IP Library Granted Patent US 8,179,254
Granted Patent B2
US 8,179,254 · App. 11/726,706 · Granted May 15, 2012

Actuatable cushioning elements

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,179,254
App. No.
11/726,706
Granted
May 15, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus, methods and computer program product, and system are described that enable a first subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a first time period, enable a second subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a second time period, determine an event, and actuate, based on a time the event is determined, at least one of the first and the second subsets of actuatable cushioning elements to provide cushioning support for an object. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.

Claims (49)

1. A system comprising:

circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container; and

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container, at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container, and at least one third event associated with unpacking of the at least one container.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container, (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container, and (iii) at least partially de-actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one third event associated with unpacking of the at least one container.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for determining, at one or more different times, at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with impact or likely impact of the at least one container.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for determining, at least partially from user input, at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for determining, at least partially from one or more event detectors, at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing, at one or more different times, one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container, (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container, and (iii) receiving status information associated with at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more reusable actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more reusable actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more reusable actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially inflating one or more portions of at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially inflating one or more portions of at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially expanding one or more portions of at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially expanding one or more portions of at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more unrestrained actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more unrestrained actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more unrestrained actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating for at least one first time period at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating for at least one second time period at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating for at least one first time period at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating for at least one different second time period at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating for at least one first time period at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating for at least one at least partially overlapping second time period at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of with the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some other of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container comprises:

circuitry for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning sub-elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning sub-elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning sub-elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

19. A system comprising:

means for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container; and

means for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

20. A method comprising:

determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container; and

establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

21. Non-transitory computer readable media bearing one or more instructions for facilitating operations comprising:

determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container; and

establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

22. A system comprising:

one or more event detectors for determining at least one first event associated with packing of at least one container and at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container; and

one or more controllers for establishing one or more communications with at least some of two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container for (i) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one first event associated with packing of the at least one container and (ii) at least partially actuating at least some of the two or more actuatable cushioning elements internal of the at least one container in response to the at least one second event associated with movement of the at least one container.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2023
From: DEEP SCIENCE LLC
To: ENTERPRISE SCIENCE FUND, LLC
Reel/Frame 064976/0360 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2016
From: THE INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I, LLC
To: DEEP SCIENCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 037540/0314 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2012
From: SEARETE LLC
To: THE INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I, LLC
Reel/Frame 029042/0165 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2007
From: HYDE, RODERICK A.; JUNG, EDWARD K.Y.; LEVIEN, ROYCE A.; LORD, ROBERT W.; MALAMUD, MARK A.; RINALDO, JOHN D., JR.; WOOD, LOWELL L., JR.
To: SEARETE LLC
Reel/Frame 019481/0001 →