Systems and methods for packaging of information handling systems

1. A method for shipping an information handling system, comprising:

providing a first information handling system;

providing a first nestable shipping container, the first nestable shipping container having an open top end and a closed bottom end and being dimensioned and configured to nest with other nestable shipping containers of like dimensions and configuration;

providing at least one first shipping bun unit within the first nestable shipping container with a first side of the at least one first shipping bun unit facing upward;

providing at least one second shipping bun unit within the first nestable shipping container in a position on top of and in interleaving relationship with the first shipping bun unit, the second shipping bun unit having a first side facing upward;

positioning the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container in a bulk shipping configuration such that the first information handling system is received and at least partially cradled by at least one of the upward facing first side of the at least one second shipping bun unit that is on top of and interleaved with the at least one first shipping unit or the upward facing first side of the at least one first shipping bun unit;

then positioning the closed bottom end of a second nestable shipping container of like configuration and dimensions as the first nestable shipping container into the open top end of the first nestable shipping container above the first and second shipping bun units and first information handling system in nested and stacked relationship, the second nestable container containing first and second shipping bun units of like configuration and dimension as the first and second shipping bun units within the first nestable shipping container and also containing a second information handling system that is received and at least partially cradled by at least one of the first and second shipping bun units within the second nestable shipping container; and

then bulk shipping the first and second nestable containers together in the nested and stacked relationship from a first physical location to a second physical location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing at least one additional information handling system;

providing at least one additional nestable shipping container, the additional nestable shipping container having an open top end and a closed bottom end and being dimensioned and configured to nest with other nestable shipping containers of like dimensions and configuration;

providing at least one additional first shipping bun unit within the additional nestable shipping container with a first side of the additional first shipping bun unit facing upward;

providing at least one additional second shipping bun unit within the additional nestable shipping container in a position on top of and in interleaving relationship with the additional first shipping bun unit, the additional second shipping bun unit having a first side facing upward;

positioning the additional information handling system within the additional nestable shipping container in a bulk shipping configuration such that the additional information handling system is received and at least partially cradled by at least one of the upward facing first side of the at least one additional second shipping bun unit that is on top of and interleaved with the at least one additional first shipping unit or the upward facing first side of the at least one additional first shipping bun unit;

positioning the closed bottom end of the first nestable shipping container into the open top end of the additional nestable shipping container above the additional first and second shipping bun units and additional information handling system in nested and stacked relationship; and

then bulk shipping the first, second and at least one additional nestable containers together in the nested and stacked relationship from a first physical location to a second physical location.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the first and second nestable containers together in the nested and stacked relationship at the second physical location;

then removing the second nestable container from the open top end of the first nestable shipping container at the second physical location;

then removing the first information handling system and the at least one second shipping bun unit from within the first nestable shipping container;

then positioning the first information handling system back within the first nestable shipping container such that the first information handling system is received and at least partially cradled by the first side of the at least one first shipping bun unit;

then positioning the at least one second shipping bun unit within the first nestable shipping container in a position on top of the first information handling system with the first side of the at least one second shipping bin unit facing downward such that the first information handling system is at least partially cradled between the downward facing first side of the at least one second shipping bun unit and the upward facing first side of the at least one first shipping bun unit in a single pack shipping configuration.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising providing and positioning a sealing pack lid over the open top end of the first nestable container at the second physical location prior to shipping the first nestable container as a single pack from the second physical location to a third physical location.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information handling system is bulk shipped from the first physical location to the second physical location having a first software image, first software load, or first software configuration; and further comprising performing at least one of the following actions after removing the first information handling system from within the first nestable shipping container and before positioning the first information handling system back within the first nestable shipping container for the individual shipping as a single pack form the second location to the third location:

re-imaging the software of the first information handling system with a different and second software image at the second physical location;

modifying the software load of the first information handling system;

installing additional software on the first information handling system;

setting up the computer software configuration for an end user; or

a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the at least one second shipping bun unit within the first nestable shipping container in a position on top of and in interleaving relationship with the first shipping bun unit such that the first side of the second shipping bun unit faces upward and receives and at least partially cradles the first information handling system in cooperation with the first side of the first shipping bun unit.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nestable shipping container further comprises an internal step structure; and wherein the method further comprises providing and positioning a separator structure within the first nestable shipping container and on top of the first information handling system positioned therein such that the separator structure is supported by the internal step structure; and then positioning the closed bottom end of the second nestable shipping container into the open top end of the first nestable shipping container onto the separator structure such that the separator structure absorbs and transfers substantially all of the overhead stack load from the second nestable shipping container to the internal step structure such that substantially no stack load is transferred from the second nestable shipping container to the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the at least one second shipping bun unit comprises one or more support surfaces; and wherein the method further comprises positioning the at least one second shipping bun unit within the first nestable shipping container with the first information handling system received and at least partially cradled by the first side of the at least one second shipping bun such that the one or more support surfaces extend upward to contact and support the closed bottom end of the second nestable shipping container such that the one or more support surfaces absorb and transfer substantially all of the overhead stack load from the second nestable shipping container such that substantially no stack load is transferred from the second nestable shipping container to the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second information handling systems are each notebook computers.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one of re-packaging the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container from the bulk shipping configuration to a single pack shipping configuration, or repackaging the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container from a single pack shipping configuration to the bulk shipping configuration; and

wherein the single pack shipping configuration is characterized by:

the first information handling system being positioned within the first nestable shipping container such that the first information handling system is received and at least partially cradled by the first side of the at least one first shipping bun unit, and

the at least one second shipping bun unit being positioned within the first nestable shipping container in a position on top of the first information handling system with the first side of the at least one second shipping bin unit facing downward such that the first information handling system is at least partially cradled between the downward facing first side of the at least one second shipping bun unit and the upward facing first side of the at least one first shipping bun unit in a single pack shipping configuration.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first information handling system is initially packaged in the bulk shipping configuration with a first software image; and wherein the method further comprises re-imaging the software of the first information handling system with a different and second software image, and then re-packaging the information handling system within the first nestable shipping container in the single pack shipping configuration.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the single pack shipping configuration is further characterized by the at least one second shipping bun unit being provided within the first nestable shipping container in a position on top of and in interleaving relationship with the first shipping bun unit such that the first side of the second shipping bun unit faces upward and receives and at least partially cradles the first information handling system in cooperation with the first side of the first shipping bun unit.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first nestable shipping container further comprises an internal step structure; wherein the method further comprises providing a separator structure; and wherein the bulk shipping configuration is further characterized by the separator structure being positioned within the first nestable shipping container and on top of the first information handling system such that the separator structure is supported by the internal step structure, and the closed bottom end of the second nestable shipping container is positioned within the open top end of the first nestable shipping container on the separator structure such that the separator structure absorbs and transfers substantially all of the overhead stack load from the second nestable shipping container to the internal step structure such that substantially no stack load is transferred from the second nestable shipping container to the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first side of the at least one second shipping bun unit comprises one or more support surfaces; and wherein the bulk shipping configuration is further characterized by the at least one second shipping bun unit being positioned within the first nestable shipping container with the first information handling system received and at least partially cradled by the first side of the at least one second shipping bun such that the one or more support surfaces extend upward to contact and support the closed bottom end of the second nestable shipping container such that the one or more support surfaces absorb and transfer substantially all of the overhead stack load from the second nestable shipping container such that substantially no stack load is transferred from the second nestable shipping container to the first information handling system within the first nestable shipping container.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second information handling systems are each notebook computers.