Aerodynamic Tote Package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017106978-A1
Application number	US-201615295494-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2016
Priority date	Oct 17, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An example tote package is disclosed for carrying a load external to a UAV. The tote package may be generated by folding a sheet of material. The sheet may include a middle section, a first side section, and a second side section. When the sheet is folded, the middle section may create a bottom portion of the tote package. Additionally, the first side section may create a first side portion tapering up from the edge of the bottom portion to the middle of the top portion of the tote package. Furthermore, the second side section may create a second side portion tapering up from the opposite edge to the middle of the top portion. At the top portion, the first and second sections may connect to create a handle. The first side, second side, and middle sections may be folded to create front and back portions of the tote package.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A device comprising:
a sheet of material configured to fold into a tote package that attaches to an aerial vehicle and carries a load within the tote package external to the vehicle, the sheet of material comprising: a middle section that creates a bottom portion of the tote package when the sheet of material is folded to create the tote package; a first side section that is folded at a first folding line connecting the first side section and middle section, wherein folding the first side section creates a first side portion of the tote package that tapers up from the first folding line to a top portion of the tote package; and a second side section that is folded at a second folding line opposite to the first folding line that connects the second side section and middle section, wherein folding the second side section creates a second side portion of the tote package that tapers up from the second folding line to connect to the first side portion at the top portion and create a handle at the top portion of the tote package, wherein the middle section, the first side section, and the second side section are folded to intersect to create a pointed front portion of the tote package and to create a back portion of the tote package.

2 . The device of claim 1 ,
wherein the tote package is secured to an adapter positioned within an aerial vehicle such that the tote package is suspended beneath a fuselage of the aerial vehicle.

3 . A method for forming a tote comprising:
providing a sheet of material having a first fold line positioned between a first side section and a bottom section and having a second fold line positioned between a second side section and the bottom section; folding the first side section upwardly at the first fold line such that first side section tapers upwardly and inwardly from the first fold line to a top portion the tote package; folding the second side section at the second fold line such that the second side section tapers upwardly and inwardly from the second fold line to the top portion of the tote package; connecting a front of the first side section to a front of the second side section; connecting a rear of the first side section to a rear of the second side section, and connecting the first side section and the second side section at the top portion of the tote package to create a handle of the tote package.

4 . The method of claim 3 further including the step of connecting a front of the bottom section to the front of the first side section and the second side section.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the front of the first side section, the front of the second side section, and the front of the bottom section form a point at a front of the tote package.

6 . A tote package comprising:
a bottom section; a first side section extending upwardly and inwardly from a first side of the bottom section; a second side section extending upwardly and inwardly from a second side of the bottom section; wherein a top portion of the first side section and a top portion of the second side section are attached to form a top of the tote package.

7 . The tote package of claim 6 , wherein a front of the first side section and front of the second side section are attached to form a front of the tote package.

8 . The tote package of claim 7 , wherein a front of the bottom section is attached to the front of the first side section and attached to the front of the section side section to form the front of the tote package.

9 . The tote package of claim 7 , wherein the front of the bottom section, the front of the first side section, and front of the second side section intersect to form a point on the front of the tote package.

10 . The tote package of claim 9 , wherein the bottom section has a hexagonal shape.

11 . The tote package of claim 10 , wherein the first side section has a hexagonal shape and the second side section has a hexagonal shape.

12 . The tote package of claim 6 , wherein a handle having an opening is formed where the top portion of the first side section is attached to the top portion of the second side section.

13 . The tote package of claim 12 , wherein one or more apertures are positioned adjacent the opening of the handle that serve as a vehicle connector where the one or more apertures are configured to be retained by a tote package adapter positioned within an aerial vehicle.

14 . The tote package of claim 13 , wherein the opening of the handle is positioned below the one or more apertures serving as the vehicle connector.

15 . The tote package of claim 12 , wherein a first flap extends from the top portion of the first side section and is configured to close the opening of the handle when the tote package is secured to an aerial vehicle during flight of the aerial vehicle.

16 . The tote package of claim 15 , wherein a second flap extends from the top portion of the second side section and is configured to further close the opening of the handle when the tote package is secured to the aerial vehicle during flight of the aerial vehicle.

17 . The tote package of claim 6 , wherein a first vertical stabilizer extends upwardly from the rear of the first side section.

18 . The tote package of claim 17 , wherein a second vertical stabilizer extends upwardly from the rear of the section side section, and the second vertical stabilizer is secured to the first vertical stabilizer.

19 . The tote package of claim 6 , wherein the first side section, the second side section, and the bottom section are formed from a single sheet of material.

20 . The tote package of claim 19 , wherein the handle is formed from the same sheet of material as the first side section, the second side section, and the bottom section.

Assignees

• X Dev Llc

Inventors

• Sopper Clark
• Day Matthew
• Woodworth Adam
• Cohen Joanna

Classifications

• B65D5/4608

  Handgrip holes · CPC title

• B65D81/00

  Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents · CPC title

• B65D5/18

  by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the container and opposite sides of the body portion, the remaining sides being formed primarily by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides, e.g. flaps hinged thereto (specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections B65D5/36) · CPC title

• B65D5/241

  and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body (B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title