Reusable flexible package and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a flexible package capable of being repeatedly used. In one exemplary embodiment, the reusable flexible package comprises a first flexible material layer, a second flexible material layer and a third flexible material layer which are arranged in a stacked mode. The first layer of flexible material and the second layer of flexible material together define an inflatable and / or deflatable bladder structure therebetween. And a structure reinforcing member is arranged between the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer. The flexible package is configured to be convertible between a first configuration in which the airbag structure is inflated and the flexible package is configured as a package for placing articles, and a second configuration in which the airbag structure is deflated and the flexible package can be flattened and folded together. The invention further provides a using method of the reusable flexible package.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of packaging technology, and more particularly, to reusable flexible packaging made of one or more flexible materials and methods of using the same. Background Art

[0002] Electronic commerce, the use of the Internet to find and purchase goods, is becoming a very popular way for consumers to shop. The advantages of electronic commerce are many, such as saving time, shopping at home, work or almost anywhere; importantly, consumers do not have to transport the purchased items from the place of purchase to the place of use. In an electronic commerce system, the goods purchased by consumers are generally transported by the seller to the consumer's home or other place where the goods are used. Many electronic commerce retailers rely on the mail (including government mail services and other private and semi-private mail services) to deliver goods, or other parcel or package-like delivery services to deliver goods. Such mail and package delivery services are generally very convenient for consumers and sellers. However, the physical labor and packaging material costs required to protect fragile, heavy and / or large goods during their transportation can be quite expensive.

[0003] Shipping merchandise via existing mail and package delivery services also presents unique issues that, if not addressed, can negatively impact the cost and quality of the merchandise sold. For example, when shipping merchandise to consumers, the merchandise typically needs to be placed in packaging that is strong, lightweight, and convenient for the consumer. That is, the packaging should be designed to protect the shipped merchandise from external conditions throughout the shipping process and, ideally, to minimize material usage, weight, and volume. The packaging should also be easy to construct, pack, close, label, and open. If a shipping package does not meet any or all of these characteristics, it may result in additional costs, inconvenience to the seller or consumer, damage to the merchandise, and / or consumer dissatisfaction.

[0004] Currently, most shipping packages are some form of flexible packaging bags made of paper or plastic (such as envelopes), or packaging boxes that are usually made of plastic board, corrugated cardboard, cardboard, or foam materials. Although these shipping packages can be used to transport many different types of items and are quite cheap, they are generally generic and do not provide special protection for the items being transported. This may result in the need for additional packaging to prevent damage to the items being transported. To solve the problem of inappropriate generic packaging, sellers often fill the outer box with some type of disposable filling material (such as airbags, air column bags, etc.), which is designed to fill the open areas in the shipping package that are not filled by the items themselves to provide adequate protection for the items. Alternatively, sellers need to use additional processes to handle the items and / or add protective layers to the items or shipping packaging to ensure that the items are safe when they are in the shipping packaging. However, both of these situations add more handling steps, packaging weight, packaging waste, and packaging costs, and often make the consumer experience when opening the shipping package less than ideal (e.g., packaging fillers fall out of the outer box, tools are required to open the outer box, etc.). In addition, many currently used transport packages are susceptible to climate and / or environmental influences and may be damaged by rain, wet surfaces and / or moisture, which may damage the items being transported. Therefore, if such transport packages are to be left outdoors or unattended for a period of time, they are usually wrapped in additional materials or must be placed in a protected location. In addition, if transport packages that include expansion areas or expansion areas (such as air column bags, etc.) are used, the disadvantage of such transport packages is that they are not easily labeled or printed, and the labels or printed graphics that are attached are easily deformed and difficult to be read by humans or machines. This may cause difficulties during transportation, warehousing and inventory, and may be less than ideal for consumers. In addition, the flexible packaging bags made of paper or plastic currently in use are usually disposable and cannot be reused or recycled, which is not conducive to environmental protection; the packaging boxes currently in use made of plastic boards or foam materials can be reused or recycled to a certain extent, but this form of packaging box usually has a large fixed volume and always occupies a large volume before and after use, which is not conducive to the recycling of the packaging box; and the packaging boxes currently in use made of corrugated cardboard or paperboard, although they can be folded and stored before and after use, are easily damaged by moisture due to the influence of climate and / or environment, and therefore have the disadvantage of low recycling rate. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present disclosure is to solve at least one aspect of the above-mentioned problems and defects in the prior art.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a reusable flexible package is provided. The reusable flexible package comprises: a first flexible material layer, a second flexible material layer, and a third flexible material layer arranged in layers; wherein the first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer jointly define an inflatable and / or deflated airbag structure therebetween; wherein a structural reinforcement member is provided between the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer; wherein the flexible package is configured to be convertible between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the airbag structure is inflated and the flexible package is constructed as a packaging box for placing articles, and in the second configuration, the airbag structure is deflated and the flexible package can be flattened and folded together.

[0007] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first flexible material layer, the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer together constitute a one-piece structure; the first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer are combined together by heat sealing to form the airbag structure; the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer are combined together by heat sealing, detachable connection or sewing.

[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the airbag structure includes one or more expansion chambers defined by the first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer, wherein each of the one or more expansion chambers is fluidically connected to at least one other expansion chamber.

[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more expansion chambers are formed by providing a sealing line between the first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a sealing line is arranged along the longitudinal direction and / or the transverse direction of the flexible package to form the one or more expansion chambers.

