Lightweight Cage-Type Box for Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rigid plastic boxes for packaging and transporting products are excessively heavy, leading to high manufacturing and recycling costs, limited capacity, and limited customization options, while also being inefficient in energy consumption for recycling.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight cage-type supporting structure combined with a thin laminar body, either inside or outside, made from plastic or foldable materials, using thermal welding or adhesive attachment, which reduces material usage and enhances customization possibilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional rigid plastic boxes are used for packaging, then strength and structural integrity are maintained, but weight increases significantly and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The box is divided into two functional components: a lightweight cage-type supporting structure made of plastic profiles that provides structural integrity, and a separate laminar body (film) that offers containment and protection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resulting in significant weight reduction while maintaining overall strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines different materials with complementary properties: the cage structure uses rigid plastic profiles for mechanical strength, while the laminar body uses flexible film material for containment. This composite approach achieves the desired balance between weight reduction and structural integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If thick rigid plastic walls are used, then strength is maintained, but manufacturing costs and recycling energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structural function is segmented from the containment function. The cage-type supporting structure with its geometric framework provides the necessary strength with minimal material, while the thin laminar body provides containment. This eliminates the need for thick walls, reducing manufacturing costs and material consumption.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional plastic boxes are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but recycling energy consumption and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential structural elements needed for strength (the cage framework) and separates them from the bulk material that would require energy-intensive processing. The lightweight design means less material to recycle, directly reducing energy consumption and recycling costs.
4Weight of moving object
If thin laminar body is used, then weight is reduced, but structural support capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support function into the cage-type supporting structure that forms the framework of the box. The thin laminar body is then attached to this pre-established support structure, allowing it to focus on containment and protection without needing to provide structural support, thus maintaining weight reduction while ensuring adequate support capability.
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 solution results in a box that is up to 40% lighter, reducing manufacturing and recycling costs, increasing capacity without compromising strength, and allowing for multi-color customization and efficient energy use in recycling processes.
Implementation Method 1
an inner or outer package formed by a thin laminar body preferably made from plastic material (blind or perforated) that acts as a support for the product to be packaged... incorporated by thermal welding, adhesive or other appropriate attachment means
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Box for packaging and transporting products. This is a box essentially made from plastic, designed to contain, within, different products, such as fruit, vegetables and the like. The box is characterized in that it comprises a lightweight cage-type supporting structure (1) and a packaging-like laminar body (15) that is placed against the inside or outside of the lateral walls and base of the cage-type supporting structure (1) mentioned above, being connected to the laminar body over at least some of the elements that make up the cage-type supporting structure (1).