Corrugated Fiber Insulation for Eco-Friendly Thermal Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal packaging solutions are not environmentally friendly due to their use of plastics and often have limited temperature retention capabilities when made from natural substances.

Innovation Solution

A thermal ratio composed of a flat back cushion and a flat front pillow connected on the side edge, forming a cavity for temperature retention. The cushions are made from a fiber material with corrugated or zigzag-shaped layers, providing effective air piping for insulation, and are encased in bags made from eco-friendly materials like recycled paper or thermoplastic fleece.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If plastics are used to manufacture thermal containers, then temperature retention function is improved, but environmental friendliness and recyclability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature retention functionVSAvoidenvironmental friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameters from conventional plastics to corrugated fiberboard with specific corrugation heights (≥0.3mm) and fiber material properties. This parameter change enables natural materials to achieve temperature retention functionality previously only available from plastics, while maintaining environmental compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structures including corrugated fiberboard combined with fiber materials (natural or synthetic), creating a multi-layer insulation system. The composite structure leverages the air pockets in corrugated layers and the insulating properties of fiber materials to achieve effective thermal insulation without using conventional plastics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If natural materials are used to create thermal containers, then environmental friendliness is improved, but temperature retention time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidtemperature retention time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes physical parameters of natural materials, specifically setting corrugation heights to ≥0.3mm (preferably ≥0.5mm or ≥0.65mm) and controlling fiber material properties. These parameter optimizations enable natural materials to extend temperature retention time to match or exceed conventional plastic containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a three-dimensional corrugated structure with significant height dimensions into the insulation material. This dimensional transformation creates extensive air pockets and thermal barriers within the natural material, dramatically improving temperature retention capability beyond what flat natural materials can achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional flat fiber material is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but insulation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidinsulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies corrugation (a form of controlled curvature) to flat fiber material, creating wave-like structures with specific geometries. This curvature transformation traps air pockets and increases thermal resistance, significantly improving insulation performance while remaining compatible with conventional manufacturing processes for corrugated materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

The thermal ratio maintains the temperature of packaging materials for extended periods, up to 72 hours, while being environmentally friendly and recyclable, making it suitable for both cooling and warming applications.

Implementation Method 1

the fiber material has a multitude of air pockets or air gaps, which allows the respective temperature to be maintained particularly well

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4194364B1Thermal container
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 PROFUMED KARLHEINZ LOHR E K
  • EP4194364B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4194364B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a thermal container comprising a flat back cushion and a flat front cushion extending over the back cushion, which are sewn and/or glued and/or crimped together at opposite side edges of the thermal container and are formed in one piece at a further side edge of the thermal container, so that a cavity is formed between the back cushion and the front cushion, wherein the back cushion and the front cushion are each formed from a bag and a fibrous material contained therein.According to the invention, the fibrous material is a single layer or a stack of a plurality of flatly overlapping single layers of corrugated and/or zigzag-shaped or folded fibrous material, wherein the single layer(s) has/have a corrugation and/or zigzag height of ≥ 0.3 mm, wherein either the back cushion has a back cushion section projecting on one side over the front cushion or a closure flap is attached to one side of the back cushion, which can be folded onto a surface of the front cushion to close the cavity and can be connected to it directly or indirectly.