Container Arrangement With Card Slot And Viewing Window

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container arrangements for transporting and storing machines or components face challenges in easily and cost-effectively updating markings to reflect their contents, leading to a risk of mismatch between the contents and the applied markings.

Innovation Solution

A container arrangement with a receiving shaft for a credit card-sized information carrier, featuring a guide rail with a groove-shaped slot for edge guidance, allowing for easy insertion and removal of the card while ensuring it remains visible through a viewing window, and engagement structures for securing stacked containers, preventing displacement and unauthorized removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a waterproof pen inscription or self-adhesive label is used for marking container contents, then the marking can be applied directly to the container surface, but updating the marking becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of marking applicationVSAvoidtime for marking update
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The marking system is segmented into a removable information carrier card and the container structure. The card can be independently replaced without affecting the container itself, allowing quick updates of content information without repainting or reapplying labels to the container body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The information carrier card is designed to be dynamically replaceable. The receiving shaft with guide means allows the card to be easily inserted and removed, enabling the marking system to adapt to changing container contents without permanent modifications to the container structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a holder with label insertion is arranged on the container front side, then the marking can be updated by replacing labels, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to update markingVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information carrier card combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both the marking/label and the holder structure. The card itself is inserted into the receiving shaft, eliminating the need for separate label holders, frames, or mounting mechanisms that would increase structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The information carrier card serves multiple purposes: it provides the visual marking, contains the information about container contents, and acts as the removable component for updating. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate parts needed compared to traditional label holders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If the information carrier card is made visible through a viewing window, then the marking is readable from the outside, but the card may be damaged during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of informationVSAvoidprotection of information carrier
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The information carrier card is nested within the receiving shaft structure. The guide means and receiving shaft create a protective cavity that shields the card from external damage during transport while still allowing the card surface to be viewed through the viewing window when properly positioned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving shaft acts as an intermediary structure between the external environment and the information carrier card. It provides mechanical protection and guidance for the card while allowing optical access through the viewing window, mediating between the need for visibility and protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If engagement structures are added to secure stacked containers, then the containers are prevented from displacement, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking stabilityVSAvoidengagement structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding complex locking mechanisms to prevent displacement, the engagement structures use a simple inverted approach: protrusions on the container base engage with recesses on the container lid to create natural interlocking. This passive engagement system prevents displacement without requiring active locking or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement structures are localized to specific areas where they are most effective: protrusions are positioned on the container base at strategic locations, and corresponding recesses are placed on the container lid. This localized design provides stable stacking while minimizing the overall complexity compared to comprehensive coverage approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2485874B1Container arrangement
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 TTS TOOLTECHNIC SYST
  • EP2485874B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2485874B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2485874B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a container arrangement, comprising a box- or shell-shaped lower container part (2), which comprises a container bottom (4) and at least one peripheral container wall (5) at the edge of the container bottom (4), and a container lid (3), which is designed to close the lower container part (2) in order to bound a spatial volume by means of the lower container part (2). According to the invention, an accommodating shaft (15, 16, 17, 18) for accommodating an information carrying card (19) designed in the check card format is designed on an outer surface of the lower container part (2) and/or of the container lid (3), wherein the accommodating shaft (15, 16, 17, 18) has guiding means (20) for temporarily fixing the information carrying card (19) and a viewing window that is designed in such a way that a card surface (21) of an information carrying card (19) inserted in the accommodating shaft (15, 16, 17, 18) facing the outer surface of the lower container part (2) or of the container lid (3) can be viewed from the outside.