Food Container Dispensing Tube With Support Clips for Single Dispense

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dispensing systems for solid food products, such as French fries, face issues with container shape leading to instability, expense, and lack of sanitation, as well as difficulties in using improved container designs with standard dispensers due to shape incompatibility and exposure to air.

Innovation Solution

A shaped dispensing tube with internal support clips that holds a stack of containers in place, minimizing the extension of the bottommost container to prevent multiple dispensing and ensuring proper orientation, while being mountable on a wall for improved accessibility and sanitation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional drinking cup shaped containers are used, then containers can be easily dispensed from standard dispensers, but containers are expensive to make due to thick cardboard and do not display French fries well

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer manufacturing costVSAvoidcompatibility with standard dispensers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The container design changes key geometric parameters: transitioning from a traditional cup shape with rim to a tapered cylindrical shape with circular cross-section throughout. This parameter change enables both cost reduction (thinner material, fewer folds) and dispenser compatibility (circular shape fits standard cup holder geometries)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Weight of moving object

If rectangular shaped containers are used, then containers can be made of lighter weight materials, but containers lie flat when filled causing contents to spill unless held upright

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer weightVSAvoidcontainer stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The container employs a cylindrical shape with circular cross-section and continuous taper, eliminating flat surfaces. This curvature provides inherent stability as the rounded base naturally resists lying flat, while the tapered form maintains structural integrity with lighter materials compared to rectangular designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of operation

If rectangular shaped containers are used with scoop filling, then containers can accommodate scoops, but angular interior corners of the scoop cause filling problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer filling easeVSAvoidcontainer geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The circular cross-section of the container eliminates angular interior corners that interfere with scoop insertion and filling. The curved geometry allows smooth passage of the scoop and complete filling without the geometric conflicts encountered in rectangular containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Weight of moving object

If improved container designs without rims are used, then containers can be made of lighter weight materials and stand self-supporting, but containers cannot engage with standard drinking cup dispensers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer weightVSAvoiddispenser compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The circular tapered container design serves multiple functions: it provides self-standing stability (unlike flat-bottomed designs), reduces material usage (no rim required), and maintains compatibility with standard cup holder dispensers through its circular geometry that fits conventional dispenser openings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

5Ease of operation

If containers are exposed in open channel dispensers, then containers are readily accessible, but all containers are exposed to air which is not sanitary and does not inhibit multiple dispensing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer accessibilityVSAvoidair exposure to containers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing tube acts as a protective enclosure (shell) that contains the stack of containers. This thin-walled structure provides sanitation by limiting air exposure while remaining transparent or translucent to allow visibility and easy access to the bottommost container for dispensing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS8857660B2Solid food product container dispenser

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 SAN JAMAR INC

AI summary

The present invention provides an improved system and method for dispensing solid food product containers. It comprises a shaped dispensing tube (62) of a predetermined length, having a plurality of support clips (76) arranged inside the dispensing tube (62) for holding a stack of solid food product containers (70) in place within the tube (62). The dispensing tube (62) preferably includes a bracket (68) for mounting the entire device on a wall or the like. A nested stack of containers (70) is fed into the preferably open top (78) of the dispensing tube (62) until the bottommost container engages (or is engaged by) the support clips (76). This results in the bottommost container extending a predetermined distance below the bottom of the dispensing tube (62). By minimizing the amount the bottommost container extends below the dispensing tube (62), a user's ability to take more than one solid food container at a time is greatly minimized.