Angled Stiffening Webs in Plastic Flowerpot Rim
Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic containers with circumferential channel profiles and cross-section stiffening webs are prone to breaking under considerable deformation or lateral loads due to insufficient structural elasticity, as they are designed for high strength but lack resilience to absorb deformations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating planar stiffening webs that deviate from a purely transverse alignment, such as kinked or angled webs, to enhance flexibility and deformability without breaking, allowing the rim and cross-section to adjust under lateral loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the upper end area is designed with a circumferential groove profile and cross-section-reinforcing webs to provide high strength, then the structural strength is improved, but the structural elasticity deteriorates, making the container prone to breaking under deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by designing the stiffening webs with oblique orientations instead of purely transverse alignments. This allows the web structure to dynamically adapt to lateral loads by deflecting in an oblique direction, converting rigid static support into a more flexible dynamic response that absorbs deformation energy while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stiffening webs by introducing oblique angles and varying orientations. This parameter change transforms the web structure from a rigid transverse configuration to one that can elastically deform under lateral loads, thereby improving structural elasticity while preserving strength through optimized angular geometry.
2Quantity of substance
If the container walls are made thinner to reduce material usage, then the material efficiency is improved, but the resistance to lateral compression and deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the container structure into the wall system and a separate stiffening web system within the groove profile. This allows the walls to be made thinner for material efficiency while the segmented web structure provides concentrated reinforcement that resists lateral compression, distributing the load-bearing function across distinct structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structural system combining the container walls with integrated stiffening webs formed from the same or different plastic materials. This composite approach allows thin walls to be compensated by the reinforced groove profile with oblique webs, achieving both material efficiency and lateral compression resistance through the synergistic combination of structural elements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the stiffening webs are arranged transversely to maximize rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the flexibility to absorb lateral deformations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by orienting the stiffening webs at oblique angles rather than symmetrically transverse to the groove profile. This asymmetric arrangement creates structural pathways that can deflect under lateral loads while maintaining rigidity in the primary load-bearing direction, achieving a balance between stability and adaptability through non-uniform web positioning.
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 solution significantly reduces the risk of breakage by enabling the container to absorb larger cross-sectional deformations and lateral loads elastically, providing greater elasticity and sturdiness during handling and storage.
Implementation Method 1
the resulting spatial structure provides good strength properties. However, this strength is associated with only a low level of structural elasticity. If such plastic containers are subjected to considerable deformation individually or in a stack, for example due to lateral compression during transport, transverse deformation during machine handling or pressure or impact from the side on a hanging basket, the design-related resilience is not sufficient to elastically absorb these deformations.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a plastic container embodied in the form of a bucket or cup in particular in the form of a flowerpot. The inventive container comprises a top end area (4) shaped in the form of a peripheral channelled profile (5) which is open from below upwards, is adjacent to the top area of the container wall (3) and outwardly extends to the downwardly oriented peripheral edge, wherein the channelled profile is provided with ribs (10) for reinforcing the cross-section thereof. According to said invention, the ribs (10) are at least partially oriented at a slant angle with respect to the channelled profile (5) in such a way that the cross-section deformations and lateral loads are softly and elastically absorbed.