Box Walls With Insulation Cavities for Recyclable Food Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing delivery boxes, particularly polystyrene foam boxes, are not environmentally friendly due to their low recyclability and high landfill contribution, while they often fail to maintain the temperature of food during delivery, affecting food quality.

Innovation Solution

A foldable box design with insulation cavities formed between outer and inner panels, using repulpable and recyclable insulator pads to maintain temperature and environmental sustainability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If polystyrene foam boxes are used for food delivery, then the box provides good insulation and maintains food temperature, but the box is not recyclable and contributes to landfill waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood temperature maintenanceVSAvoidlandfill waste and non-recyclability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The box is divided into an outer box and an inner box with insulation material positioned between them. This segmentation allows the insulation function to be separated from the structural container, enabling the inner box to be recyclable while maintaining thermal insulation performance through the separated insulation layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses porous insulation material (such as paper-based insulation or aerated materials) between the inner and outer boxes. These porous materials provide effective thermal insulation while being biodegradable and recyclable, replacing non-recyclable polystyrene foam while maintaining temperature maintenance capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Temperature

If traditional single-wall boxes are used, then the box structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the box fails to maintain food temperature during delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood temperature maintenanceVSAvoidbox structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The box is segmented into distinct components: an outer box, an inner box, and insulation material positioned between them. This segmentation creates a multi-layer structure that provides thermal insulation while keeping each individual component simple in design and easy to manufacture separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner box is nested within the outer box with insulation material filling the space between them. This nested configuration provides effective thermal insulation without requiring complex assembly mechanisms, as the components fit together in a straightforward hierarchical arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Temperature

If insulator pads are added to the box design, then the box maintains temperature and is environmentally friendly, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood temperature maintenanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation function is segmented into separate insulator pads that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the box. This allows the pads to be produced using simple, scalable processes and then easily integrated into the final box structure without requiring complex manufacturing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulator pads utilize porous materials that can be manufactured through relatively simple processes such as pulping, forming, and drying. These materials provide effective insulation while being compatible with standard paper recycling and composting infrastructure, maintaining ease of manufacture and environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 effectively maintains the temperature of food during delivery and is environmentally friendly, being 100% recyclable and potentially compostable, thus reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

using repulpable and recyclable insulator pads to maintain temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12344454B2Box defining walls with insulation cavities
Publication Date: 2025.07.01 PRATT RETAIL SPECIALTIES LLC
  • US12344454B2 patent drawing
  • US12344454B2 patent drawing
  • US12344454B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A box includes a side wall including an outer side panel; an inner side panel positioned parallel to the outer side panel; and a connecting strip defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge connected to the outer side panel by a first fold line, the second edge connected to the inner side panel by a second fold line, the connecting strip defining a trapezoidal shape; and a bottom wall coupled to the side wall.