How to Build a Shock-Absorbing Shipping Box
A design for a shipping box that uses special tabs and accordion-style folds to keep an inner product compartment suspended away from the outer box walls, protecting fragile items from impacts.
Original patent title: “Shipping container systems”
A design for a shipping box that uses special tabs and accordion-style folds to keep an inner product compartment suspended away from the outer box walls, protecting fragile items from impacts. Granted to Individual in 2024 with 8 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system creates a protective buffer zone around a product by nesting an inner compartment inside an outer shipping container. The inner compartment features a series of physical tabs—retention, support, and space tabs—that act as spacers to ensure the inner box never touches the outer box's walls, base, or lid. Additionally, the lid of the inner compartment includes accordion-folded suspension units that provide flexible cushioning at the ends of the container. This arrangement ensures that if the outer box is dropped or bumped, the shock is absorbed by the air gaps and the structural tabs rather than being transferred directly to the product inside.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover standard shipping containers that lack the specific internal suspension tabs and accordion-fold mechanisms.
- Does not cover packing methods that rely on loose-fill materials like foam peanuts or bubble wrap.
- Does not cover electronic or active shock-absorption systems that use sensors or motorized dampeners.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The patent uses the container's own structural components—specifically the accordion-fold suspension units—to create a spring-like effect that maintains a precise 'cushion gap' without needing extra padding materials.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Custom-fit cardboard packaging for high-end electronics
Protective shipping inserts for fragile glassware
Sustainable e-commerce shipping boxes
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Shipping damage is a massive cost for e-commerce and logistics companies. By using structural geometry instead of disposable plastic fillers, this design offers a sustainable and potentially more reliable way to protect high-value items during transit.
Filed
September 8, 2023
Granted
May 28, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
This technology is relevant to major packaging manufacturers like WestRock or International Paper, as well as e-commerce giants looking to reduce waste by moving away from plastic-based protective fillers.
Market impact
This patent represents a shift toward 'engineered' packaging solutions that prioritize structural design over consumable materials. It enables companies to reduce their environmental footprint while potentially lowering damage rates for fragile goods during the last-mile delivery process.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system creates a protective buffer zone around a product by nesting an inner compartment inside an outer shipping container. The inner compartment features a series of physical tabs—retention, support, and space tabs—that act as spacers to ensure the inner box never touches the outer box's walls, base, or lid. Additionally, the lid of the inner compartment includes accordion-folded suspension units that provide flexible cushioning at the ends of the container. This arrangement ensures that if the outer box is dropped or bumped, the shock is absorbed by the air gaps and the structural tabs rather than being transferred directly to the product inside.
The clever bit
The patent uses the container's own structural components—specifically the accordion-fold suspension units—to create a spring-like effect that maintains a precise 'cushion gap' without needing extra padding materials.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover standard shipping containers that lack the specific internal suspension tabs and accordion-fold mechanisms.
- Does not cover packing methods that rely on loose-fill materials like foam peanuts or bubble wrap.
- Does not cover electronic or active shock-absorption systems that use sensors or motorized dampeners.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
5/20
Moderate scope
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$16K – $52K
Midpoint $32K · 17.2 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
8 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Comerford, B. M. (2024). How to Build a Shock-Absorbing Shipping Box (U.S. Patent No. 11,993,444). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11993444/starship-mars-base-alpha
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Build a Shock-Absorbing Shipping Box cover?
A design for a shipping box that uses special tabs and accordion-style folds to keep an inner product compartment suspended away from the outer box walls, protecting fragile items from impacts.
Who owns patent US 11993444?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 28, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Shipping damage is a massive cost for e-commerce and logistics companies. By using structural geometry instead of disposable plastic fillers, this design offers a sustainable and potentially more reliable way to protect high-value items during transit.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover standard shipping containers that lack the specific internal suspension tabs and accordion-fold mechanisms.
Same assignee
More from Individual
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