US 9,429,550 B2Granted

Systems and methods for evaluating environmental aspects of shipping systems

AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.

InventorsArnold Barlow, Dennis R. Estep, Andrew J. Gruber, Patrick McDavid, Quinto Marini, Nancy Parmer

Life of this patent

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Abstract

According to various embodiments, package evaluation systems and methods are provided for evaluating the sustainability of packaging used in the shipment of goods. In particular, the package evaluation systems and methods are configured for performing package evaluations and managing and providing access to data resulting from package evaluations. The package evaluations are designed to assess, among other things, the ability of sample packages to prevent damage to their contents, the volumetric efficiency of sample packages, and the sustainability of the materials used to construct sample packages. In addition, the systems and methods are further configured for assigning a certification to an entity associated with the evaluated packages based on the results of the evaluation.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for evaluating damage prevention characteristics of a plurality of packages, wherein each package in the plurality of packages comprises a box of a particular box type, a fill of a particular fill type, and one or more items of a particular item type, said method comprising the steps of:

performing a damage prevention test on a first package configuration, wherein said first package configuration comprises a first box having a first box type, a first fill disposed within the first box and having a first fill type, and a first item disposed within the first box and having a first item type, the first item type being the heaviest item type among a set of item types intended for shipment in boxes of the first box type with a fill of the first fill type;
performing the damage prevention test on a second package configuration, wherein said second package configuration comprises a second box having the first box type, a second fill disposed within the second box and having the first fill type, and a second item disposed within the second box and having a second item type, the second item type being the most fragile item type among the set of item types intended for shipment in boxes of the first box type with a fill of the first fill type;
determining a level of damage received by the first package configuration and a level of damage received by the second package configuration;
generating, via one or more processors, damage prevention data indicative of the level of damage received by the first item and the level of damage received by the second item;
storing said damage prevention data in at least one memory storage area;
and
determining, via said one or more processors and based on the damage prevention data, whether said first package configuration and said second package configuration has satisfied a set of predefined damage prevention criteria.

4 more elements

A system for evaluating damage prevention characteristics of a plurality of packages, wherein each package in the plurality of packages comprises a box of a particular box type, a fill of a particular fill type, and one or more items of a particular item type, said system comprising:

one or more memory storage areas;
one or more processors configured for executing the steps of:
receiving first damage prevention test data indicative of a level of damage received by a first item during a damage prevention test performed on a first package configuration, wherein said first package configuration comprises a first box having a first box type, a first fill disposed within the first box and having a first fill type, and the first item disposed within the first box and having a first item type, the first item type being the heaviest item type among a set of item types intended for shipment in boxes of the first box type with a fill of the first fill type;
receiving second damage prevention test data indicative of a level of damage received by a second item during the damage prevention test performed on a second package configuration, wherein said second package configuration comprises a second box having the first box type, a second fill disposed within the second box and having the first fill type, and the second item disposed within the second box and having a second item type, the second item type being the most fragile item type among the set of item types intended for shipment in boxes of the first box type with a fill of the first fill type;
generating, via one or more processors, damage prevention data indicative of the level of damage received by the first item and the level of damage received by the second item;
storing, said damage prevention data in at least one memory storage area;
and
determining based on the damage prevention data, whether said first package configuration and said second package configuration has satisfied a set of predefined damage prevention criteria.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/603,163Filed 22 Jan 2015 · continuation
Priority: 12 Feb 2009
Published: US 2015/0142380 A121 May 2015
Granted: 30 Aug 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G01N 33/00
Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups g01n1/00
G01B 21/00
Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered
G01B 21/08
For measuring length, width, or thickness: for measuring thickness
G01N 9/36
Investigating density or specific gravity of materials; Analysing materials by determining density or specific gravity: analysing materials by…

Family

Application61/152,037Us provisional application · filed 12 Feb 2009
Application12/704,800Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Feb 2010
Application13/613,399Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Sep 2012
US 8,296,101 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Oct 2012
Application14/099,543Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Dec 2013
US 8,639,472 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Jan 2014
US 2015/0142380 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 May 2015
US 8,972,218 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2013/0013218 A1Published application
US 2014/0100812 A1Published application
US 9,429,550 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.