[0011] In some embodiments, the airbag structure is constructed such that when the flexible package is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, a plurality of expansion chambers are formed on the top and bottom of the packaging box, and the plurality of expansion chambers are formed on the walls of the packaging box or no expansion chambers are formed.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first flexible material layer is provided with an air valve fluidly connected to the one or more expansion chambers of the airbag structure; wherein, the air valve can be approached by a user to inflate and / or deflate the one or more expansion chambers of the airbag structure; wherein, when the flexible package is in the first configuration for use as a packaging box, the air valve is located inside the packaging box.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible package may further include: a conversion feature for performing conversion of the flexible package between the first configuration and the second configuration; wherein, when the conversion feature is in a closed position, the flexible package is converted to the first configuration to allow the flexible package to be constructed into a packaging box for placing items; when the conversion feature is in an open position, the flexible package is converted to the second configuration to allow the flexible package to be flattened and folded together.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible package may further include: an anti-theft feature for semi-permanently locking the conversion feature in the closed position when the conversion feature is in the closed position.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible packaging includes an inflatable top portion, an inflatable bottom portion, and an inflatable middle portion located between the inflatable top portion and the inflatable bottom portion, wherein the airbag structure penetrates the inflatable top portion, the inflatable bottom portion, and the inflatable middle portion.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the flexible package is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the inflatable top portion constitutes the lid of the packaging box, the inflatable bottom portion constitutes the bottom of the packaging box, and the inflatable middle portion constitutes the wall of the packaging box; wherein the structural reinforcement member is arranged in the inflatable middle portion used as the wall of the packaging box.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the structural reinforcement member is a plate-like member made of paper, plastic or metal; by arranging the structural reinforcement member in the inflatable middle part serving as the box wall of the packaging box, the compressive strength of the packaging box exceeds 150kgf.

[0018] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the flexible package is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the first flexible material layer is formed as an inner layer of the packaging box, the third flexible material layer is formed as an outer layer of the packaging box, and the second flexible material layer is formed as an intermediate layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer of the packaging box.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible package may further include: a support member arranged on the surface of the first flexible material layer; wherein, when the flexible package is in the first configuration for use as a packaging box, the support member is positioned at a corner of the box wall of the packaging box or is positioned adjacent to a corner of the box wall of the packaging box.

[0020] Preferably, the supporting member is made of foam plastic or rubber.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible package may further include: an elastic bandage arranged on the surface of the first flexible material layer; wherein, when the flexible package is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the elastic bandage is positioned at the surface of the box wall of the packaging box and / or the surface of the box bottom of the packaging box.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a user to use a reusable flexible packaging according to any of the aforementioned embodiments is provided. The method may include the following steps:

[0023] i) providing the flexible package in a second configuration in which the airbag structure of the flexible package is deflated and the flexible package is capable of being flattened and folded together;

[0024] ii) unfolding the flexible package and inflating an airbag structure of the flexible package;

[0025] iii) utilizing a conversion feature to convert the flexible package from the second configuration to a first configuration in which the airbag structure is inflated and the flexible package is configured as a packaging box for placing an item; and

[0026] iv) placing one or more articles in the receiving cavity of the flexible package serving as a packaging box.

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further include the following steps:

[0028] v) transporting the flexible package and the one or more articles from the first location to a second location by one or more transport means selected from a vehicle, a train, a ship, an airplane and any other transport means;

[0029] vi) removing the one or more items from the receiving cavity of the flexible package serving as a packaging box at the second position; and

[0030] vii) deflating the airbag structure of the flexible package at the second location and then flattening and folding the deflated flexible package together.

[0031] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for recycling and reusing the reusable flexible packaging according to any of the above embodiments in e-commerce is provided. The method may include the following steps:

[0032] i) placing one or more articles in a receiving cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box, wherein the airbag structure of the flexible package is inflated;

[0033] ii) delivering the flexible package and the one or more items to a user;

[0034] iii) collecting the flexible package from the user after the user removes the one or more items from the storage cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box, or after the user removes the one or more items from the storage cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box and deflates the airbag structure and flattens and folds the flexible package; and

[0035] iv) reusing the flexible packaging in the next shipment.

[0036] The reusable flexible packaging provided according to the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can flexibly package and protect single or multiple different items without the need for additional cushioning or fillers, and is easily recyclable for reusability, which is more environmentally friendly than traditional transport packaging. The reusable flexible packaging provided according to the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure occupies a very small volume before and after use and can provide a certain accommodation volume when constructed for use and transportation. The reusable flexible packaging provided according to the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has a greater load-bearing capacity during use and transportation than traditional transport packaging through the design of structural reinforcement components, and is not easily deformed. The reusable flexible packaging provided according to the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is easy to pack and can be used for carrying personal items and / or e-commerce transportation.

[0037] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will help to have a comprehensive understanding of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional structure of a reusable flexible package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from different viewing angles, showing that the flexible package is in a first configuration used as a packaging box;

[0040] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective structural diagram showing a reusable flexible package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing that the flexible package used as a packaging box is opened to show the internal structure of the packaging box;

[0041] Figure 4 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view showing a reusable flexible package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in a first configuration for use as a packaging box;

[0042] Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a reusable flexible package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in a first configuration for use as a packaging box;

[0043] Figure 6 and Figure 7 are schematic planar structural diagrams showing a reusable flexible package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure from different viewing angles, showing a flattened state of the flexible package in a second configuration; and

[0044] Figure 8 3 is a schematic diagram showing the three-dimensional structure of a reusable flexible package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating a process from being flattened to being folded together when the flexible package is in a second configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The technical solution of the present disclosure is further described in detail below through exemplary embodiments and in combination with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar figure numbers indicate the same or similar parts. The following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the technical content of the present disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0046] In addition, in the detailed description below, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may be implemented without these specific details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices are embodied in a schematic manner to simplify the accompanying drawings.

