Suspension Shipping Container With 360-Degree Air Cushion Gap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shipping container systems are inefficient in space utilization, requiring excessive use of materials like air-filled plastic pouches or shredded paper, and are costly with significant waste generation.
Innovation Solution
A suspension shipping system with a product retention compartment and suspension elements forming a 360-degree air cushion gap, using foldable components to maximize space efficiency and minimize material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional filling materials (air-filled plastic pouches or shredded paper) are used to fill shipping container space, then space utilization is improved, but material waste and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the filling material entirely from the system by replacing physical fillers with an air cushion created through vacuum decomposition. The air cushion is generated in-situ within the container, eliminating the need for external filling materials like plastic pouches or shredded paper, thus solving both space utilization and material waste problems simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by creating an air cushion through vacuum decomposition. A vacuum pump removes air from the container, creating a low-pressure air cushion that fills the space around the cargo. This pneumatic approach replaces solid filling materials with controlled air pressure, achieving space utilization without material waste.
2Reliability
If traditional filling materials are used, then cargo is protected during shipping, but cost and ecological impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes harmful filling materials from the system entirely. By extracting the need for plastic pouches and paper fillers, it eliminates the ecological waste associated with these materials while maintaining cargo protection through the vacuum-generated air cushion, which provides shock absorption without any material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention discards traditional filling materials and recovers space by using the existing air in the container. The vacuum pump temporarily removes air to create the protective cushion, and this air is then recovered and retained in the container, creating a closed-loop system with no waste generation.
3Productivity
If excessive filling materials are used to maximize space, then space efficiency is improved, but material consumption and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure control to achieve maximum space efficiency without material consumption. By adjusting the vacuum level, the air cushion can be optimized to fill exactly the needed space around the cargo, providing shipping efficiency while consuming zero additional materials beyond the air already present in the container.
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 system provides efficient space utilization and reduces material waste by creating a 360-degree air cushion gap around the product, maintaining a closed environment and minimizing contact with the container, thus optimizing shipping efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump in communication with the container interior and configured to remove air from the container
Implementation Method 2
The air cushion gap may completely envelop the product retention compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension shipping system which may be foldable and may have a product retention compartment. The suspension shipping system may provide for complete air cushion gap around the product retention compartment by way of an extended first lateral suspension element, second lateral suspension element, front suspension element, first lower cushion support element, and second lower cushion support element. Said configuration allows for the suspension shipping system to be placed inside of an outer container for shipping allowing for the contents of the product retention compartment to remain unharmed during shipping.