WO1996001765A1 - Emballage d'expedition pour ordinateur personnel, et procedes donnant acces a un ordinateur personnel conditionne - Google Patents

Emballage d'expedition pour ordinateur personnel, et procedes donnant acces a un ordinateur personnel conditionne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996001765A1
WO1996001765A1 PCT/US1995/008272 US9508272W WO9601765A1 WO 1996001765 A1 WO1996001765 A1 WO 1996001765A1 US 9508272 W US9508272 W US 9508272W WO 9601765 A1 WO9601765 A1 WO 9601765A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
computer
container
vertical
flap
hinged
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/008272
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eric Xanthopoulos
Original Assignee
Apple Computer, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Apple Computer, Inc. filed Critical Apple Computer, Inc.
Priority to AU29550/95A priority Critical patent/AU2955095A/en
Publication of WO1996001765A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996001765A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/02—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body
    • B65D5/0236—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by adhesive tapes, labels or the like; for decoration purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2201/00—Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the packaging of computer equipment and to the handling of packaged computer equipment.
  • the computers are tested and then inserted into shipping containers for shipment to remote sites for distribution and sale.
  • the top of the container is formed by flaps which can be opened and closed.
  • the computer is encased within packing material (e.g., styrofoam) to isolate the computer from vibration and shock.
  • the packing material may contain pockets in which computer accessories such as a hard drive and keyboard, for example, are inserted.
  • the computer In order to test and/or reconfigure the computer and/or replace the accessories, the computer must be lifted from the container. This is expensive from the standpoint of time and labor and can result in injuries to workers who must spend many hours bending and lifting. Therefore, if last minute testing, and/or replacement of accessories and/or reconfiguring of the computer is desired to be performed at either the manufacturing site or the remote distribution site, a considerable expense involved in removing the computers from the containers must be incurred.
  • the present invention relates to a computer shipping container comprising a plurality of walls defining a chamber for receiving a computer and packing material.
  • the walls includes first and second horizontally spaced vertical end walls for closing opposite vertical ends of the chamber.
  • At least one of the end walls includes a hinged flap which is openable for affording access to an end side of the computer while the computer remains disposed in the container.
  • the flap is hinged about a horizontal hinged axis, and more preferably, there are two flaps hinged about parallel upper and lower edges of the container. It is preferable for both ends of the container to comprise openable flaps so that both the front and rear sides of the computer can be accessed without having to remove the computer from the container.
  • the invention also relates to the combination of a computer and a computer shipping container, wherein the container comprises a vertical end wall which includes a hinged flap capable of exposing a vertical side of the computer without removing the computer from the container.
  • packing material is disposed in the container for isolating the computer from vibrations.
  • the packing material forms at least one pocket for receiving computer accessories. The pocket can be accessed in response to opening of the flap.
  • the invention also relates to a method of obtaining access to a packaged computer, comprising the steps of inserting a computer into a container such that a vertical side of the computer is covered by a vertical wall of the container having an openable/closable hinged flap. After the hinged flap has been closed, it is reopened to expose the vertical side of the computer, so that the vertical side of the computer can be accessed while the computer remains in the container.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer shipping container according to the present invention, with front and rear flaps thereof in a fully opened state;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a computer seated in a lower piece of packing material;
  • FIG. 3 is a view of the shipping container shown in FIG. 1 after the computer/packing material of FIG. 2 has been inserted horizontally thereinto;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 after an upper piece of packing material has been inserted into the shipping container, and wherein computer accessories are depicted in phantom;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shipping container of FIG. 4 after the front and rear flaps have been swung to a closed state;
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 after removable tape has been applied to the container to secure the flaps in their closed state.
  • a shipping container 10 for shipping a computer, such as a personal computer 30.
  • the container may be formed of a relatively stiff, inexpensive material, such as cardboard, although other materials, such as plastic, could be used if desired.
  • the container includes two horizontal top and bottom walls 12, 16 and two vertical side walls 18, 18, defining an open-ended rectangular chamber 20.
  • the container Disposed at the horizontally spaced ends of the chamber the container includes vertical end walls defined by hinged closure flaps, 22, 24, 22', 24'.
  • the closure flaps 22, 22' are of identical construction, as are the flaps 24, 24'.
  • the closure flaps 22, 22' are integrally joined (hinged) to horizontal top edges of the container, whereas the flaps 24, 24' are integrally joined (hinged) to horizontal bottom edges of the container. Accordingly, the flaps are integrally hinged to the top and bottom walls and are able to swing between an open state shown in Fig. 1 to a closed state shown in Fig. 5.
  • a personal computer 30 Depicted in Fig. 2 is a personal computer 30 to be packaged and shipped.
  • That computer includes a vertical front side 32 and a back side (not shown) .
  • Each of the front and back sides has connection sites, i.e., sites to which devices, cables, wires, etc., can be electrically connected.
  • connection sites comprise one or more bays 33A, 33B, 33C for receiving drives such as a C.D. drive, hard drive, floppy drive, etc., or a headphone assembly, LED board, etc., among other possibilities.
  • the back side could have connection sites in the form of bays to receive removable logic board modules as well as cable or wire receptacles for connection to a video output, T.V. tuner, cooling fan, etc.
  • the computer 30 is shown as seated in a lower packing element 40, formed of a vibration insulative material, such as styrofoam.
  • the lower packing element 40 is configured so that it can be slid horizontally into the chamber 20 of the container 10 as depicted in Fig. 3.
  • the lower packing element 40 includes a floor 42 and a pair of upright walls 44.
  • the computer is seated on the floor 42 and has a press- fit with the upright walls 44.
  • the lower packing element 40 and computer 30 occupy only a lower portion of the chamber 20.
  • the remainder of the chamber disposed thereabove is to be occupied by an upper packing element 50, as shown in Fig. 4.
  • the upper packing element 50 is preferably mounted atop the lower packing element 40 outside of the chamber 20, so that the packing elements 40, 50 and computer 30 can be slid as a unit into the chamber 20.
  • the lower packing element 40 and computer 30 can be slid into the chamber 20 as a unit, followed by the upper packing element 50.
  • the upper packing element 50 is preferably formed of the same material as the lower packing element and leaves at least the front 34 (and preferably also the back) of the computer 30 exposed.
  • the upper packing element 50 could be provided with one or more storage pockets or compartments 52, 54 for receiving computer accessories, such as keyboards 56, hard drives 58, etc., depicted schematically in Fig. 4, which are intended for use with the computer. Additionally, or alternatively, storage pockets could be formed in the lower packing element .
  • closure flaps 22, 24 are closed, as shown in Fig. 5, and then removable adhesive tape 60 is applied across the flap to prevent inadvertent opening of those flaps, as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the computer 30 can be tested and/or reconfigured and/or the accessories can be replaced, by removing the tape 60 and opening the front flaps 22 and 24 and/or the rear flaps 22 ' , 24 ' to expose the front and/or rear sides of the computer 30, as depicted in Fig. 4.
  • This enables the connection sites of the computer to be accessed so that various components (e.g., hard and/or floppy disc drives, headphones, video board, fan, tuner board, logic board, etc.), can be tested without removing the computer from the container.
  • a rear panel of the computer could, if desired, be removed to enable some of the components, such as logic boards, to be replaced (i.e., a last minute reconfiguring of the computer) . If the computer contains replaceable decorative panels at its front or rear sides, those panels can be replaced, in order to change the appearance of the computer and/or provide a new rear panel having a different identification label attached thereto.
  • the packing elements 40, 50 can be of any configuration, as long as at least the front (and preferably also the back) of the computer is exposed when the flaps 22, 24, 22', 24' are exposed.
  • the closeable flaps can be of any suitable configuration.
  • each end of the chamber 20 could be closed by a single flap which extends the entire height of the container.
  • the flaps could be hinged for rotation about vertical axes instead of horizontal axes.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)

