Convertible Food Container with Detachable Foldable Wings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable or limited-use food containers are inconvenient for direct consumption due to their design, often requiring additional containers like bowls or plates, which leads to waste and inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A food container with a food compartment and foldable wings, featuring a detachment feature that allows users to easily convert the container into a bowl by removing the foldable wings, facilitating direct consumption without additional containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the food container is designed as a disposable or limited-use container with foldable wings for enclosure, then the container provides convenient storage and transport, but the container becomes inconvenient for direct consumption and requires additional containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer functionalityVSAvoiddirect consumption convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container incorporates foldable wings that can be dynamically adjusted between folded and unfolded positions, allowing the container to transition from a closed storage configuration to an open bowl configuration for direct consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container is divided into a permanent food compartment and detachable foldable wings, allowing the wings to be removed or folded away to convert the container from a closed storage vessel to an open eating bowl

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If additional containers like bowls or plates are used for consumption, then direct consumption becomes possible, but waste increases and convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect consumption capabilityVSAvoidadditional container waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a storage container with foldable wings and a direct consumption bowl when the wings are removed or folded away, eliminating the need for separate additional containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the container is designed to maintain structural integrity throughout use, then reliability is improved, but adaptability for conversion to bowl shape is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcontainer-to-bowl conversion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The container structure is segmented into a rigid permanent food compartment that maintains structural integrity and detachable foldable wings that can be removed or folded, allowing the main body to retain its structural strength while enabling configuration changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250042602A1Convertible carry out container and bowl

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 KARI-OUT LLC

AI summary

A food container is configured to temporarily store food such as from a restaurant or self-service food station, enclose the food for transportation, and then convert to a convenient bowl for eating the food directly from the food container. Once the food is received in a volume of the food container defined by a number of sidewalls, the food container is enclosed by folding foldable wings attached to the tops of the sidewalls. When it is time to consume the food item, a detachment feature located within the sidewalls is engaged to remove the foldable wings and provide convenient access to the food item. The detachment feature includes design features to allow for easy removal without compromising the structural integrity of the container during use and transport.