Shipping mailer

Abstract

A shipping mailer includes a main body having a first wall and a second wall that are folded together and sealed along sealed side edge portions of the main body. The shipping mailer has a closed first end portion and a second end portion having an opening sealable by a closure. The main body is made of a single-face corrugated material including a liner layer and a fluted layer. The main body includes a center fold line at the closed first end portion from which the first and second walls extend. The fluted layer includes a plurality of flutes extending parallel to the center fold line, and flutes of the first wall nest with flutes of the second wall. The fluted layer includes a plurality of preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes, and the preformed longitudinal fold lines are offset inwardly from the sealed side edge portions.

1 . A shipping mailer, comprising:
 a main body comprising a first wall and a second wall that are folded together and sealed along sealed side edge portions of the main body, the first and second walls at least partially defining an interior of the shipping mailer, the shipping mailer comprising a closed first end portion and a second end portion comprising an opening sealable by a closure;   the main body comprising a single-face corrugated material comprising a liner layer and a fluted layer;   the main body comprising a center fold line at the closed first end portion from which the first and second walls extend;   the fluted layer comprising a plurality of flutes extending in the direction of the center fold line, wherein flutes of the first wall nest with flutes of the second wall; and   wherein the fluted layer comprises a plurality of preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes of the fluted layer, and the preformed longitudinal fold lines are offset inwardly from the sealed side edge portions.   
     
     
         2 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the flutes are crushed in the sealed side edge portions. 
     
     
         3 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed longitudinal fold lines extend from the center fold line at the closed first end portion along the first wall and the second wall to the second end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed longitudinal fold lines are straight. 
     
     
         5 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shipping mailer defines a longitudinal axis extending from the closed first end portion to the second end portion that is perpendicular to the flutes; and   the first wall comprises at least two preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and a left sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer, and at least two preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and a right sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer.   
     
     
         6 . The shipping mailer of  claim 5 , wherein the second wall comprises at least two preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and the left sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer, and at least two preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and the right sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer. 
     
     
         7 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed longitudinal fold lines are curved. 
     
     
         8 . The shipping mailer of  claim 7 , wherein the curved preformed longitudinal fold lines have a concavity oriented toward a nearest sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer. 
     
     
         9 . The shipping mailer of  claim 7 , wherein the curved preformed longitudinal fold lines extend between the closed first end portion and the second end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The shipping mailer of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the shipping mailer defines a longitudinal axis extending from the closed first end portion to the second end portion that is perpendicular to the flutes; and   the first wall comprises a first curved preformed longitudinal fold line formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and a left sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer, and a second curved preformed longitudinal fold line formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and a right sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer.   
     
     
         11 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls each comprise at least one zone in which the flutes are crushed. 
     
     
         12 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall comprise curved preformed fold lines that originate from and return to the center fold line at locations spaced inwardly away from side edges of the shipping mailer. 
     
     
         13 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the liner layer of the single-face corrugated material extends beyond outer side edges of the fluted layer. 
     
     
         14 . The shipping mailer of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall comprises a closure flap sized and shaped to be folded over and secured to an exterior of the first wall to close the opening at the second end portion of the shipping mailer. 
     
     
         15 . The shipping mailer of  claim 14 , wherein the closure flap comprises flutes, and the preformed longitudinal fold lines in the flutes extend onto the closure flap. 
     
     
         16 . A shipping mailer, comprising:
 a main body comprising a first wall and a second wall that are folded together and sealed along sealed side edge portions of the main body, the first and second walls at least partially defining an interior of the shipping mailer, the shipping mailer comprising a closed first end portion and a second end portion comprising an opening sealable by a closure;   the main body comprising a single-face corrugated material comprising a liner layer and a fluted layer;   the main body comprising a center fold line at the closed first end portion from which the first and second walls extend;   the fluted layer comprising a plurality of flutes extending in the direction of the center fold line, wherein flutes of the first wall nest with flutes of the second wall; and   wherein the fluted layer comprises a plurality of curved preformed longitudinal fold lines formed in the flutes of the fluted layer, and the curved preformed longitudinal fold lines are offset inwardly from the sealed side edge portions, and each curved preformed longitudinal fold line has a concavity oriented outwardly toward a nearest sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer.   
     
     
         17 . The shipping mailer of  claim 16 , wherein the curved preformed longitudinal fold lines extend between the closed first end portion and the second end portion. 
     
     
         18 . The shipping mailer of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the shipping mailer defines a longitudinal axis extending from the closed first end portion to the second end portion that is perpendicular to the flutes; and   the first wall comprises a first curved preformed longitudinal fold line formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and a left sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer, and a second curved preformed longitudinal fold line formed in the flutes between the longitudinal axis and a right sealed side edge portion of the shipping mailer.   
     
     
         19 . The shipping mailer of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second walls each comprise at least one zone in which the flutes are crushed. 
     
     
         20 . The shipping mailer of  claim 16 , wherein the flutes are crushed in the sealed side edge portions.