Abstract

On peut avoir accès aux côtés avant et arrière d'un ordinateur conditionné (30) sans le sortir de son emballage en ouvrant des rabats articulés (22, 22'; 24, 24') de la boîte qui recouvrent les côtés verticaux de l'ordinateur. L'ordinateur peut être testé et/ou reconfiguré tout en restant dans son emballage. Le matériau d'emballage placé dans la boîte forme des poches destinées à recevoir des accessoires de l'ordinateur; et on peut accéder aux poches, alors que le matériau d'emballage est laissé dans la boîte, lorsque les rabats sont ouverts.
PCT/US1995/008272 1994-07-08 1995-07-05 Emballage d'expedition pour ordinateur personnel, et procedes donnant acces a un ordinateur personnel conditionne WO1996001765A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU29550/95A AU2955095A (en) 1994-07-08 1995-07-05 Shipping container for a personal computer, and methods for gaining access to a packaged personal computer

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US27195894A 1994-07-08 1994-07-08
US08/271,958 1994-07-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996001765A1 true WO1996001765A1 (fr) 1996-01-25

Family

ID=23037815

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/008272 WO1996001765A1 (fr) 1994-07-08 1995-07-05 Emballage d'expedition pour ordinateur personnel, et procedes donnant acces a un ordinateur personnel conditionne

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2955095A (fr)
WO (1) WO1996001765A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1266834A1 (fr) * 2001-06-15 2002-12-18 Pace Micro Technology PLC Emballage et méthode d'emballage

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0250353A2 (fr) * 1986-06-20 1987-12-23 BEMIS COMPANY, Inc. Fermeture d'un colis par bande avec dispositif d'ouverture aisé
FR2628708A1 (fr) * 1988-03-21 1989-09-22 Pizon Marcel Emballage perfectionne permettant le controle d'un appareil tel que notamment recepteur de television

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0250353A2 (fr) * 1986-06-20 1987-12-23 BEMIS COMPANY, Inc. Fermeture d'un colis par bande avec dispositif d'ouverture aisé
FR2628708A1 (fr) * 1988-03-21 1989-09-22 Pizon Marcel Emballage perfectionne permettant le controle d'un appareil tel que notamment recepteur de television

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1266834A1 (fr) * 2001-06-15 2002-12-18 Pace Micro Technology PLC Emballage et méthode d'emballage
US6877609B2 (en) 2001-06-15 2005-04-12 Pace Micro Technology Plc. Product packaging

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2955095A (en) 1996-02-09

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