Inflatable Dunnage Containers with Automatic Deflation for Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery containers with inflatable dunnage face challenges such as bulkiness, difficulty in reuse due to bulk, cumbersome handling, and environmental impact, along with obstacles in collapsing and tidily folding the dunnage, which hinders efficient storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container with internal inflatable cushioning that folds tidily, features a locking mechanism to automatically deflate dunnage upon opening, and includes a rewritable electronic display to eliminate the need for physical labels, allowing for reusable and sustainable use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inflatable dunnage is used to protect container contents, then shock absorption and protection are improved, but the container becomes bulky and difficult to store and transport when empty
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs inflatable dunnage that can dynamically change volume between inflated and deflated states. When inflated, the dunnage provides shock absorption and protection for contents. When deflated, the container volume is minimized for efficient storage and transport. This dynamic volume adjustment resolves the contradiction between protection capability and storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses pneumatic inflatable dunnage elements that can be inflated with air or gas to provide cushioning and protection. The pneumatic system allows the dunnage to expand to protective volumes during transport and then deflate to minimal volumes for storage, resolving the volume contradiction while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional adhesive tape and labels are used to seal and identify containers, then sealing and information display are improved, but reuse becomes difficult due to removal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The container replaces mechanical adhesive sealing systems with a locking mechanism that uses mechanical interlocking or latching. This allows the container to be securely sealed during transport and then easily opened and reused without damage to the container or difficulty in removal, resolving the contradiction between reliable sealing and ease of reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be reusable and non-damaging, allowing the container to be opened, used, and closed again without compromising the sealing integrity. The mechanism can be repeatedly engaged and disengaged, enabling easy reuse while maintaining reliable sealing, unlike adhesive tape which degrades with repeated use.
3Loss of information
If physical labels are applied to container exteriors for transport information, then information display is improved, but environmental footprint increases and labels must be removed or obscured before reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The container replaces physical labels with an electronic display system that can show transport information, addresses, and routing data. This eliminates the need for paper or plastic labels that must be discarded or removed, reducing environmental footprint while maintaining full information display capability and enabling easy reuse without label removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic display can dynamically change the information it displays based on the container's journey stage, showing different addresses and routing information at different times. This replaces static physical labels with a reconfigurable digital system that reduces waste and enables reuse without information removal.
4Reliability
If inflatable dunnage is used, then protection is improved, but the dunnage embraces content closely making removal difficult without deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The container includes an exhaust port that allows the inflatable dunnage to be deflated before content removal is attempted. This preliminary deflation action releases the embrace on the content, making removal easy. The system provides a convenient mechanism to deflate the dunnage prior to opening the container, resolving the contradiction between protective embrace and easy content access.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust port serves as an intermediary mechanism between the inflated protective state and the content removal state. By providing a controlled deflation pathway, it mediates the transition from protective embrace to easy access, allowing content to be removed without struggle while maintaining protection during transport.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container minimizes volume when empty, facilitates safe and easy handling, reduces environmental footprint by being reusable, and ensures efficient storage and transportation, while providing effective shock absorption and protection for contents.
Implementation Method 1
inflatable dunnage disposed in the internal volume and configured to be inflated by injection of gas or liquid
Implementation Method 2
moving the locking member from its lock position to its unlock position causes the exhaust port shutoff arrangement to change from its closed state to its open state, whereby pressure in the inflatable dunnage is automatically released through the exhaust port
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a container (200) comprising a container body (202) which forms an internal cavity for receiving content. The container (200) has an opening (236) through which the content is able to be inserted to and removed from the internal volume. A closure (204), which may be in the form of a lid, is movable with respect to the container body (202) between a closed position in which it closes the opening (236) and an open position in which the opening (236) is uncovered. A locking member (280) is movable between a lock position and an unlock position and is configured when in the lock position to lock the closure in its closed position. Moving the locking member to the unlock position releases the closure (204) to open the container. Inflatable dunnage (256) is provided in the internal volume and is configured to be inflated by injection of fluid, which may be gas. An exhaust port (290) communicates with the inflatable dunnage and is provided with an exhaust port shutoff arrangement (278) having a closed state in which it closes the exhaust port (290) and an open state in which it opens the exhaust port. The locking member (280) is configured to cooperate with the exhaust port shutoff arrangement (278) such that moving the locking member from its lock position to its unlock position causes the exhaust port shutoff arrangement (278) to change from its closed state to its open state, whereby pressure in the inflatable dunnage is automatically released through the exhaust port prior to opening of the container.