Shipping system for plants or other items

摘要

A stackable shipping unit includes a plurality of individual components that may be partially assembled, then packed with items to be shipped. The shipping unit can then be fully assembled, and placed on a pallet. The shipping system may include trays that can be used as either a base or a lid. The unit includes vertical components that are generally U-shaped in plan view, and sized to fit closely within the trays in pairs to form a “H” shape in plan view forming a pair of shipping spaces. Additional U-shaped vertical components can then be assembled to close off the shipping spaces, and a tray can be used as a lid and positioned on top of the vertical components to form an assembled shipping unit.

主权项

1. A method of forming shipping containers, comprising:
providing a plurality of horizontal members having quadrilateral perimeters and upstanding edge walls extending around the perimeter to define an outwardly-opening space; providing first, second, third, and fourth upstanding dividers, each having a U-shape in plan view formed by a central wall and transverse end walls, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth upstanding dividers are substantially identical to one another; positioning first and second dividers on a horizontal member that has been positioned for use as a base with the space opening upwardly and receiving lower edge portions of the first and second dividers therein, wherein the central walls of the first and second dividers extend across a central portion of the horizontal member to define side-by-side shipping spaces, and wherein the end walls of the dividers extend along inside surfaces of a selected pair of the edge walls; positioning items to be shipped in the shipping spaces; positioning the third and fourth dividers adjacent the first and second dividers, respectively, with end walls of the first and third dividers overlapping, and wherein end walls of the second and fourth dividers overlap; and: positioning a horizontal member on top of the dividers to form an assembled container.