Container system for storing and transporting food
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meal trays and food containers require separate components that increase material consumption and lack flexibility in food preparation, while disposable containers do not offer sufficient rigidity and require separate handling.
Innovation Solution
A single-use container system with interconnected containers and a common covering sheet forms a multi-layer structure, providing rigidity and flexibility, using compostable materials and reducing material thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If separate load-bearing trays and food containers are used, then the tray can provide sufficient rigidity and load-bearing capacity, but material consumption increases and the system lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the load-bearing tray and food containers into a single integrated disposable unit. The tray body includes built-in cavities that serve as food containers, eliminating the need for separate containers. This merging reduces the number of components and overall material consumption while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated meal tray serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides load-bearing support, contains food in built-in cavities, and can be disposed of after use. The single structure performs the roles of both the traditional tray and food containers, reducing material consumption by eliminating redundant components.
2Quantity of substance
If integrated meal trays with built-in cavities are used, then material consumption is reduced, but the positions and sizes of cavities are fixed and flexibility for food preparation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tray body is divided into multiple separate cavities that can accommodate different food portions. These cavities are positioned and sized to provide flexibility for various meal compositions. The segmented structure allows different food types to be placed in different cavities while maintaining the integrated disposable design.
3Ease of operation
If disposable food containers are used, then washing effort is reduced, but the containers lack sufficient rigidity and require separate handling
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the disposable containers with the load-bearing tray into a single integrated unit, the patent eliminates the need for separate handling of containers. The integrated structure provides sufficient rigidity for transport while maintaining the disposable advantage of reduced washing effort.
Data Source
AI summary
The scope of the invention is a single-use container system for storing and transporting foodstuffs, in particular entire menus, having two or more separate containers of the same or different volumes, preferably produced from a compostable material. Each container includes a base, side walls that are connected to the base, and an opening opposite the base through which the contents are accessible. The containers are securely connected to a common covering sheet by an upper edge such that a multi-layer structure is formed in this region. According to the invention, detachable container lids, which have the contour of the respective container openings, are provided in the covering sheet. After the container lids are removed, a skeleton of the covering sheet remains that stays connected to the container edges.