Lidded Container Flange Structure for Heavy-Load Drawer Frames
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer-container combinations with lids are not suitable for integration into drawer frames that support metal wire and mesh baskets, as the lids interfere with the flanges and do not allow for robust flange construction, limiting the load capacity and flexibility of the container.
Innovation Solution
A container design with flanges that extend along the upper edges of the walls, allowing the lid to leave outer portions free, enabling the flanges to take up the entire height of the guide, and incorporating reinforcing subflanges and lateral reinforcement flanges to enhance stiffness without increasing the thickness of the container material, allowing for heavier loads and easier integration into drawer frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the lid is designed to cover the entire box including flanges, then the lid provides complete protection and structural support, but the flanges cannot be made robust enough to handle heavy loads when inserted in drawer frame guides
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is segmented into two functional zones: a first portion that engages with the drawer frame guide for load-bearing support, and a second portion that remains accessible for lid engagement. This segmentation allows the flange to simultaneously provide robust structural support while maintaining ease of lid operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the flange are given different functional qualities: the first portion is optimized for mechanical engagement and load-bearing with the drawer frame, while the second portion is optimized for interaction with the lid. This local differentiation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
2Strength
If the flange is made thicker and more robust to handle heavy loads, then the load-bearing capacity increases, but the container material thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing flange thickness in the vertical dimension, the invention extends the flange laterally to engage with the drawer frame guide. This dimensional shift allows load-bearing capacity to be increased through extended surface area and geometric configuration rather than through increased material thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange structure combines the container wall material with the drawer frame guide material to create a composite load-bearing system. The flange engages with the guide to form a combined structure that distributes loads across both materials, allowing thinner container material while maintaining high load-bearing capacity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flange extends along the entire upper edge of the wall, then the structural stiffness increases, but the lid cannot be easily removed and reattached
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is divided into a first portion that provides continuous structural support along the upper edge for stiffness, and a second portion that is intentionally left open or reduced in extent to allow lid engagement and disengagement. This segmentation maintains overall structural integrity while providing operational access.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange design transitions from a static continuous structure to a dynamic configuration where the second portion can accommodate the motion of lid attachment and removal. The flange maintains its stiff structural function in the engaged state while allowing temporary flexibility during lid operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
Figure 9~11
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a plastic container comprising a box (1) and a lid (13). The box has a bottom portion (3) and first (5,7) and second (9,11) pairs of opposing walls rising from the bottom portion to define an internal space of the container, and the upper edges of the walls are adapted to support the lid and comprise flanges (19) that extend outwards from the inner space. The lid is adapted to leave an outer portion (21) of said flanges free along the entire length of the walls of the first pair when the lid is applied to the box. This means that the lid can optionally be removed, even if the box is inserted in a rack where the flanges are supported by a guide.