Box Corner Flap Holder With Stacking Rim for Open-Top Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for holding box flaps open and secure are either damaging, ergonomically unhealthy, or ineffective in allowing for secure stacking and efficient use of space, particularly for boxes with high flap memory and large sizes.
Innovation Solution
A device with two sides joined at a right angle, featuring an inside and outside wall with a rail and a rim, designed to hold box flaps open and down, allowing for secure stacking by accommodating flaps of varying thickness and enabling easy insertion and removal of contents without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tape is used to hold box flaps open, then the flaps can be held in position, but the box is damaged and the tape is not reusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a corner protector as an intermediary device between the box corner and the flap. This protector provides a recess that receives and holds the flap in position without requiring direct attachment to the box with damaging materials like tape. The corner protector acts as a mediator that secures the flap through mechanical containment rather than adhesion.
2Ease of repair
If bands are used to hold box flaps open, then the solution is reusable, but the bands tend to move or slide in relation to the box and its flaps
Solution Approach 1:
The corner protector is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion that contacts the box corner, a recess portion that receives the flap, and an extended portion that provides stacking capability. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally - the recess holds the flap securely while the extended portion provides stable stacking surfaces, preventing the sliding issues experienced with continuous bands.
3Reliability
If bands are used to hold large box flaps open, then the flaps can be secured, but contorted body positions are needed which are ergonomically unhealthy
Solution Approach 1:
The corner protectors are pre-positioned on the box corners before the flaps need to be secured. This preliminary placement creates ready-made receptacles that guide the flaps into position, eliminating the need for workers to contort their bodies to reach and secure large flaps. The protectors are installed once, and then simply receive the flaps as they are folded into place.
4Stability of the object's composition
If existing corner protectors are used for box stacking, then stacking is improved, but the design does not account for flaps and does not solve all problems
Solution Approach 1:
The corner protector is designed with multi-functionality to address both stacking stability and flap accommodation. The body portion provides stacking stability by contacting the box corner, while the recess portion simultaneously accommodates the flap. The extended portion adds stacking capability. This single device performs multiple functions that previously required separate solutions, making it adaptable to both stacking and flap securing needs.
5Ease of operation
If flaps are held partially open without proper support, then access is improved, but the flaps are free floating and can strike or disrupt content insertion/removal
Solution Approach 1:
The recess in the corner protector acts as an intermediary structure that supports the flap in a controlled manner. Instead of allowing the flap to float freely, the recess provides a defined space that holds the flap in a stable, predictable position. This prevents the flap from moving uncontrollably and striking or disrupting content during insertion or removal operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device holding box flaps open and down along the box side walls, and allowing for secure box stacking. The device has two sides joined at a right angle at a junction. The device has an inside wall with two sections. The device has an outside wall with two sections. The inside and outside walls are joined with a rail, also having two sections. The inside wall is perpendicular to the rail, and the outside wall is divergent from the inside all relative to the rail. The inside wall, outside wall and rail define a cavity that can be slid onto a box to hold two flaps in an open position. A rim with two sections upstands from the rail. The rim is located on the middle of the rail so that a bottom of a stacked box is stacked in a secure manner.