Collapsible Container With Zipper Closure and Wire Stiffener
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Solution Overview
Problem
Campers face challenges in securely storing food and waste while outdoors due to wildlife access and the lack of convenient trash receptacles, necessitating a portable and secure container solution.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container design featuring a hollow structure with a top opening and closed bottom, equipped with a collar and flexible panel for reversible closure, and a wire spiral stiffener for shape support and easy portability, allowing the container to be compacted for storage and featuring a zipper closure mechanism for secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid container is used to securely store food and waste, then security against wildlife access is improved, but portability and ease of transportation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs a dynamic structure with flexible sidewalls that can transition between expanded and collapsed states. The flexible material allows the container to be easily compressed for transport while maintaining structural integrity when expanded, resolving the contradiction between security and portability
Solution Approach 2:
The container utilizes flexible material for its sidewalls, enabling it to be collapsed into a compact form for easy transportation. When expanded, the flexible structure maintains sufficient rigidity to provide secure containment, thus balancing portability with security requirements
2Ease of operation
If a collapsible structure is used to improve portability, then ease of transportation is improved, but structural strength and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a collar structure that divides the sidewalls into segments, providing localized reinforcement. This segmentation allows the flexible material to maintain structural strength at critical points while remaining collapsible for transport
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses composite construction combining flexible material with reinforcing elements such as the collar and stiffener. This composite structure provides the necessary strength and stability when expanded while maintaining the ability to collapse for easy transportation
3Reliability
If a secure closure mechanism is added to prevent wildlife access, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container features a self-closing flap mechanism that automatically closes and secures when the container is filled. This self-service closure reduces the need for complex manual closure systems while maintaining security against wildlife access
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism is integrated with the collar structure, combining the sealing function with the existing structural element. This merging reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate closure components while maintaining effective security
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible container has a collar that extends above the top opening and attaches at peripheral edges to a panel by a separable fastener.