Box Casing Corner Elements for Stacking Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional corrugated board boxes used in commercial logistics lack sufficient wear resistance and stacking ability, making them unsuitable for heavy, fragile, or expensive goods, while reinforced boxes are more expensive and difficult to handle.
Innovation Solution
A box casing design featuring corner elements with stiff plate-like parts made of straw board material, which are hingedly interconnected by a flexible portion, providing enhanced strength and foldability without the need for metal fastening means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional corrugated board boxes are used, then production cost is low and weight is low, but wear resistance is poor and stacking ability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement by placing corner elements only at the corners of the box where stress concentrates during stacking and handling. These corner elements provide localized strength enhancement without reinforcing the entire box surface, thereby improving wear resistance and stacking ability while minimizing additional material cost and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines corrugated board with corner elements made of different materials (such as molded pulp, plastic, or metal) to create a composite structure. This composite approach allows the box to leverage the lightweight and cost-effective properties of corrugated board while gaining the enhanced strength and durability of the corner elements, resolving the contradiction between strength and manufacturing cost.
2Strength
If wooden or plastic boxes are used to improve wear resistance, then strength is improved, but weight increases significantly making them difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire box heavy to improve wear resistance, the patent applies reinforcement only at the corners where stress concentrates during handling and stacking. This localized approach provides the necessary strength protection while keeping the overall box weight low, as the majority of the box structure remains lightweight corrugated board.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight corner elements that can be made from various materials including molded pulp, which provides sufficient protection for the intended service life of the box. These corner elements are designed to be replaceable if damaged, allowing the main box structure to be reused while only replacing the protective corners, thus maintaining low overall weight.
3Strength
If corner elements are secured with staples or adhesive, then wear resistance is improved, but assembly time increases and tool requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs corner elements with integrated attachment features such as self-locking mechanisms, snap-fits, or interlocking structures that allow the corner elements to secure themselves to the box without requiring external fastening tools. This self-service approach enables workers to assemble the boxes by simple insertion or snapping actions, dramatically reducing assembly time and eliminating the need for staples, adhesives, or other fastening tools.
4Stability of the object's composition
If reinforced corner elements are added, then stacking ability is improved, but the box becomes more complex and harder to collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs corner elements with flexible or movable components that allow the box to collapse dynamically when needed. For example, the corner elements may incorporate hinge joints, flexible materials, or detachable connections that permit the box to be folded or collapsed for storage and transport, while still providing rigid structural support when the box is in its assembled, upright position for stacking.
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 design results in a strong, cost-effective box casing that is easy to assemble and disassemble, with improved wear resistance and stacking ability, while being environmentally friendly and recyclable.
Implementation Method 1
each corner element (15) having two stiff plate-like parts (16a-b) of a straw board material, hingedly interconnected by a flexible portion (17)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a box casing (1), such as a transport box, for shipment and/or storing of goods, which is cost-effective to produce and easy to assemble while at the same time having a considerable strength. The box casing comprises a tray-like bottom member (2) and two wall members (7, 8), each having three interconnected casing walls (9, 10a-b, 13, 14a-b). The wall members are foldable to a position standing in the bottom member and to a substantially flat state to be placed lying on the bottom member, for transferring the box casing between an assembled and a collapsed state. Each wall member comprises corner elements (15) configured to hold the casing walls in place by a resilient function. The invention also relates to a kit for creating such a box casing, as well as use thereof.