Modular Housing Container for Scalable IHS Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for transporting large quantities of information handling systems are costly, generate excessive leftover materials, and lack flexibility and ecological sustainability, as they rely on large, heavy, and inflexible shipping containers.

Innovation Solution

A reusable, recyclable, and scalable information handling system transporting apparatus comprising a housing container and multiple information handling system containers with padding members, allowing for flexible configuration to accommodate various sizes and reducing material waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional reusable methods utilize large shipping containers fabricated from metal, plastic, and wood, then the containers provide structural strength and reusability, but they become heavy, expensive, and difficult to load and unload

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereusabilityVSAvoidcontainer weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the transportation system into modular components: a reusable housing container and disposable information handling system containers. This segmentation allows the heavy structural support functions to be concentrated in the durable housing while the disposable containers provide lightweight, easy-to-handle units for loading and unloading operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the protective housing container with disposable inner containers in a unified transportation apparatus. The housing container provides structural strength and reusability, while the disposable containers facilitate easy loading and unloading, merging the advantages of both approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional reusable methods utilize large shipping containers, then the containers can transport large quantities of information handling systems, but they lack flexibility with respect to transporting different sized information handling systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of information handling systemsVSAvoidflexibility for different sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transportation capacity into multiple standardized disposable containers that can be systematically arranged within the housing container. This allows flexible configuration to accommodate different quantities and sizes of information handling systems while maintaining efficient space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing container is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of disposable information handling system containers in various configurations. This multi-functionality enables the same housing to transport different quantities and sizes of information handling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If each information handling system is individually packaged, then each system is protected during transport, but the method becomes costly and results in a large amount of leftover transporting material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection during transportVSAvoidleftover transporting material

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individually packaged information handling systems into a single disposable container unit. This consolidation maintains protective packaging for each system while eliminating the need for separate packaging materials, thereby reducing overall material waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable inner containers that are discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and redistribution of packaging materials. This approach reduces leftover transporting material while maintaining adequate protection during transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Strength

If conventional reusable methods utilize large shipping containers, then the containers provide structural strength, but they become expensive to build and ship

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the structural requirements between the reusable housing container and the disposable inner containers. The housing container is manufactured once with full structural strength, while the disposable containers use simpler, less expensive materials, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive reusable inner containers with cheap disposable containers. These disposable containers are manufactured at low cost using simpler materials and processes, significantly reducing the overall manufacturing expense of the transportation apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS7370757B2Housing container and method for transporting a plurality of information handling systems

Publication Date: 2008.05.13 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system transporting apparatus includes a housing container, and a plurality of information handling system containers which are positionable in the housing container, each information handling system container including a padding member for receiving a plurality of information handling systems. A plurality of information handling systems may be positioned in the information handling system containers and transported at a lower cost relative to conventional methods.