Stacking Container Corner Engagement for Lateral Load Strength

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional containers are prone to sidewall separation when subjected to lateral loads during stacking and transportation, with the side engaging projection being susceptible to shearing under heavy loads.

Innovation Solution

The container design includes a bottom-face main projection and sub-projections that fit inside the top face of the lower-layer container, along with corner engaging projections and recesses that engage at the corners to distribute lateral loads and prevent sidewall separation, while side and corner projections work together to resist lateral forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional containers use simple side engaging projections on sidewalls, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the containers lack sufficient strength against lateral loads and sidewalls may separate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength against lateral loadVSAvoidcomplexity of engagement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement structure is segmented into multiple functional components: bottom-face main projection, bottom-face sub-projections at four corners, projection receiving recesses, corner engaging projections, and side engaging projections. This segmentation distributes the lateral load across multiple engagement points rather than relying on a single simple projection, thereby increasing strength against lateral loads while maintaining manufacturability through modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement structure extends into multiple spatial dimensions: the bottom-face main projection fits into the top-face opening vertically, the bottom-face sub-projections engage with the projection receiving recesses laterally, and the corner engaging projections provide diagonal reinforcement. This multi-dimensional engagement distributes lateral forces across three-dimensional space, significantly improving load-bearing capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If containers are stacked to increase storage efficiency, then space utilization improves, but lateral loads during transportation cause sidewalls to separate and engage projections to shear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking capacityVSAvoidstability during transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement structure is segmented into multiple functional components: bottom-face main projection, bottom-face sub-projections at four corners, projection receiving recesses, corner engaging projections, and side engaging projections. This segmentation distributes the lateral load across multiple engagement points rather than relying on a single simple projection, thereby increasing strength against lateral loads while maintaining manufacturability through modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The corner engaging projections and recesses are pre-configured at the corners of stacked containers to engage before lateral loads are applied. This preliminary engagement creates a reinforced corner structure that proactively resists lateral forces during stacking and transportation, preventing sidewall separation before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If corner engaging projections are added to distribute lateral loads, then strength against lateral loads improves, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength against lateral loadVSAvoidease of manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement structure is segmented into multiple functional components: bottom-face main projection, bottom-face sub-projections at four corners, projection receiving recesses, corner engaging projections, and side engaging projections. This segmentation distributes the lateral load across multiple engagement points rather than relying on a single simple projection, thereby increasing strength against lateral loads while maintaining manufacturability through modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The corner engaging projections are integrated with the bottom-face sub-projections and the projection receiving recesses, combining multiple engagement functions into a unified structural element. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the distributed load-bearing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10301069B2Container

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 SANKO CO LTD

AI summary

[Problem] To provide containers stronger than conventional containers with respect to a lateral load when stacked. [Solution] The containers according to the present invention are configured so that a corner engaging projection and a corner engaging recess are engaged at the four corners on the bottom face and the top face of a top and a bottom container when stacked, thereby allowing such containers to hold up against the lateral load received when stacked by dispersing the lateral load more widely than conventional containers. Thus, the present invention achieves a higher strength with respect to the lateral load when stacked than conventional containers and prevents incidents where a first sidewall and second sidewall would be separated from each other due to the first sidewall or second sidewall being pushed and bent outwards.