[0047] The present disclosure describes a reusable flexible package made of one or more flexible materials, such as a travel package, a transport package, a display package and / or other packages. Although the present invention is mainly described and illustrated herein as a travel package or a transport package for e-commerce transportation, the present disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to a specific purpose, and the flexible package provided by the present disclosure should be considered to be applicable to all different types of packages with the disclosed features. Since the flexible package provided by the present disclosure is made of a flexible material, less material can be used, better protection can be provided, and it can be more easily decorated than traditional rigid packages. The flexible package provided by the present disclosure can be reused, so the cost of use is lower than that of traditional packages. The flexible package provided by the present disclosure is equipped with a novel reinforcement structure, so less material can be used, without the need to use the thick solid wall used in traditional rigid packages, and no additional protective materials need to be filled. The flexible package provided by the present disclosure can be easily labeled or printed on its flexible material before or after being configured into a three-dimensional transport packaging box, so it is easier to decorate. The flexible package provided by the present disclosure is not easy to wear, dent and break, because the flexible material allows its outer surface to deform when contacting an external object, and then returns to its original shape. The flexible packages provided by the present disclosure can provide better protection by being made of weather-resistant and / or environmentally resistant materials to provide protection against falls and other external forces during transportation and handling. Although made of flexible materials, the flexible packages provided by the present disclosure have sufficient protective performance when used as packaging boxes, and can receive and accommodate one or more articles or products as expected while protecting the integrity of the articles or goods. In addition, the flexible packages provided by the present disclosure can also be constructed to have sufficient structural integrity so that they can withstand external forces and environmental conditions from transportation and loading and unloading without structural deformation.

[0048] Another desirable feature of the flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure is that it can be easily shaped and configured for machine handling and use with autonomous vehicles and drones. The packaging according to the present disclosure provides protection against collisions and drops, and can be used to provide gripping areas for humans and machines.

[0049] Another desirable feature of the flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure is to include three layers of flexible material made of a strong and durable material, wherein a first flexible material layer and a second flexible material layer jointly define an inflatable and / or deflated airbag structure therebetween. The strong and durable flexible material layers provide protection for the airbag structure against internal and external impacts / forces to avoid puncturing, breaking or otherwise damaging the airbag structure.

[0050] Another desirable feature of the flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure is that it can be recycled and reused multiple times for travel and shipping purposes, avoiding the use of disposable materials and correspondingly reducing the impact on the environment.

[0051] As used herein, when referring to flexible packaging, the terms "reusable" and "multiple uses" mean that after being used for its intended purpose (e.g., shipping an item to an end user), it is configured to be reused for the same or similar purpose. The terms "disposable" and / or "single use" mean that after being used for its intended purpose (e.g., shipping an item to an end user), it is not configured to be reused for the same purpose, but is configured to be disposed of (i.e., treated as waste, trash, and / or discarded).

[0052] Herein, when referring to flexible packaging, the term "airbag structure" refers to a space that can be filled with an expansion material defined by two or more material layers, wherein the space is configured to be at least partially filled with one or more expansion materials, which generates tension of two or more material layers and forms an expanded volume between two or more material layers. The term "inflated" or "expanded" refers to the state when the expansion chamber includes an expansion material therein. The term "deflated" or "unexpanded" refers to the state when the expansion chamber does not include an expansion material. The shape and size (e.g., length, width, height, thickness) of the airbag structure after inflation or expansion have a shape and size that is significantly larger than the shape and size of the airbag structure after deflation or unexpanding. Examples of expansion materials include, but are not limited to, liquids (e.g., water), gases (e.g., compressed air), fluid products, foams (which can expand after being added to the structural support volume), co-reactive materials (generating gas or foam), or phase change materials (e.g., liquid nitrogen or dry ice) (which can be added in solid or liquid form and converted into gas), or other suitable materials known in the art, or any combination of these (e.g., a combination of fluid products and liquid nitrogen). The expansion material can be added at atmospheric pressure, or at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. For the flexible package provided by the present disclosure, one or more portions of the airbag structure can be inflated or expanded before or after the item to be transported in the package is placed in the package, and / or before or after the flexible package is purchased by the end user.

[0053] Herein, the term "flexible package" or "flexible material layer" refers to a package or material layer made of a material with sufficient structural flexibility, which allows the package provided by the present disclosure to undergo sufficient deformation so that it can be folded into a significantly smaller size, for example, less than 50% (preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, still more preferably less than 20%, most preferably less than 10%) of the original size. The flexible package provided by the present disclosure may include panels and / or components of some non-flexible materials, as long as these panels and / or components do not prevent the deformation and folding of the flexible package or flexible material layer. The example of a flexible package / flexible material layer can be made of a combination of film, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, paper, foil or other flexible materials.

[0054] As used herein, when referring to a flexible package or a flexible material layer, the term "thickness" refers to a linear dimension measured perpendicular to the outer major surface of the flexible package or flexible material layer when the flexible package or flexible material layer is deflated or unexpanded. In order to compare the thickness of a flexible package or flexible material layer in a deflated or unexpanded state and an inflated or expanded state, the thickness of each state should be measured on the same surface and in the same direction.

[0055] Herein, when referring to a flexible package or a flexible material layer, the term "flattening" refers to an operation or treatment that minimizes the thickness of the flexible package or the flexible material layer when the flexible package or the flexible material layer is deflated or not expanded. When the flexible package or the flexible material layer is flattened, any pressure of the expansion material that causes the expansion chamber in the airbag structure to expand has been released, so that the interior of the airbag structure has no or substantially no or almost no expansion material.

[0056] Herein, when referring to flexible packaging or flexible material layer, the term "flexible material" refers to a thin, easily deformable sheet material. The terms "flexible material", "flexible sheet", "sheet" and "sheet material" are used interchangeably and are intended to have the same meaning. Examples of materials that can be flexible materials include any one or more of the following: films (e.g., plastic films), elastomers, foam sheets, foils, fabrics (including wovens and nonwovens), bio-sourced materials and paper. Flexible materials can be in any configuration, including but not limited to: layers of individual materials, or layers of laminated materials, or layers of composite materials, micro-layer or nano-layer structures, and any combination, as known in the art. For example, the flexible material can be a laminated material layer of paper and EVOH. A part, a plurality of parts or all of the flexible material can be coated or uncoated, treated or untreated, processed or unprocessed in any manner known in the art. A part, a plurality of parts, or approximately all, or substantially all, or almost all, or all of the flexible material can be made of sustainable, bio-sourced, recyclable and / or biodegradable materials. A portion, approximately all, substantially all, nearly all, or all of any flexible material described herein may be partially or completely translucent, partially or completely transparent, or partially or completely opaque. The flexible materials used to make the packaging disclosed herein may be formed in any manner known in the art, and may be joined together using any type of joining or sealing methods known in the art, including but not limited to, for example, heat sealing (such as conductive sealing), impulse sealing, ultrasonic sealing, welding, crimping, bonding, adhering, etc., and any combination of these methods.

