Carrier for Containers with Foldable Divider Flaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carriers for holding and displaying containers, such as basket-style carriers, face challenges in efficiently accommodating various container shapes and sizes while ensuring secure and cost-effective assembly and material usage.

Innovation Solution

A carrier design featuring a blank with foldable panels, including a central panel and divider flaps, and an attachment feature with a hinge panel and attachment tab, allowing for flexible assembly and reduced material usage by minimizing the amount of glue required, which enhances the carrier's structural integrity and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional carrier designs are used to hold containers of various shapes and sizes, then the carrier can accommodate different container types, but the structural integrity and security of container holding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of various container shapes and sizesVSAvoidstructural integrity and container security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier is divided into multiple modular components including front walls, rear walls, divider flaps, and attachment features that can be independently configured. The divider flaps create separate compartments that can be adjusted to accommodate different container arrangements while maintaining overall structural integrity through the interconnected panel system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier incorporates foldable and movable elements such as divider flaps that can extend or retract, and attachment features that can be assembled or disassembled. This dynamic structure allows the carrier to adapt its internal configuration for different container types while maintaining strength through controlled folding lines and reinforcement panels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If extensive gluing is used to assemble carrier panels, then the structural integrity of the carrier is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of carrierVSAvoidassembly complexity and material cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple structural functions are merged into single integrated components. For example, the divider flaps serve both as structural dividers and as attachment points for securing containers, while the attachment features combine hinge panels and attachment tabs into a single assembly unit that provides both mechanical connection and structural reinforcement without requiring separate gluing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier design incorporates self-aligning and self-securing features where panels automatically position themselves during assembly through interlocking geometries and fold lines. The attachment features include built-in alignment mechanisms that guide proper panel positioning, reducing the need for precise gluing operations and external assembly tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If more panels and attachment features are added to the carrier, then the adaptability for holding different containers is improved, but the device complexity and material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in holding different container configurationsVSAvoidnumber of panels and attachment components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each panel and attachment feature is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. The divider flaps act as both structural dividers and container attachment points, while the attachment features serve as both connection mechanisms and reinforcement elements. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate components needed while maintaining high adaptability for different container configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier structure employs nested components where smaller attachment features are integrated within larger panel structures. The hinge panels and attachment tabs are nested within the overall panel framework, allowing complex functionality to be achieved through hierarchical integration rather than through numerous separate external components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11697537B2Carrier for containers

Publication Date: 2023.07.11 GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL LLC

AI summary

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier. The plurality of panels can comprise at least a front panel and a central panel. The interior of the carrier can be divided into a front portion and a back portion by at least the central panel. A divider flap can be foldably connected to the central panel. The divider flap can extend at least partially from the central panel to the front panel. An attachment feature can comprise a hinge panel and an attachment tab. The hinge panel can be foldably connected to the divider flap along a first fold line, and the attachment tab can be foldably connected to the hinge panel along a second fold line. The attachment tab and the front panel can at least partially overlap one another.