Inflatable Shipping Frame with Diagonal Struts for Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cuboid cardboard boxes used for shipping are not reusable and contribute to environmental waste.
Innovation Solution
A shipping device with an inflatable frame made of rubber or film material, featuring a film exterior and inflatable longitudinal and diagonal struts for protection and space-saving storage, allowing for easy deflation and folding, enabling reuse and reducing packaging waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cardboard boxes are used for shipping, then goods are protected during transport, but the packaging cannot be reused and contributes to environmental waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the packaging from a rigid, single-use cardboard box to an inflatable structure that can be deflated and reused. The frame elements transition from a compact flat state to an inflated three-dimensional protective structure, and can be deflated again for reuse, thereby eliminating packaging waste while maintaining protection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by incorporating inflatable frame elements that can be filled with gas to provide structural protection. The frame consists of inflatable longitudinal struts and diagonal struts that expand to form a protective cuboid structure during shipping, then can be deflated for compact storage and reuse, solving both protection and reusability requirements
2Duration of action of stationary object
If an inflatable frame structure is used, then the shipping device can be reused and stored in a space-saving manner, but the inflation process takes time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame into multiple independent inflatable elements (longitudinal struts and diagonal struts) that can be inflated separately or in parallel. This segmentation allows for more efficient inflation compared to a single large chamber, as multiple valves can operate simultaneously and the structure can be inflated in a more controlled manner, reducing overall inflation time while maintaining the reusable benefit
3Strength
If the entire walls are inflated to provide protection, then goods are well protected, but the inflation process is slow and the device is heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing inflation only to specific structural elements (frame longitudinal struts and diagonal struts) rather than the entire wall surface. The film walls remain non-inflated and serve as a lightweight covering, while the inflated struts provide localized structural support and protection at critical load-bearing positions, achieving adequate protection with reduced weight and faster inflation
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 inflatable shipping device provides effective protection for goods, reduces waste, and can be reused for up to five years, offering a robust and cost-effective solution for shipping companies.
Implementation Method 1
The shipping device has an inflatable frame. For example, the frame may comprise or consist of a rubber and/or foil material. This allows a gas, preferably air, to be released from the frame.
Implementation Method 2
The frame may comprise or consist of a rubber and/or foil material. The gas can be easily released from the frame. The shipping device can then be folded, for example.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a shipping device comprising an inflatable frame and a film surrounding the frame and forming the outside of the shipping device, wherein the frame in the inflated state has a cuboid contour with at least or exactly four longitudinal struts oriented parallel to each other and at least one diagonal strut extending diagonally between two adjacent longitudinal struts.