[0057] As used herein, when referring to a flexible packaging or a flexible material layer, the term "durable material" refers to a thin sheet material having a durability factor measured by tensile strength (transverse and longitudinal) greater than 1 million Pascal (hereinafter referred to as "MP"), preferably greater than 5 MP, more preferably greater than 10 MP, even more preferably greater than 20 MP, even more preferably greater than 50 MP, even more preferably greater than 100 MP, and most preferably greater than 500 MP.

[0058] Herein, the term "ambient conditions" refers to a temperature in the range of -20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity in the range of 20% to 100%.

[0059] As used herein, the term "closed" refers to a state of the reusable flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure in which any item in the packaging can be prevented from escaping from the packaging (e.g., by forming a closed packaging box), but the packaging is not necessarily hermetically sealed. For example, a closed packaging may include a vent that allows air in the packaging to communicate with air in an environment outside the packaging.

[0060] As used herein, the term "internal storage cavity" refers to a three-dimensional, closable space that is configured to receive and hold one or more items. This three-dimensional space can enclose a volume, the "internal volume". The items can be directly held by the material forming the internal storage cavity. By directly holding one or more products, the items are in contact with the material forming the closable three-dimensional space without the need for intermediate materials or packaging. The transport packaging or travel packaging described herein can be configured to have any number of internal storage cavities. In addition, one or more internal storage cavities can be enclosed in another internal storage cavity. Any internal storage cavity disclosed herein can have an internal volume of any size. The internal storage cavity can have any shape in any direction.

[0061] The flexible package provided by the present disclosure can be configured to have a one-piece overall shape. In a deflated or unexpanded state, the one-piece overall shape can correspond to any known two-dimensional shape, including polygons (shapes generally composed of straight line portions connected by angles), curved shapes (including circular, elliptical, and irregular curved shapes) and combinations thereof. In an inflated or expanded state, the one-piece overall shape can correspond to any other known three-dimensional shape, including any kind of polyhedron, any kind of prism, and any kind of prism (including straight prisms and uniform prisms).

[0062] The flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure can be used for a variety of articles across a variety of industries. For example, the flexible packaging as described herein can be used for transportation in the consumer goods industry, including but not limited to the following products: cleaning products, disinfectants, dishwashing compositions, laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, fabric dyes, surface protectants, cosmetics, skin care products, hair care products, soaps, body scrubs, exfoliants, astringents, scrubs, depilatories, antiperspirant compositions, deodorants, shaving products, pre-shaving products, after-shaving products, toothpaste, mouthwash, personal care products, baby care products, women's care products, insect repellents, food, beverages, electronic products, medical devices and commodities, medicines, supplements, toys, office supplies, household products, automotive products, aviation products, agricultural products, clothing, shoes, jewelry, industrial products, and any other articles that may be desired to be delivered by mail or parcel delivery services, etc. For another example, the flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure can be used by consumers for travel purposes, that is, to pack and protect delicate or fragile items during travel by car, train, ship and / or airplane transit.

[0063] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a reusable flexible package 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. The flexible package 100 includes: a first flexible material layer 10, a second flexible material layer 20, and a third flexible material layer 30 arranged in a stacked manner. The first flexible material layer 10 and the second flexible material layer 20 jointly define an inflatable and / or deflated airbag structure 110 therebetween. A structural reinforcement member 120 is provided between the second flexible material layer 20 and the third flexible material layer 30. According to the present disclosure, the flexible package 100 is configured to be convertible between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the airbag structure 110 is inflated and the flexible package 100 is constructed as a packaging box (such as a container) for placing items. Figures 1 to 3 More specifically, when the flexible package 100 is in a first configuration for use as a packaging box, the first flexible material layer 10 forms an inner layer of the packaging box, the third flexible material layer 30 forms an outer layer of the packaging box, and the second flexible material layer 20 forms an intermediate layer between the inner layer and the outer layer of the packaging box. In the second configuration, the airbag structure 110 is deflated and the flexible package 100 can be flattened and folded together (as shown in FIG. Figure 8 shown). Figure 1 and Figure 2 The airbag structure 110 is shown inflated and the flexible package 100 is in a first configuration for use as a packaging box, Figure 3 The flexible package 100 used as a packaging box is shown opened to reveal the structure of its internal storage cavity. Figure 4 and Figure 5 Schematic diagrams of transverse and longitudinal cross-sections of the flexible package 100 in a first configuration for use as a packaging box are shown, respectively. Figure 6 and Figure 7 The airbag structure 110 is shown deflated and the flexible package 100 is in a fully deployed second configuration, Figure 8 The flexible package 100 is shown in the second configuration being flattened and folded together. When the flexible package 100 is flattened, the interior of the airbag structure 110 has no or substantially no or almost no expansion material (eg, air).

[0064] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first flexible material layer 10, the second flexible material layer 20 and the third flexible material layer 30 together constitute a one-piece structure. The first flexible material layer 10 and the second flexible material layer 20 are combined together by, for example, heat sealing to form the airbag structure 110; the second flexible material layer 20 and the third flexible material layer 30 are combined together by, for example, heat sealing, detachable connection or sewing. Here, the "detachable connection" described can be, for example, a hook loop connection. The design of the third flexible material layer 30 can provide additional protection for the airbag structure 110 (especially after inflation or expansion) composed of the first flexible material layer 10 and the second flexible material layer 20, so as to help protect the airbag structure 110 from rupture or damage during transportation.

