Collapsible Container With Folding Sidewalls and Endwalls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers occupy significant volume even when empty, leading to inefficient freight transport due to the asymmetry in demand between regions, which is not addressed in truck loading boxes, railway freight cars, or container houses.

Innovation Solution

A container design that allows for folding of sidewalls and endwalls, with mechanisms for rotating, tilting, and storing components to reduce volume when unladen, including sidewall rotating means, endwall tilting means, and a connecting mechanism for stacking, utilizing auxiliary posts and locking mechanisms for stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the container is designed with fixed sidewalls and endwalls to maintain structural integrity, then strength and stability are improved, but volume cannot be reduced when empty leading to poor transport efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidcontainer volume when empty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The container employs dynamic sidewalls and endwalls that can change their configuration between extended and retracted states. The sidewalls are designed to be foldable along horizontal axes, allowing them to be positioned vertically during transport and folded horizontally when empty, enabling the container volume to be reduced by approximately half while maintaining structural integrity when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container structure is divided into separable components including sidewalls, endwalls, and a base structure. Each component can be independently positioned or folded, allowing the sidewalls to be folded inward and the endwalls to be tilted inward, transforming the container from an extended box shape to a compact configuration that occupies significantly less space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the container volume is reduced when empty by folding components, then transport efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional folding and tilting mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidfolding and tilting mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container incorporates self-contained folding and tilting mechanisms that enable the structure to transform its own configuration without requiring external equipment. The sidewalls can be folded inward and the endwalls tilted inward through integrated mechanical systems, allowing the container to autonomously reduce its volume for efficient empty transport while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 design achieves reduced volume and improved transport efficiency by collapsing the container when empty, facilitating easy operation and safe stacking, while maintaining structural integrity and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a rotating shaft (28A) provided on the side of the bottom structure (18), and an arm (28) having one end supported by the rotating shaft (28A) and the other end fixed to the lower end of the corner post (20A)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

an endwall guide (56) provided on the side of the bottom structure (18) with a guide groove (56A) along the vertical direction, and an endwall rotation shaft (14B) having one end engaged with the guide groove (56A)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical guidance:

Implementation Method 3

the corner posts may be provided with a locking mechanism (39) for preventing the top structure (16) from falling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical locking:

Implementation Method 4

a sidewall rotating means for folding the sidewalls (12, 38, 42, 52) under the top structure (16) or onto the bottom structure (18)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentEP4613672A1container

Publication Date: 2025.09.10 OTA HIDEYUKI

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AI summary

A container including: a pair of endwalls (14); a pair of sidewalls (12, 38, 42, 52); a top structure (16) and a bottom structure (18); comprising: a sidewall rotating means for folding the sidewalls (12, 38, 42, 52) under the top structure (16) or on the bottom structure (18); an end frame (20) configured to surround four sides of the endwall (14); an endwall tilting means (28, 56) that enables the end frame (20) standing upright on the bottom structure (18) to be lifted and tilted towards the bottom structure (18), wherein the top structure (16) can be raised and lowered along corner posts (20A) between the upper end of the end frame (20) positioned upright and the floor of the bottom structure (18), and the endwall tilting means (28, 56) allows the endwall to be laid down on the top structure (16), which is put on the floor.