Collapsible Container Fold-Line Structure for Controlled Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible containers for liquid dispensers lack a structured and repeatable collapsing mechanism, leading to unpredictable shape changes that can cause stress on dispenser housing and inefficient product evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container design featuring specific diagonal and horizontal fold lines in its walls, allowing for a controlled and predictable collapse, ensuring the container remains flat and functional, with the front wall remaining non-folded to prevent buckling and maintain efficient product evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fold lines are provided in all walls to create controlled collapse structure, then collapse control is improved, but front wall buckling and twisting increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different structural qualities to different parts of the container. The rear wall, side walls, and bottom wall are provided with fold lines to enable controlled collapse, while the front wall is deliberately kept without fold lines to maintain its flatness and prevent buckling. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing collapse control in areas where it is needed while preserving front wall integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the fold line configuration by providing fold lines in the rear wall, side walls, and bottom wall, but deliberately omitting them from the front wall. This asymmetric arrangement creates a one-way collapse mechanism where the container collapses toward the front wall without causing it to buckle or twist, thus resolving the shape stability issue.
2Ease of manufacture
If container collapses freely without structured fold lines, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but collapse predictability and stress distribution worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the container walls by introducing specific fold lines in the rear wall, side walls, and bottom wall. This segmentation creates predetermined collapse paths that guide the container to collapse in a controlled and predictable manner. The fold lines divide the walls into facets that fold along defined axes, ensuring reliable and repeatable collapse behavior while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple linear fold line configurations.
3Productivity
If container volume decreases through product removal, then dispensing efficiency is improved, but container shape instability and stress on dispenser housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the container structure in advance by pre-forming fold lines in the rear wall, side walls, and bottom wall during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when product is removed and the container begins to collapse, it follows predetermined paths that prevent unpredictable shape changes. The pre-formed fold lines guide the collapse to occur smoothly and predictably, minimizing stress on the dispenser housing while maintaining efficient product evacuation.
Data Source
AI summary
A container collapsible during dispensing of the contents therein includes a front wall, a rear wall, right and left side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall defining a container volume holding product. A first right side wall fold line is provided in the right side wall, and a first left side wall fold line is provided in the left side wall. A rear wall fold line separates the rear wall into a first facet and a second facet. The container is sealed such that the removal of the product from the container causes the container volume to decrease, and the container folds along the first right side wall fold line, first left side wall fold line and rear wall fold line such that the first facet folds down toward the second facet.