[0065] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the materials for making the three-layer flexible material layer (i.e., the first / second / third flexible material layer 10 / 20 / 30) include but are not limited to TPU, PE, PVC, PP, PE+PA, EVA, PU, ​​rubber or other flexible materials. Preferably, the flexible material layer can be made of nylon / polyester fabric laminated with TPU, wherein the fabric provides sufficient tear and burst strength, and TPU provides air tightness and allows heat sealing. In addition, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first / second / third flexible material layer 10 / 20 / 30 can include one or more film materials or only be made of one or more film materials, without the need for additional rigid structural elements (such as wood, metal, solid foam or hard plastic or cardboard) to provide the desired shape and / or structure. Of course, the first / second / third flexible material layer 10 / 20 / 30 in the present disclosure can be composed of flexible materials or substantially composed of flexible materials, however, they can include some rigid structural elements, as long as these elements do not hinder the inflation / deflation and folding of these flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30.

[0066] If a film is used, the film may include, for example, polyethylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. These flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 may include and / or be coated with different materials. Examples of such coatings include, but are not limited to, polymer coatings, metallized coatings, ceramic coatings, and / or diamond coatings. These flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 may be plastic films, the thickness of which makes the layer compliant and easily deformed by the force applied by a person. The thickness of these flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 may be approximately equal, respectively. Alternatively, the thickness of these flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 may be different.

[0067] The multilayer film that can be used for these flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 in the present disclosure can include three or more layers, which can be the form of laminated material.The multilayer film can include an inner layer, a first outer layer and a second outer layer and one or more intermediate layers.In some embodiments, there can be 1 to about 20, about 2 to about 16, about 2 to about 12, about 2 to about 10, about 2 to about 8, about 2 to about 6 or about 2 to about 4 intermediate layers.Herein, the term "laminate" is not intended to require any particular type of engagement, but only represents that the flexible material layer for flexible packaging is stacked together by multilayer film in a face-to-face manner stacked on another.Certainly, other types of laminated structures can also be suitable for use.Non-limiting examples include laminated materials made of coextrusion or bonded laminated materials of multiple layers.The multilayer film that can be used for these flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 in the present disclosure can be produced by blown film or cast film process or various rear orientation processes including MDO or tentering. In some embodiments, these flexible material layers 10 / 20 / 30 useful in the present disclosure may be the same or different (eg, different in structure, thickness, chemical composition, additives, etc.).

[0068] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the airbag structure 110 includes one or more expansion chambers 111 defined by the first flexible material layer 10 and the second flexible material layer 20 , wherein each of the one or more expansion chambers 111 is fluidically connected to at least one other expansion chamber 111 .

[0069] According to the present disclosure, the airbag structure 110 is formed by providing at least two sheets of flexible material layers (i.e., a first flexible material layer 10 and a second flexible material layer 20), which are sealed along various longitudinal and / or transverse sealing lines to form one or more expansion chambers 111. The sealing lines can be formed by glue, heat (e.g., ultrasound, conductive sealing, impulse sealing, ultrasonic sealing or welding), mechanical crimping, sewing or by any other known technology for joining material sheets. The sealing lines can be straight or curved and can be permanent or temporary. The shape of the sealing lines can be used to form the shape of the expansion chamber. There are unsealed portions at selected locations along the sealing lines, which form channels between adjacent expansion chambers to provide fluid connection of the expansion material therebetween.

[0070] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the airbag structure 110 includes one or more expansion chambers 111. Specifically, the airbag structure 110 is configured such that when the flexible package 100 is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the number of expansion chambers 111 formed at the top, bottom, and wall of the packaging box can be the same or different, and the specific number can be set according to actual needs. Figures 1 to 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the airbag structure 110 is configured such that when the flexible package 100 is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the same number of expansion chambers 111 are formed at the top and bottom of the packaging box, but the number of expansion chambers 111 at different walls is different. For another example, in other embodiments not shown, a plurality of expansion chambers 111 are formed at the top and bottom of the packaging box, while no expansion chamber is formed at the wall of the packaging box.

[0071] The expansion chamber 111 may have a variety of shapes and sizes. A portion or approximately all, or approximately all, or substantially all, or almost all, or all of the expansion chamber 111 may be straight, curved, angled, segmented, or other shapes, or any combination of these shapes. A portion or approximately all, or approximately all, or substantially all, or almost all, or all of the expansion chamber 111 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as circular, elliptical, square, triangular, star-shaped, or other shapes, or any combination of these shapes. The expansion chamber 111 may have a tubular, convex, or concave overall shape along a portion, a portion, or approximately all, or approximately all, or substantially all, or almost all, or all of the length. The expansion chamber 111 may have any suitable cross-sectional area, any suitable total width, and any suitable total length. The expansion chamber 111 may be substantially uniform along a portion, multiple portions, or approximately all, or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of its length, or may be substantially uniform along a portion, multiple portions, or approximately all, or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of its length in any manner described herein. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the expansion chamber 111 may increase or decrease along a portion, multiple portions, or all of its length. For example, in a Figures 1 to 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the expansion chambers 111 are in the shape of elongated strips of substantially the same size, and a plurality of expansion chambers 111 are arranged side by side.

[0072] According to the present disclosure, the plurality of expansion chambers 111 in the airbag structure 110 are inflated and / or deflated together through the air valve 130, which eliminates the need to provide an inflation / deflation valve for each expansion chamber. Figures 1 to 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, a single air valve 130 is provided that can be approached by a user to inflate and / or deflate one or more expansion chambers 111 of the airbag structure 110. The air valve 130 is preferably a two-way valve that can be used to inflate and deflate the expansion chamber 111. The air valve 130 can be arranged at any position in the first flexible material layer 10 / the second flexible material layer 20. For example, the air valve 130 is arranged on the first flexible material layer 10, and when the flexible package 100 is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the air valve 130 is located inside the packaging box to allow the user to easily approach to inflate / deflate the airbag structure 110 and / or avoid damage due to excessive impact by non-users or external forces. Alternatively, the multiple expansion chambers 111 in the airbag structure 110 are also inflated and / or deflated respectively by multiple air valves 130. For example, at least two one-way valves (not shown) are arranged on the first flexible material layer 10, one for inflation and one for deflation. Preferably, the inflation valve is a pressure-driven self-inflating valve.

