Composite Container Radial Ledge Separator Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional composite containers lack the ability to separately store multiple products within the same container while maintaining barrier properties and user accessibility.

Innovation Solution

A composite container design featuring a tubular body with a radially extended ledge to support a separator, creating multiple compartments, and utilizing a metallized Oriented Polypropylene (mOPP) liner ply with a liner sealant for barrier properties, allowing easy access to products by removing the separator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single compartment container is used, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but multiple products cannot be separately stored

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to store multiple productsVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple compartments by inserting a separator into the tubular body. The separator creates distinct first and second compartments that can hold different products separately, while the overall container structure remains a single integrated unit. This segmentation allows multiple products to be stored without requiring multiple separate containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separator is added to create multiple compartments, then multiple products can be separately stored, but the container structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to store multiple productsVSAvoidcontainer manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A separator acts as an intermediary element inserted into the tubular body to create compartment separation. The separator is a simple disk-shaped component that can be easily manufactured and inserted, avoiding the need for complex integrated partition structures. This intermediary approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving the functionality of multiple compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If products are placed in separate compartments, then product intermingling is prevented, but user access to products becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct separationVSAvoidproduct access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The separator is designed to be removable by the user, transforming the container from a static single-compartment structure to a dynamic multi-compartment structure. When the separator is removed, both products become accessible in a single large compartment. This dynamic design allows the container to adapt between maintaining product separation during storage and providing easy access during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3508433B1Composite container with separator for forming multiple compartments
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 SONOCO DEVELOPMENT INC
  • EP3508433B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3508433B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3508433B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A composite container is provided for holding one or more products (e.g., snack foods, toys, etc.) in separate compartments within the same container. The container includes a tubular body defining a first end and a second end, and the tubular body extends radially inward at a predefined location between the first and second ends to form an angled ledge. A separator, such as a paperboard or plastic disk, can be placed on the ledge, such that the separator defines a first compartment on one side of the separator and a second compartment on the other side of the separator. In this way, a product can be stored in the first compartment, and a product can be stored in the second compartment, and the user can have access to both in the same container. Associated methods of manufacturing a composite container with multiple compartments are also provided.