Bellows Bumper Container for Impact Absorption

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packaging containers for fluids or gels are prone to damage and leakage during transport due to insufficient structural integrity, requiring additional secondary and tertiary packaging, which increases shipping costs and inefficiencies, especially for small quantities.

Innovation Solution

The development of a container with integrally formed or removably attached bumpers configured to absorb forces, featuring a bellows design that can compress and expand to absorb external impacts, eliminating the need for secondary packaging and allowing direct shipping without additional protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If primary packaging is designed to minimize weight and size, then shipping efficiency is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer weightVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective function into the container body by integrating bumpers as built-in features. The bumpers are formed as integral parts of the container structure, combining the container and protection into a single unified system, eliminating the need for separate protective packaging layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bumpers are designed with movable portions that can dynamically respond to impact forces. The movable bumpers can deflect and absorb shock during transport, providing adaptive protection while maintaining a compact form factor when not under stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If secondary and tertiary packaging are added to protect containers, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection during transportVSAvoidpackaging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple packaging functions into the single container structure. The integrated bumpers provide both structural support and impact protection, eliminating the need for separate secondary and tertiary packaging layers and simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The container provides its own protection through the integrated bumpers without requiring external protective packaging. The protective features are self-contained within the container design, allowing the container to protect itself during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If cushioning material is inserted into shipping carton, then harmful factors are reduced, but loss of substance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage during transportVSAvoidadditional packaging materials
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The protective function is merged into the container structure itself through integrated bumpers, eliminating the need for separate cushioning materials. The container body incorporates the protection directly, removing the requirement for additional packaging substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the protective function from external cushioning materials and relocates it to the container structure itself. The bumpers are formed as integral parts of the container, removing the need for separate protective substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If containers are loaded into large shipping boxes, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection during shippingVSAvoidshipping efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The container integrates protection into its own structure through bumpers, eliminating the need for large external shipping boxes. This allows for more efficient use of shipping space while maintaining protection, thereby improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the protective parameter from external packaging dimensions to integrated structural features. The bumpers provide protection based on the container's own dimensions and structure, allowing for optimized shipping packaging that maximizes space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 container effectively withstands forces during shipping, preventing damage and leakage, thus reducing shipping costs and inefficiencies by eliminating the need for additional packaging, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.

Implementation Method 1

a bellows bumper configured to absorb forces applied to the container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a bellows design that can compress and expand to absorb external impacts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3728056B1Container with integrated protection feature
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO
  • EP3728056B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3728056B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3728056B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A container comprises a container body having a cavity for receiving a product therein and a lid sealing an opening to said cavity, the container body having a front surface, back surface, first sidewall and second sidewall, and a first bumper attached to the first sidewall of the container body, the first bumper configured to absorb forces applied to the container, wherein the first bumper comprises a first engagement mechanism configured to lockingly engage a second engagement mechanism located on the container body.