Methods for configuring, packaging and reconfiguring personal computers
AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorEric Xanthopoulos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Housings for personal computers are assembled at a first site and then shipped in bulk to one or more configuring sites. At the configuring sites, electrical components are inserted into the housing, and the thus-configured computers are packaged in individual containers, along with packing material. Each container has an openable vertical wall. If the computers need to be reconfigured, the openable wall of the container is opened, and one or more of the electrical components are removed and/or replaced horizontally through that opened wall without having to remove the computer or packing material from the container.
Claims13
A method of handling a personal computer, comprising the steps of:
- A) assembling a personal computer by installing electrical components into a housing;
- B) packaging said personal computer in a shipping container having an openable vertical end wall;
- and
- C) reconfiguring said packaged computer by removing at least one of said electrical components horizontally through a vertical side of said housing and horizontally through said vertical end wall of said container while said computer remains disposed in said container.
A method of handling a personal computer, comprising the steps of:
- A) assembling a plurality of housings at a first site;
- B) shipping said plurality of housings in a common container to a second site remote from said first site;
- C) installing electrical components into said housing at said second site;
- D) packaging said personal computers into individual shipping containers at said second site, each shipping container having an openable end wall;
- E) reconfiguring at least some of said packaged personal computers by removing at least one of said horizontally installed electrical components through a vertical side of said housing and horizontally through said vertical end wall of said individual container while said personal computer remains disposed in said individual container;
- F) closing said end wall of said individual container;
- and
- G) shipping said individual container and said reconfigured personal computer contained therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.