Articulated Biodegradable Packaging Element for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional isothermal packaging for thermal insulation is bulky, making it difficult to store when not in use, and often results in significant volume occupation, which is inefficient for storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A compact, articulated packaging element with biodegradable insulating panels that can be easily assembled and disassembled to reduce volume, featuring a hinged structure and adjustable insulating panel placement to minimize thermal bridges and allow for air circulation, while being made from materials like potato starch or corn starch for biodegradability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional isothermal packaging is used to provide thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but volume occupation increases making storage difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is divided into a rigid box structure and separate insulating panels that can be assembled together. The insulating panels are segmented into multiple pieces that fit around the products, allowing the packaging to provide thermal insulation while occupying minimal storage space when disassembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating panels are designed to be stored in a flat, two-dimensional state, but when assembled with the rigid box, they form a three-dimensional insulated structure. This dimensional transformation allows the packaging to provide full thermal insulation performance while occupying very little storage volume.
2Temperature
If insulating panels are placed on internal face to reduce thermal bridges, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but air circulation is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating panels are positioned at specific locations on the internal face of the rigid box, particularly at corners and edges where thermal bridges are most problematic. This localized placement provides thermal insulation where it is most needed while leaving other areas open for air circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating panels act as intermediary elements that bridge the gap between the rigid box structure and the products. They are positioned to minimize thermal bridges while the gaps between panels allow air to circulate, mediating between the need for insulation and the need for ventilation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If biodegradable materials are used for insulating panels, then environmental compatibility is improved, but manufacturing precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The design accepts variations in the physical parameters of biodegradable materials (such as thickness tolerance and dimensional stability) by incorporating adjustment mechanisms in the assembly. The insulating panels can be positioned and secured in ways that accommodate natural variations in biodegradable material properties while maintaining effective thermal insulation.
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 provides effective thermal insulation with reduced volume occupation, allowing for efficient storage and easy assembly, while being environmentally friendly and compliant with new environmental standards, maintaining temperature control for sensitive products during transport.
Implementation Method 1
Packaging element for the protection and thermal insulation of various products
Implementation Method 2
articulated structure comprises a bottom panel separated from at least one of the side panels by a fold line
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The element has an articulated structure made of precut blank or biodegradable material e.g. compact/corrugated board, and provided with four side panels, and four insulating panels (32-35) made of thermally insulating and biodegradable material i.e. potato starch and maize starch based foam. Each insulating panel is fixed on an inner surface of the corresponding side panel at a distance (d) from a corresponding bend line (27) in a manner to flatly store the element and to assemble the element in which two of the side panels are perpendicular to other two side panels, in two by two manner.