Collapsible Inner-Container Sleeves for Sealed Item Presentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional containers lack the ability to easily transition between a deployed configuration for presenting items and a compact, sealed configuration for storage or travel, often losing detachable lids and failing to provide convenient item presentation.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container design featuring an elongated inner container with hollow sleeves that act as support legs and receptacles, equipped with attachment mechanisms and optional removable trays, allowing for configuration changes between deployed and collapsed states, ensuring secure sealing and compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional containers use detachable lids for access, then item presentation is enabled, but the lids are easily lost and the container becomes useless
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lid function with the container body by making the lid an integrated, non-detachable part of the container structure. This eliminates the problem of lost lids while maintaining item presentation capability through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure serves multiple functions: it provides item presentation, maintains secure sealing, and enables collapsible configuration all through its integrated design. The single structure performs what would traditionally require separate detachable components.
2Ease of operation
If containers maintain a fixed structure for item presentation, then items can be conveniently presented, but the container cannot be collapsed to a compact size for storage or travel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic structure by making the container collapsible between an expanded configuration for item presentation and a collapsed configuration for compact storage. The container transitions from a rigid fixed structure to a flexible dynamic structure that can change volume while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is divided into collapsible sections or panels that can be folded or compressed together, allowing the structure to reduce its volume for storage while maintaining its form factor for item presentation during use.
3Volume of moving object
If containers are designed to collapse to compact size, then storage and travel become facilitated, but the ability to securely seal items during collapse is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates sealing mechanisms that are pre-positioned or pre-configured to automatically engage when the container is collapsed. The sealing action is prepared in advance and activates automatically during the collapsing process, ensuring items remain securely sealed without requiring additional manual sealing steps.
4Adaptability or versatility
If containers provide multiple configuration options for holding disparate items, then versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs universal, standardized components and modular elements that can be arranged in multiple configurations. The same basic structural elements serve multiple purposes and can accommodate different item types without requiring specialized complex mechanisms for each configuration scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible container for holding items above a support surface when in a deployed configuration, and for substantially sealing the items within the container when in a collapsed configuration, comprises an elongated inner container having an outer surface, two opposing ends and a central storage cavity between the ends for receiving the items therein. Two hollow sleeves are each open at a first end thereof, and two attachment mechanisms are each fixed between one of the ends of the inner container and the first end of one of the hollow sleeves. In use, in the collapsed configuration the sleeves cover the opposing ends of the inner container, and in the deployed configuration each sleeve is fixed proximate the first open end thereof with one end of the inner container to support the inner container above the support surface.