Container Sleeve Clip Assembly for Gapless Stacking Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shipping containers face challenges in increasing load capacity and stability when stacking multiple sleeves without direct edge contact, especially when using pallets without grooves, necessitating improved joining mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The use of specially designed molded plastic clips with notches and tabs allows for edge-to-edge joining of container sleeves, utilizing H-shaped configurations with internal ribs to prevent direct edge contact and enhance stability, while also incorporating an adapter for pallets without grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If sleeves are stacked without direct edge contact, then load capacity increases, but stability decreases and component loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces clips as intermediary components that connect the edges of stacked sleeves. These clips serve as mediators between the sleeves, providing mechanical connection without requiring direct edge-to-edge contact, thereby maintaining stability while enabling increased load capacity through stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into separate functional components: clips attached to the sleeves, notches cut into the sleeve edges, and tabs that engage with the notches. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, ensuring stable connection while facilitating easy assembly and disassembly.
2Reliability
If clips are used to join sleeves, then stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the clip component: it provides structural connection, distributes load, prevents sleeve displacement, and enables stacking. By merging these functions into a single integrated component rather than using separate connection elements, the overall device complexity is minimized while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip design serves multiple purposes: it connects sleeves to each other, attaches sleeves to pallets, provides structural support, and enables both grooved and ungrooved pallet configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If edge contact is prevented, then component wear decreases, but joining strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clip acts as an intermediary that prevents direct edge-to-edge contact between sleeves while still transmitting joining forces. The notches and tabs create a mechanical interlock that maintains joining strength without requiring the sleeve edges themselves to contact each other, thereby preventing wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection is localized to specific points where clips attach to the sleeve edges through notches and tabs, rather than requiring continuous edge contact. This localized connection provides sufficient joining strength at the critical points while leaving the majority of the sleeve edges free from contact and wear.
Data Source
AI summary
An increased volume palletized container comprising upper and lower foldable, four walled sleeves which are joined to one another in a substantially edge to edge stacked relationship using molded plastic clips some of which receive and can be locked to a notched adjacent mating edge of the stacked sleeves to join the sleeves together in a gapless fashion. At least some clips have an H configuration with a center rib that separates and prevents direct contact between the adjacent edges of the two sleeves.