[0073] According to the present disclosure, the flexible package 100 includes an inflatable top portion 100A, an inflatable bottom portion 100B, and an inflatable middle portion 100C located between the inflatable top portion 100A and the inflatable bottom portion 100B. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figure, the airbag structure 100 passes through the inflatable top portion 100A, the inflatable bottom portion 100B, and the inflatable middle portion 100C. And, when the flexible package 100 is in a first configuration for use as a packaging box, the inflatable top portion 100A constitutes the lid of the packaging box, the inflatable bottom portion 100C constitutes the bottom of the packaging box, and the inflatable middle portion 100B constitutes the wall of the packaging box. Herein, the terms "top" and "bottom" are not intended to be limiting, but only to help distinguish the various parts of the package more clearly. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, these terms should not be considered to limit the direction of the package in any way. In such as Figures 1 to 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the plurality of inflation chambers 111 of the airbag structure 100 extend through all three inflatable top, bottom and middle portions 100A / 100B / 100C. However, in some other embodiments not shown in the present disclosure, the inflation chambers 111 extend through only one or two of the inflatable top portion 100A, the inflatable bottom portion 100B and the inflatable middle portion 100C, but not all of the portions.

[0074] When in the first configuration used as a packing box, the overall shape of the reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure can include at least one relatively flat portion or "plane". This portion or "plane" may be useful for applying a shipping label or printed content. Although not required, having a relatively flat portion may be useful for handling the reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure through a conventional transportation system. For example, when the package is conveyed at an angle, a round package is prone to tumbling, while a package comprising a relatively flat portion is unlikely to have this disadvantage. When in the first configuration used as a packing box, the overall shape of the reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure can be a roughly polyhedral shape, or it can be a substantially rectangular prism shape. These shapes can also provide better stacking, suitable for traditional transportation equipment and handling.

[0075] According to the present disclosure, a structural reinforcement member 120 is provided between the second flexible material layer 20 and the third flexible material layer 30 of the flexible package 100. Figures 1 to 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the structural reinforcement member 120 is disposed in the inflatable middle portion 100B serving as the wall of the packaging box. According to the present disclosure, the structural reinforcement member 120 may be a plate-like member made of paper, plastic or metal.

[0076] In addition, a structural reinforcement member 120 is provided in the inflatable middle part 100B of the flexible package 100 used as the box wall of the packaging box. By providing the structural reinforcement member 120 in the inflatable middle part 100B used as the box wall of the packaging box, the compressive strength of the packaging box exceeds 150kgf, thereby ensuring that the packaging box can withstand a large load without significant deformation. For example, after laboratory testing, the compressive strength of the packaging box can reach 262kgf. Compared with traditional inflatable packaging, the flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure, the design of arranging the structural reinforcement member 120 in the inflatable middle part 100B improves the load performance of the flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure, thereby ensuring that the packaging box can withstand a large load without significant deformation. At the same time, the design of the structural reinforcement member 120 can provide additional protection and pressure resistance for the packaging box and the articles placed inside the packaging box. In addition, the design of the structural reinforcement member 120 can also minimize the risk of puncture of the airbag structure (especially after inflation or expansion) during transportation to help protect the airbag structure 110 from rupture or damage during transportation.

[0077] According to the present disclosure, the flexible package 100 may further include a conversion feature 140 for performing a conversion of the flexible package 100 between a first configuration and a second configuration. Specifically, when the conversion feature 140 is in a closed position, the flexible package 100 is converted to the first configuration to allow the flexible package 100 to be constructed as a packaging box for placing items; when the conversion feature 140 is in an open position, the flexible package 100 is converted to the second configuration to allow the flexible package 100 to be flattened and folded together. Figures 1 to 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the conversion feature 140 is preferably a zipper (eg, Figures 1 to 3 As shown), when the zipper is initially unzipped, the packaging box can be opened to place items into the internal storage cavity or to remove items from the internal storage cavity. When the zipper is further unzipped, the packaging box is disassembled and unfolded to convert the flexible package 100 from the first configuration used as a packaging box to the second configuration that is spread out, so that the flexible package 100 is flattened and folded to achieve the purpose of recycling. Conversely, when the zipper is closed, the flexible package 100 can be converted from the second configuration that is spread out to the first configuration as a packaging box. In other embodiments, the conversion feature 140 can be any structure with an openable / closable device, which is selected from the group consisting of slits, holes, holes, flaps, folding closure devices and any combination thereof, and the openable / closable device can be, for example, an adhesive, a button, a hook, a ring, a clip, a fastener, a tape, a Velcro tape, a magnet and a magnetic strip, a sewing thread, a belt, etc. Furthermore, the flexible package 100 may further include an anti-theft feature (not shown) for semi-permanently locking the conversion feature in the closed position when the conversion feature is in the closed position. The anti-theft feature may be, for example, a lock in various forms.

[0078] According to the present disclosure, Figures 3 to 7 As shown, the flexible package 100 may further include a support member 160 disposed on the surface of the first flexible material layer 10. The support member 160 is configured such that when the flexible package 100 is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the support member 160 is positioned at a corner of a box wall of the packaging box or is positioned adjacent to a corner of a box wall of the packaging box, such as Figure 3 As shown. Specifically, these support members 160 are joined to the surface of the first flexible material layer 10. The term "joining" here refers to a direct connection or an indirect connection between elements. For example, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the support members 160 are placed in a protective bag made of cloth and are indirectly connected to the surface of the first flexible material layer 10 by, for example, sewing the protective bag. In other embodiments not shown, the support members 160 may also be directly connected to the surface of the first flexible material layer 10. The support members 160 may be made of, for example, foam plastics, rubber or other suitable materials with a certain supporting strength. The design of the support members 160 can not only improve the load performance of the entire packaging box, but also prevent the weak links in the structural strength at the corners of the packaging box from being impacted externally.

