Barrel Cooler Sidewall Panels with Interlocking Latch Mechanisms

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional barrel coolers are bulky, leading to high transportation costs due to their size, especially when moved over long distances.

Innovation Solution

The design features a system of interlocking sidewall panels with latch arms and latch boxes that allow the cooler to be assembled on-site, enabling the panels to nest and stack during shipping, reducing the overall size of the package and thus transportation costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the barrel cooler is transported assembled, then it is ready for immediate use, but transportation costs increase due to its bulkiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereadiness for useVSAvoidtransportation volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The barrel cooler is divided into separate sidewall panels that can be disassembled for compact shipping and quickly reassembled at the destination. Each panel includes integrated latch arms and latch boxes that enable simple connection without requiring additional fasteners or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewall panels are designed to nest within one another when disassembled, creating a compact package that significantly reduces transportation volume. The nested configuration allows multiple panels to occupy minimal space while maintaining full functionality when reassembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If the barrel cooler is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural integrity is maintained, but transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidtransportation volume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooler is segmented into panels that connect through interlocking latch mechanisms. The latch arms engage with latch boxes to create strong mechanical connections between panels, maintaining structural integrity while allowing disassembly for compact shipping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism uses a tunnel-shaped latch box that receives the latch arm from an adjacent panel, creating a three-dimensional interlocking structure. This dimensional approach to connection provides strong structural bonds while enabling easy assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8979101B2Barrel cooler with components assembleable on site

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 THE COCA COLA CO

AI summary

A sidewall panel of a barrel cooler has a sidewall panel body forming a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge. The sidewall panel has a latch arm protruding from the first vertical edge of the sidewall panel body, wherein the latch arm is adapted to cooperatively connect with a latch box of a first adjacent sidewall panel of the barrel cooler. The sidewall panel also has a latch box flush along the second vertical edge of the sidewall panel body, wherein the latch box is adapted to cooperatively connect with a latch arm of a second adjacent sidewall panel of the barrel cooler. The sidewall panel may be included in a system of parts that are adapted to cooperatively couple together to form a barrel cooler. The sidewall panel may also be included in an assembled barrel cooler.