Cardboard Insulating Container with Spacer Cavities
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulating containers for perishable products are costly due to high manufacturing and storage expenses, and there is a need for alternative solutions that can reduce these costs while maintaining effective temperature control for a limited time.
Innovation Solution
A disposable insulating container is designed using an inner and outer casing made of cardboard, separated by spacers to create cavities that act as insulating air gaps, reducing manufacturing and storage costs and preventing thermal bridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional insulating materials (EPE, EPP, EPS, EPUR) with wall thickness of 20mm or greater are used, then adequate structural rigidity and temperature maintenance are achieved, but manufacturing costs and storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The container wall is segmented into an inner casing, an outer casing, and intermediate spacers, creating multiple air-filled cavities. This segmentation replaces the traditional single-layer thick insulating wall with a multi-layer structure where air acts as the insulating medium, significantly reducing material costs while maintaining thermal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the insulating material from solid foam materials to air (gas phase). By utilizing the low thermal conductivity of air in the cavities between inner and outer casings, the container achieves adequate insulation with much thinner overall wall structure, reducing both manufacturing and storage costs.
2Strength
If traditional insulating materials with 20mm or greater wall thickness are used, then adequate structural rigidity is achieved, but storage space requirements and storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure is divided into multiple thin layers (inner casing, spacers, outer casing) separated by air cavities. This segmented approach maintains structural rigidity through the distributed framework while minimizing the overall volume compared to a solid thick-walled container.
Solution Approach 2:
By transitioning from solid insulating material to air-filled cavities, the container achieves comparable thermal and structural performance with reduced wall thickness, thereby decreasing the volume required for storage when containers are empty or collapsed.
3Productivity
If disposable containers are manufactured in large quantities to amortize plant and operating costs, then unit cost decreases, but storage costs increase due to the size of the containers
Solution Approach 1:
The container design utilizes air cavities instead of solid insulating material, dramatically reducing the volume of each container. This volume reduction allows for more efficient storage of disposable containers in warehouses and distribution centers, lowering storage costs even when producing large quantities for single-use deployment.
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 cardboard-based disposable container effectively reduces costs and storage space while maintaining adequate insulation performance for perishable products during transport.
Implementation Method 1
The air present in the cavities acts as an insulating means between the inner casing and the outer casing
Implementation Method 2
The spacers needed to form the cavities between the two casings of the disposable insulating container can be independent elements made of an insulating material suitable to avoid formation of thermal bridges
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an insulating disposable container (100) comprising an outer casing (110) made of an insulating material and an inner casing (120) that is made of an insulating material and is housed in said outer casing (110). The insulating container (100) further comprises a plurality of spacers (130, 122, 123, 125) that are arranged between the inner casing (120) and the outer casing (110) and define at least one insulating cavity (140) between them.