[0079] According to the present disclosure, Figures 3 to 7 As shown, the flexible package 100 may further include an elastic bandage 170 disposed on the surface of the first flexible material layer 10. The elastic bandage 170 is configured such that when the flexible package 100 is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the elastic bandage 170 is positioned at the surface of the box wall of the packaging box and / or the surface of the box bottom of the packaging box, specifically Figure 3 As shown. The elastic bandage 170 is designed to fix the articles and separate multiple articles to prevent the articles from being moved undesirably and from colliding with each other. Of course, in other embodiments not shown, the elastic bandage 170 can also be positioned at other positions of the packaging box as long as the articles can be fixed and separated.

[0080] According to the present disclosure, Figure 2 As shown, the flexible package 100 may further include a waybill / label attachment area 180 disposed on the surface of the third flexible material layer 30. The waybill / label attachment area 180 may be composed of a matte portion and a smooth portion. The matte portion is designed to facilitate peeling of the waybill / label, and the smooth portion is designed to have good adhesion to the waybill / label during transportation. In other embodiments, the waybill attachment area 180 may also be an electronic waybill / label display area.

[0081] According to the present disclosure, Figures 1 to 3As shown, the flexible package 100 may further include a handle 190 disposed on the surface of the third flexible material layer 30. Preferably, the handle 190 may be designed to be flexible. The handle may provide additional convenience for the user of the flexible package 100. For example, the handle may serve as a part of the flexible package 100 for the user to hold, or may serve as a hanger or other handling feature to help the user pick up, carry, move, orient, hang, position, or otherwise handle the flexible package 100.

[0082] One advantage of the reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure is the ability of the airbag structure 110 of the flexible package 100 to repeatedly change size and shape between its unexpanded or deflated state and its expanded or inflated state. Advantageously, such a flexible package can be manufactured, transported, and stored in an unexpanded / deflated state and then expanded / inflated only when needed. This significantly improves the efficiency of handling and storing the flexible package before and after use.

[0083] Another advantage of the reusable flexible packaging provided by the present invention is that the design of the structural reinforcement component enables the flexible packaging to have a greater load-bearing capacity and is not prone to significant deformation during use and transportation, providing additional protection and pressure resistance for the packaging box and the items placed inside the packaging box, while also minimizing the risk of puncture of the airbag structure (especially after inflation or expansion) during transportation.

[0084] The reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure also includes but is not limited to the following advantages: the reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure can be configured to have any desired mechanical, chemical, environmental (such as temperature, humidity, light, sound, dust, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, etc.) and other desired performance characteristics. For example, the reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure may include materials that resist moisture, water, light, certain chemicals and / or gas penetration. The reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure may be configured to meet or exceed many of the most common parcel transportation requirements when not requiring a variety of different packaging materials or being difficult to build and / or store packaging, for example, the parcel transportation requirements set by industry standards such as ISTA performance tests. The reusable flexible package provided by the present disclosure may be configured to withstand the harsh test of transporting through the area where ambient air pressure changes, such as transporting over mountains or transporting by air freight. The change of ambient pressure can include the increase and reduction of atmospheric pressure and the change of surrounding air pressure, such as the change of surrounding air pressure in the pressurized cargo hold. In terms of mechanical protection, the reusable flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure is designed and constructed to have properties that help protect any items transported therein from damage due to mechanical forces (e.g., falling, stacking, puncturing, squeezing, tearing). As with other properties, the reusable flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure can be improved by selecting suitable materials for different parts of the packaging, appropriately designing the shape of the packaging, appropriately inflating one or more expansion chambers of the airbag structure, etc. The reusable flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure is particularly good at preventing the items transported therein from falling, and thus can effectively prevent breakage and other damage to the items.

[0085] How to use

[0086] The reusable flexible packaging provided by the present disclosure can be easily used and reused multiple times by individual consumers to protect fragile or delicate items during travel, or by e-commerce providers to ship various consumer goods / merchants.

[0087] For example, a user (e.g., an individual consumer and / or an e-commerce vendor) may use the reusable flexible packaging of the present invention in the following manner: i) providing the flexible packaging in a second configuration, wherein the airbag structure of the flexible packaging is deflated and the flexible packaging is capable of being flattened and folded together; ii) unfolding the flexible packaging and inflating the airbag structure of the flexible packaging; iii) utilizing a conversion feature to convert the flexible packaging from the second configuration to a first configuration, wherein the airbag structure is inflated and the flexible packaging is constructed as a packaging box for placing items; and iv) placing one or more items in the storage cavity of the flexible packaging used as a packaging box. Further, the user (e.g., e-commerce supplier) can use the reusable flexible package of the present invention in the following preferred manner: v) the flexible package and the one or more articles are carried from the first location to the second location by one or more transports selected from vehicles, trains, ships, airplanes, and any other transports; vi) the one or more articles are removed from the storage cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box at the second location; and vii) the air bag structure of the flexible package is deflated at the second location and the deflated flexible package is then flattened and folded together. According to the present disclosure, the reusable flexible package can be flattened and folded into a significantly smaller size, such as 50% or less (preferably 40% or less, more preferably 30% or less, still more preferably 20% or less, most preferably 10% or less of the original size), so as to be preserved before the next use. Unless otherwise specified herein, any measurement of the flexible package 100 provided by the present disclosure in a deflated state should be performed without any article in the flexible package.

[0088] For another example, a user (such as an e-commerce supplier) can also use the reusable flexible packaging of the present invention in the following ways: i) placing one or more items in the storage cavity of the flexible packaging used as a packaging box, wherein the airbag structure of the flexible packaging is inflated; ii) delivering the flexible packaging and the one or more items to the user; iii) collecting the flexible packaging from the user after the user takes out the one or more items from the storage cavity of the flexible packaging used as a packaging box, or after the user takes out the one or more items from the storage cavity of the flexible packaging used as a packaging box and deflates the airbag structure and flattens and folds the flexible packaging; and iv) reusing the flexible packaging in the next shipment.

