Hardened Reusable Shipper for Dewar Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shipping containers for temperature-sensitive payloads in health, medical, pharmaceutical, and life science industries face issues with delivery delays, damage from rough handling, and improper handling, which can lead to expired, spoiled, or damaged payloads due to inadequate ruggedness and lack of easy display of shipping information.

Innovation Solution

A hardened reusable shipper designed with features such as registration bosses to prevent improper stacking, a foam stabilization block system for secure dewar retention, and a strengthening face to isolate the dewar from direct vibratory conduction, along with a document compartment and electronic label module for easy handling information display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the shipper uses a simple stacking design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of proper stacking and handling is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking mechanism complexityVSAvoidproper stacking reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The registration boss features an asymmetric geometry with a primary ramp portion, a bend portion, and a secondary ramp portion at different angles and heights. This asymmetric design ensures that shippers can only be stacked in the correct orientation, with the boss fitting into the corresponding recess in a single proper configuration, thereby ensuring stacking reliability without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The registration boss and recess act as intermediary features that mediate the stacking interaction between shippers. The boss with its specific ramp and bend geometry serves as a mechanical guide that ensures proper alignment and orientation during stacking, preventing improper handling while maintaining design simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the shipper is designed to be rugged and secure, then the payload protection is improved, but the ease of operation for handling is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipper ruggednessVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shipper is segmented into distinct functional components: a hardened base for structural strength and vibration isolation, a separate lid for secure closure, foam stabilization blocks for dewar positioning, and registration features for proper stacking. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base includes a strengthening face with features designed to isolate the dewar from direct vibratory conduction before vibrations can reach the payload. This beforehand cushioning approach protects the payload from vibration damage while maintaining the shipper's ruggedness and ease of handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the shipper includes comprehensive stabilization features, then the payload security is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayload securityVSAvoidstabilization system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foam stabilization blocks are strategically positioned at specific locations within the base to provide localized support and stabilization for the dewar. This local quality approach ensures payload security through targeted stabilization features rather than a complex system遍布 the entire structure, thereby maintaining design simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If the shipper uses basic stacking features, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing improper handling is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking feature complexityVSAvoidimproper handling damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The registration boss with its specific ramp and bend geometry performs preliminary anti-action by preventing improper stacking attempts before damage can occur. The asymmetric design ensures that only proper orientation allows the boss to fit into the recess, automatically discouraging and preventing improper handling while maintaining feature simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS20250304320A1Hardened reusable shipper

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 CRYOPORT INC

AI summary

Hardened reusable shipping containers (e.g., shippers) are disclosed herein. A shipper may have a base enclosure that is configured to receive a payload and maintain a temperature of an environment surrounding the payload. The shipper may have various features such as bosses, compartments, and surface features to facilitate protection of a dewar inside the base enclosure, and retention of a payload during shipment. The shipper may have various features to facilitate ready stacking of shippers and suitability for use in air cargo operations.