Collapsible shipping container
AssigneeA-1 Packaging Solutions, Inc.
InventorKenneth F. Schoening
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible and stackable shipping container for shipping a product may be reused and customized for the product to be shipped. The shipping container includes a base, a plurality of support struts mounted on the base, and a top or a cover. The plurality of support struts are movable relative to the base between an upright position and a collapsed position. Each support strut may be rotatably attached to the base and may fit within feet or other support structures formed within the base. In the collapsed position, the plurality of support struts are stored on the base, such as within one or more cavities formed in the base. The shipping container may include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for use in tracking the shipping container or a system of shipping containers.
Claims37
A pallet for shipping a product, the pallet comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of support struts, each one of the support struts being movable relative to the base between an upright position and a collapsed position;
- a multiplicity of connectors mounted to the base, each one of the connectors being adapted to receive a different one of the support struts to secure the different one of the support struts to the base.
The pallet of clam 9, wherein the plurality of feet form a plurality of impressions in the top surface of the base, and wherein each one of the connectors is disposed within a different one of the impressions.
A method of tracking a plurality of shipping pallets using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of pallets, wherein each pallet of the plurality of pallets includes an RFID tag, a base, and a plurality of support struts movable relative to the base between an upright position and a collapsed position;
- for each pallet of the plurality of pallets and before shipping the plurality of pallets to at least one customer:
- scanning the RFID tag using an RFID reader to create a tag identifier that identifies the pallet;
- transmitting the tag identifier from the RFID reader to a computer;
- storing the tag identifier in a memory of the computer;
- and
- inputting information into a plurality of information fields associated with the tag identifier;
- shipping the pallets to at least one shipping destination wherein the at least one shipping destination is associated with one customer;
- receiving at least one of the plurality of pallets from the at least one customer;
- for the at least one pallet:
- scanning the RFID tag using the RFID reader to identify the pallet by the tag identifier;
- transmitting the tag identifier from the RFID reader to the computer;
- comparing the tag identifier with a plurality of tag identifiers stored in the memory;
- displaying the information of the plurality of information fields associated with the tag identifier on a user interface;
- and
- updating the information of the plurality of information fields associated with the tag identifier to indicate the at least one pallet has been received.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.