[0089] The dimensions and values ​​described herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​cited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each dimension is intended to represent the recited value and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

[0090] Although some embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A reusable flexible package (100), comprising: A first flexible material layer (10), a second flexible material layer (20), and a third flexible material layer (30) arranged in a stacked manner; wherein the first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer together define an inflatable and / or deflated airbag structure (110) therebetween; Wherein, a structural reinforcement member (120) is provided between the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer; The flexible package is configured to be convertible between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the airbag structure is inflated and the flexible package is constructed as a packaging box for placing items, and the airbag structure is deflated and the flexible package can be flattened and folded together.

2. The flexible package according to claim 1, wherein: The first flexible material layer, the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer together form a one-piece structure; The first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer are combined together by heat sealing to form the airbag structure; the second flexible material layer and the third flexible material layer are combined together by heat sealing, detachable connection or sewing.

3. The flexible package according to claim 1, wherein: The airbag structure comprises one or more expansion chambers (111) defined by the first flexible material layer and the second flexible material layer, wherein each of the one or more expansion chambers is fluidly connected to at least one other expansion chamber.

4. The flexible package according to claim 3, wherein: The one or more expansion chambers are formed by providing a sealing line between the first layer of flexible material and the second layer of flexible material.

5. The flexible package according to claim 4, wherein: A sealing line is provided along the longitudinal direction and / or the transverse direction of the flexible package to form the one or more expansion chambers.

6. The flexible package according to claim 4, wherein: The airbag structure is constructed such that when the flexible package is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, a plurality of expansion chambers are formed on the top and bottom of the packaging box, and a plurality of expansion chambers are formed on the wall of the packaging box or no expansion chambers are formed.

7. The flexible package according to claim 3, wherein: The first flexible material layer is provided with an air valve (130) which is fluidically connected to the one or more expansion chambers of the airbag structure; wherein the air valve is accessible by a user to inflate and / or deflate the one or more expansion chambers of the airbag structure; wherein, when the flexible package is in the first configuration for use as a packaging box, the air valve is located inside the packaging box.

8. The flexible package according to claim 1, further comprising: a transition feature (140) for performing a transition of the flexible package between the first configuration and the second configuration; Wherein, when the conversion feature is in a closed position, the flexible package is converted to the first configuration to allow the flexible package to be constructed into a packaging box for placing items; when the conversion feature is in an open position, the flexible package is converted to the second configuration to allow the flexible package to be flattened and folded together.

9. The flexible package according to claim 8, further comprising: A theft deterrent feature is provided for semi-permanently locking the switching feature in the closed position when the switching feature is in the closed position.

10. The flexible package according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein: The flexible packaging includes an inflatable top portion (100A), an inflatable bottom portion (100B), and an inflatable middle portion (100C) located between the inflatable top portion and the inflatable bottom portion, wherein the airbag structure penetrates the inflatable top portion, the inflatable bottom portion, and the inflatable middle portion.

11. The flexible package according to claim 10, wherein: When the flexible package is in the first configuration for use as a packaging box, the inflatable top portion constitutes the lid of the packaging box, the inflatable bottom portion constitutes the bottom of the packaging box, and the inflatable middle portion constitutes the wall of the packaging box; wherein the structural reinforcement member is arranged in the inflatable middle portion used as the wall of the packaging box.

12. The flexible package according to claim 11, wherein: The structural reinforcement member is a plate-like member made of paper, plastic or metal; By providing the structural reinforcement member in the inflatable middle portion serving as a wall of the packaging box, the compressive strength of the packaging box exceeds 150 kgf.

13. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: When the flexible package is in the first configuration for use as a packaging box, the first flexible material layer forms an inner layer of the packaging box, the third flexible material layer forms an outer layer of the packaging box, and the second flexible material layer forms an intermediate layer located between the inner and outer layers of the packaging box.

14. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a supporting member (160) disposed on a surface of the first flexible material layer; Wherein, when the flexible package is in the first configuration for use as a packaging box, the support member is positioned at a corner of a box wall of the packaging box or is positioned adjacent to a corner of a box wall of the packaging box.

15. The flexible package according to claim 14, wherein: The supporting member is made of foam plastic or rubber.

16. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: an elastic bandage (170) disposed on the surface of the first flexible material layer; Wherein, when the flexible package is in the first configuration used as a packaging box, the elastic bandage is positioned at the surface of the box wall of the packaging box and / or at the surface of the box bottom of the packaging box.

17. A method of using a reusable flexible packaging according to any one of the preceding claims by a user, comprising the steps of: i) providing the flexible package in a second configuration in which the airbag structure of the flexible package is deflated and the flexible package is capable of being flattened and folded together; ii) unfolding the flexible package and inflating an airbag structure of the flexible package; iii) utilizing a conversion feature to convert the flexible package from the second configuration to a first configuration in which the airbag structure is inflated and the flexible package is configured as a packaging box for placing an item; and iv) placing one or more articles in the receiving cavity of the flexible package serving as a packaging box.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of: v) transporting the flexible package and the one or more articles from the first location to a second location by one or more transport means selected from a vehicle, a train, a ship, an airplane and any other transport means; vi) removing the one or more items from the receiving cavity of the flexible package serving as a packaging box at the second position; and vii) deflating the airbag structure of the flexible package at the second location and then flattening and folding the deflated flexible package together.

19. A method for recycling and reusing a reusable flexible packaging according to any one of the preceding claims in e-commerce, comprising the steps of: i) placing one or more articles in a receiving cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box, wherein the airbag structure of the flexible package is inflated; ii) delivering the flexible package and the one or more items to a user; iii) collecting the flexible package from the user after the user removes the one or more items from the storage cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box, or after the user removes the one or more items from the storage cavity of the flexible package used as a packaging box and deflates the airbag structure and flattens and folds the flexible package; and iv) reusing the flexible packaging in the next shipment.

Images