Shipping container along with shipping method employing the same

A container for items, comprising:

• (1) a pouch having an interior and a mouth communicating with the interior;
• (2) a closure movable between
• i. an open position such that items may be inserted into and removed from the interior, and
• ii. a closed position to retain the items in the interior as received items;
• and
• (3) an air bladder disposed in the interior of said pouch for receiving and substantially enveloping the items to reduce damage thereto during shipment, said air bladder formed as a flexible bag having first and second bag panels joined about a portion of its perimeter to define a sealed edge with an unjoined portion defining a bladder mouth communicating with a bladder interior, each of said first and second bag panels formed as a multi-layered plastic construction to include a matrix of cells that are selectively inflatable and deflatable.

A container adapted to receive a parcel for shipment to an intended recipient, comprising:

• (1) a flexible pouch having an interior and including
• i. first and second flexible body panels joined about a majority of a perimeter of said pouch to define a sealed edge with an unjoined portion defining a mouth communicating with the interior;
• (2) an interlocking closure movable between
• i. an open position such that a parcel may be inserted into and removed from the interior and
• ii. a closed position to retain the parcel in the interior as a received parcel;
• and
• (3) a bladder and puncture resistant lining, said lining disposed in the interior of said flexible pouch between said bladder and said body panels, said lining adapted to substantially envelop the parcel to reduce damage thereto during shipment, said puncture resistant lining including first and second geometrically congruent panel sections releasably secured together along three edges to define an opening which communicates with said mouth, and wherein said first and second panels sections are secured to said first and second flexible body panels, respectively.