Reusable Inflatable Dunnage for Shipping Container Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dunnage materials like foam peanuts and cardboard structures are impractical for large shipping containers due to volume requirements and disposal issues, and they often become damaged and difficult to reuse.
Innovation Solution
A dunnage product system featuring a bracket, shaft, and flexible members, such as nylon rope or straps, that can be securely attached to a shipping container, allowing for adjustable positioning to separate products and prevent damage during transit, while being reusable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If foam peanuts are used as dunnage in large boxes or crates, then protection against movement and damage is provided, but large volumes of material are required and disposal or storage becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from bulk foam peanuts and concentrates it into a compact inflatable structure. The inflatable dunnage device contains air-filled chambers that provide protection without requiring large volumes of material, solving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and material volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the dunnage material from compressed foam peanuts to inflated air chambers. By changing the volume parameter through inflation, the device provides adequate protection while minimizing the quantity of material required in its stored state.
2Quantity of substance
If cardboard structures are used as dunnage in large containers, then space requirements are reduced, but the structures become weakened or damaged when repeatedly folded and unfolded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the dunnage from folded cardboard structures to an inflatable form. The device can be collapsed to a compact size for storage and transport, then inflated to provide protection. This parameter change (collapsed vs. inflated state) allows repeated use without the degradation that occurs with folding and unfolding cardboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic functionality to the dunnage device through inflation and deflation mechanisms. Unlike static cardboard structures that degrade with repeated folding, the inflatable device can be dynamically adjusted between compact and protective states, maintaining reliability through repeated cycles of use.
3Reliability
If loose dunnage materials are used in large shipping containers, then protection is provided, but the receiving party must dispose of or store the materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from disposable loose materials and concentrates it into a reusable inflatable device. The device can be deflated and packed into a compact form that fits within the shipping container, eliminating the need for separate disposal or storage of large volumes of dunnage material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recoverable dunnage system where the protective device is retained and reused rather than discarded. After protecting cargo during shipping, the inflatable dunnage can be deflated, compacted, and reused for subsequent shipments, eliminating disposal requirements and reducing long-term costs.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for packing products includes a dunnage product. The dunnage product includes a bracket engageable with a shipping container, a shaft connected to the bracket, and a number of elongated flexible members movable along the shaft. The elongated flexible members can be placed between the manufactured products during the packing process. The dunnage product is preferably reusable.