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US 12,304,694 B2Granted
Modular and reusable packaging system
OwnerAadrit Talukdarinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular and reusable packaging system has a plurality of interconnecting pieces. The pieces have a rigid construction and are configured to connect with adjacent pieces to form the walls of the shipping container. The system also has a closure piece having a locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with at least two of the plurality of pieces when the locking mechanism is operated to securely lock the pieces together. Container forming pieces may have tracking devices that can be used to track location and use, for example. The tracking device may be an RFID tag attached to one or more of the plurality of pieces.
Claims18
A modular and reusable shipping container comprising:
- a plurality of pieces, each having a rigid construction and being configured to connect with adjacent pieces to form walls of the shipping container;
- a closure piece having a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with at least two of the plurality of pieces when the locking mechanism is operated to securely lock the pieces together;
- wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
- first and second locking bars extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the closure piece, the first and second locking bars are slidably connected to the closure piece for back-and-forth movement in a direction perpendicular to the side edges between retracted and extended positions;
- an actuator mounted to the closure piece, the actuator operatively connected to the first and second locking bars, the actuator operable to move the first and second locking bars between the extended and retracted positions;
- and
- wherein when the first and second locking bars are in the extended position terminal ends of each locking bar are engaged with at least one piece of the plurality of pieces thereby locking the at least one piece to at least one other piece.
4 more elements
A modular and reusable shipping container comprising:
- a plurality of pieces, each having a rigid construction and being configured to connect with adjacent pieces to form walls of the shipping container, wherein each of the pieces are configured to connect with adjacent pieces by interlocking protrusions and corresponding recesses, wherein at least one protrusion of one piece is configured to mate with at least one recess of an adjacent piece, allowing secure connection of the pieces to form the walls of the shipping container;
- the plurality of pieces at least including a plurality of L-shaped corner pieces, a plurality of edge pieces, and a plurality of primary wall pieces;
- a closure piece having a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with at least two of the plurality of pieces when the locking mechanism is operated to securely lock the pieces together;
- wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
- first and second locking bars extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the closure piece, the first and second locking bars are slidably connected to the closure piece for back-and-forth movement in a direction perpendicular to the side edges between retracted and extended positions;
- an actuator mounted to the closure piece, the actuator operatively connected to the first and second locking bars, the actuator operable to move the first and second locking bars between the extended and retracted positions;
- and
- wherein when the first and second locking bars are in the extended positions terminal ends of each locking bar are engaged with at least one piece of the plurality of pieces thereby locking the at least one piece to at least one other piece.
5 more elements
A modular and reusable shipping container comprising:
- a plurality of pieces, each having a rigid construction and being configured to connect with adjacent pieces to form walls of the shipping container, wherein each of the pieces are configured to connect with adjacent pieces by interlocking protrusions and corresponding recesses, wherein at least one protrusion of one piece is configured to mate with at least one recess of an adjacent piece, allowing secure connection of the pieces to form the walls of the shipping container;
- the plurality of pieces at least including a plurality of L-shaped corner pieces, a plurality of edge pieces, and a plurality of primary wall pieces;
- a closure piece having a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with at least two of the plurality of pieces when the locking mechanism is operated to securely lock the pieces together;
- the locking mechanism comprising:
- first and second locking bars extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the closure piece, the first and second locking bars are slidably connected to the closure piece for back-and-forth movement in a direction perpendicular to the side edges between retracted and extended positions;
- an actuator mounted to the closure piece, the actuator operatively connected to the first and second locking bars, the actuator operable to move the first and second locking bars between the extended and retracted positions;
- and
- wherein when the first and second locking bars are in the extended positions terminal ends of each locking bar are engaged with at least one piece of the plurality of pieces thereby locking the at least one piece to at least one other piece.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.