Corner Closure Groove With Bottom Incision For Stackable Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food packaging with angular closure means and ventilation slots limits stackability, resulting in significant wasted volume when packaged in large quantities, leading to increased transport costs.
Innovation Solution
The closure means feature a groove with an incision or cutout at the bottom, allowing the outer rim of one component to clip into the other, eliminating the need for an internal groove and enabling bottom-to-bottom interlocking, thus enhancing stackability and volume efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closure means comprise a groove with remains at the top level, then locking function is achieved, but stackability is limited due to residual space between containers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the locking mechanism from a vertical arrangement (groove remains at top level) to a horizontal arrangement (incision at bottom level with outer rim clipping). This dimensional shift allows the locking function to be achieved without occupying vertical space that would interfere with stacking, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable locking and maximum stackability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the locking feature at the top of the groove (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by placing the incision at the bottom level of the groove. The outer rim clips into this bottom incision, achieving locking through an inverted spatial arrangement that eliminates residual space and enables bottom-to-bottom interlocking for improved stacking.
2Reliability
If groove remains are used for locking, then closure security is provided, but bottom-to-bottom interlocking is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional locking approach by moving the incision from the top level to the bottom level of the groove. This allows the outer rim to clip into the bottom incision, enabling both secure closure and bottom-to-bottom interlocking for stacking, thereby resolving the contradiction between closure security and stacking ease.
3Volume of stationary object
If incision is made at bottom level, then maximum interlocking is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is segmented into distinct functional zones: the incision at the bottom level for locking, and the upper portion for guiding and support. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently, with the bottom incision enabling maximum interlocking while the upper groove structure maintains manufacturing simplicity through its standardized form.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for maximum interlocking of packages, significantly reducing wasted volume and resulting in substantial economic benefits, particularly in transport costs.
Implementation Method 1
the closure means consist of a groove made in the edge of each angular zone of one of the container or of the cover and capable of elastically guiding and housing one outer rim of the other
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The package has closing units located in corner zones of a container (1). The closing units are constituted of grooves (6) that are formed in edges of the corner zones of the container and elastically guide and house outer edges (7) of a lid. Each groove has an incision or cut formed at a level of flat base (8) of the groove over a length equal to length of the outer edges of the lid. Each outer edge has a free abutment clipped by insertion in the incision or cut when the abutment arrives to a level of the incision or cut.