Cardboard Thermal Container with Insulating Interspaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal sealing containers for food transportation, particularly those made of plastic, contribute to environmental pollution and fail to maintain the temperature of food products effectively for short transport periods.

Innovation Solution

A thermal container made from die-cut cardboard sheets with interspaces, where each sheet includes an inner and outer wall, and optionally corrugated cardboard, providing a biodegradable and environmentally friendly solution with enhanced thermal resistance by using cardboard layers alternated with air spaces, allowing for effective temperature maintenance of food products during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If plastic thermal sealing containers are used for transporting food products, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but environmental pollution worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameter from plastic to cardboard, transforming the container into a biodegradable material that maintains thermal insulation properties while eliminating environmental pollution. The cardboard material with interspaces provides the necessary thermal resistance for short-term food transportation without the harmful environmental impact of plastic waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If cardboard material is used for thermal containers, then environmental friendliness is improved, but thermal resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidthermal resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite cardboard structure combining multiple layers of cardboard with interspaces between them. This composite construction enhances the thermal resistance of the cardboard material to levels comparable with plastic containers, while maintaining the environmental benefits of using biodegradable cardboard instead of synthetic materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces interspaces within the cardboard container structure, creating localized air pockets that provide thermal insulation. These interspaces are strategically positioned between cardboard layers to maximize thermal resistance without adding significant weight or complexity, enabling the cardboard container to achieve plastic-level insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If single-layer cardboard structure is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidthermal insulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a multi-layer composite cardboard structure with interspaces between layers. This composite design maintains manufacturing simplicity by using the same cardboard material throughout, while the layered construction with air gaps significantly enhances thermal insulation performance compared to a single-layer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite 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 cardboard container maintains the temperature of food products within acceptable variations for short transport times, comparable to plastic containers, while being environmentally friendly and biodegradable, with thermal resistance similar to expanded polystyrene containers.

Implementation Method 1

each comprise an inner wall and an outer wall that is opposing to, and at a predetermined distance from, the respective inner wall, wherein the aforesaid first tray and the aforesaid lid each have at least one interspace comprised between the respective aforesaid inner and outer walls

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3765381B1Thermal container
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 K ART ONE SRL
  • EP3765381B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention refers to a thermal sealing container (1) for transporting a food product, warm or cold, and a relative making process, wherein the container comprises a first tray (2) and a lid (3) for the closing and opening of the first tray (2), wherein the first tray (2) and the lid (3) each comprise an inner wall (4; 11) and an outer wall (5; 12) that is opposing to, and at a predetermined distance from, the respective inner wall (4; 11), wherein the first tray (2) and the lid (3) each have at least one interspace (6; 13) comprised between the respective inner (4; 11) and outer (5; 12) walls, and wherein the first tray (2) and the first lid (3) are made of respective sheets of die cut cardboard.