Corrugated Container Bottom Panel with Perforated Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers with folded material, such as corrugated paperboard, face challenges in collapsing after use, leading to premature breakage and sagging under weight, as existing weakened areas can result in unintended distortion during use.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible container design featuring a bottom panel with perforated portions and unbroken flutes that extend across a frangible central interface, along with release tabs, allows for controlled collapse by initiating separation at specific points, maintaining structural integrity until user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If weakened portions are formed in the bottom panel to enable collapse, then the container can be flattened for storage, but the bottom panel may sag under weight or break prematurely during use

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecollapsibilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom panel is segmented into multiple sections by the interface extending between diagonally opposite corners, with perforated portions creating controlled separation zones. This segmentation allows the panel to break into manageable sections during collapse while maintaining integrity during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface has non-uniform properties with perforated portions at corners (easier to break) and a central portion with unbroken flutes (harder to break). This local variation in breakability ensures controlled collapse initiation at corners while preventing premature failure at the center.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the bottom panel is made rigid to protect product during transport, then stacking strength is improved, but the container becomes difficult to collapse following use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking strengthVSAvoidcollapsibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container transitions from a rigid state during use to a collapsible state after use. The interface with perforated portions and frangible central portion enables this dynamic transition, maintaining strength when needed and allowing collapse when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The interface is pre-configured with perforated portions and unbroken flutes to control the collapse process. This preliminary arrangement of structural features enables reliable collapse while maintaining integrity during the container's service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If cut lines are formed to create weakened areas for collapse, then flattening is enabled, but premature breakage may occur during use

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecollapsibilityVSAvoidbreakage control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If preformed weakened areas are added to enable collapse, then flattening capability is improved, but container bottom sagging increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecollapsibilityVSAvoidbottom sagging

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11780637B2Container with improved breakdown features

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 INT PAPER CO

AI summary

A corrugated cardboard blank for making a collapsible container including one or more panels joined to a bottom panel. The bottom panel is divided into first and second sectional panels on opposing sides of an interface comprising perforated portions extending from a first pair of diagonally opposing corners of the bottom panel. Each perforated portion includes an inner end, wherein the inner ends of the perforated portions are longitudinally spaced from each other. First and second fold lines extend diagonally at least partially between a second pair of diagonally opposing corners of the bottom panel and respective perforated portions. A frangible central portion of the interface extends between the inner ends of the perforated portions, wherein a plurality of unbroken flutes of the corrugated material extend laterally across the central portion of the interface.