Collapsible Box with Nested Panel Design for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible boxes often have a larger profile when collapsed, making them bulky and difficult to carry, and reusable bags lack structural support.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible box design featuring vertical and longitudinal creases, bottom flaps, and an upper bottom panel that allows it to fold into a configuration no larger than a single side panel, with optional handles and a lid for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the box is designed to collapse flat for storage, then storage space is reduced, but the profile becomes larger and more bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The box is divided into multiple panels (front, back, sides, bottom) connected by creases, allowing each segment to fold independently during collapse. This segmentation enables the box to flatten into a compact configuration where the profile matches the footprint of the base, eliminating protruding sides and reducing overall bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
During collapse, the side panels fold inward and nest within the space defined by the base and top panels. The structure collapses in a nested manner where inner panels are contained within the outer dimensions of the base, achieving a compact profile that does not exceed the base footprint.
2Ease of operation
If the box uses flexible material for collapsibility, then ease of collapsing is improved, but structural support and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The box employs dynamic creases and hinges that allow flexible folding during collapse and expansion, while the panel materials maintain sufficient rigidity to provide structural support when assembled. The dynamic joints enable ease of operation, while the static panel structures provide strength and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The box uses composite construction combining flexible crease regions with rigid panel sections. The panels themselves may be composite structures (such as corrugated cardboard or multi-layer materials) that provide both flexibility for folding and rigidity for structural support, resolving the contradiction between ease of collapsing and structural strength.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the box is designed with outward-projecting sides when folded, then structural integrity is maintained, but portability and storage efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The box structure is segmented into panels connected by creases that allow the sides to fold inward rather than project outward. This segmentation enables the side panels to be contained within the base footprint during collapse, improving portability while the crease design maintains structural integrity through proper folding mechanics.
Solution Approach 2:
The box collapses by utilizing the vertical dimension and internal space rather than projecting outward in all directions. The side panels fold inward and downward, using the third dimension (depth/vertical space) to accommodate the collapsed sides within the base footprint, thereby improving portability without compromising structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible box is provided that facilitates folding of the box into a flattened configuration having a profile the same size as the sides of the box. The box includes two main face panels, two side panels each having a vertical crease, a lower bottom panel having a longitudinal crease and cutouts adjacent to the side panels, bottom flaps attached to the lower edges of the side panels, and an upper bottom panel affixed to the lower edge of a main face panel that folds over the lower bottom panel and bottom flaps to provide structural rigidity. The box can be easily collapsed by raising the upper bottom panel and bottom flaps, and pushing the creases on the side panels and lower bottom panel inward. The box can optionally be formed from a single blank of cardboard or similar material and can optionally be provided with handles or a lid.