer container. 
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension element folds in at least one of an upwards direction and a downwards direction maintaining the cushion gap between the product retention compartment and the outer container. 
     
     
         9 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum height of the suspension element when installed in the outer container is less than an interior height of the outer container. 
     
     
         10 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel further comprises a bottom suspension element abutting against at least one of the first upstanding wall and a second upstanding wall of the outer container. 
     
     
         11 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension insert further comprises an aperture in the top section of the product retention compartment allowing visibility into the product retention compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the product retention compartment is substantially flat when the product retention compartment is empty. 
     
     
         13 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the seam on the bottom section of the product retention compartment is held together by at least one of an interlocking closure, a locking closure, a glue, a tape, a semi-permanent adhesive, a permanent adhesive, a radio-frequency (RF) welding, a heat bond, and a stitching. 
     
     
         14 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension element secures the suspension insert along a length of the outer container while maintaining the cushion gap between the product retention compartment and the outer container. 
     
     
         15 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container and the suspension insert are formed from a single blank, wherein the suspension insert folds over a second upstanding wall of the outer container and down towards the base of the outer container maintaining the cushion gap between the suspension insert and the second upstanding wall, wherein the second upstanding wall is opposite the first upstanding wall of the outer container. 
     
     
         16 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container is formed from one of corrugated board, paper board, flexible plastics, foamed plastics, rigid plastics, and corrugated plastics. 
     
     
         17 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension insert is formed from one of corrugated board, paper board, flexible plastics, foamed plastics, rigid plastics, and corrugated plastics. 
     
     
         18 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the product retention compartment includes a selectively closeable opening. 
     
     
         19 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container further comprises a plurality of support elements maintaining the cushion gap between the product retention compartment and the outer container. 
     
     
         20 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of upstanding walls comprises a third upstanding wall and a fourth upstanding wall opposite each other, wherein the third upstanding wall further comprises a first sidewall flap extending along the base of the outer container, and the fourth upstanding wall further comprises a second sidewall flap extending along the base of the outer container.