Corrugated Paper Board Pod for Watercraft Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional padded bags and packing materials fail to adequately protect surfboards and similar watercraft boards during transportation, leading to damage.
Innovation Solution
A board pod assembly made from sustainable, recyclable materials, including a corrugated paper-based frame that can be configured into a ring shape for enclosure and folded for storage, eliminating the need for disposable packing materials like tape, bubble wrap, and foam, and using reusable straps for secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional padded bags with extra foam and bubble wrap are used, then boards receive some protection, but the protection is inadequate during transportation leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-assembling a rigid corrugated paper frame structure that provides structural support and cushioning zones before the board is placed inside. The frame includes predetermined folding zones and reinforcement zones that create protective geometry in advance, rather than relying on loose foam and bubble wrap that fail to provide adequate protection during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple layers of corrugated paper in a frame structure with different functional zones (reinforcement zones, folding zones, cushioning zones). This composite corrugated paper structure provides superior protection compared to conventional single-material padded bags, creating a rigid yet absorbent protective container.
2Ease of manufacture
If disposable packing materials like tape, bubble wrap, and foam are used, then boards can be packed, but significant waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by designing a corrugated paper frame structure that can be disassembled, flattened, and reused for subsequent board packaging. The frame includes reversible connections and folding zones that allow the structure to be collapsed into a compact form for storage and reuse, eliminating the need to discard packing materials after single use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a universal corrugated paper frame structure that can accommodate multiple boards through repeated use. The frame serves multiple functions: structural support, cushioning, and reusable packaging container, replacing the need for disposable materials while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized assembly.
3Reliability
If a rigid protective structure is used, then boards receive adequate protection, but the structure is difficult to store when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by incorporating folding zones and flexible connections in the corrugated paper frame that allow the rigid protective structure to transform between an expanded protective configuration and a collapsed storage configuration. The frame maintains rigidity when assembled for protection but can be dynamically folded flat for convenient storage, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and storage ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A container or pod for securely housing a watercraft (e.g., a surfboard) is described. A board pod assembly is configured to enclose or encompass a surfboard using components composed of sustainable recyclable materials that can be reused or recycled. The board pod assembly may include a corrugated paper-based frame shaped and sized to receive the board within an inner cavity formed by the frame. The frame may be configurable between a ring-shaped configuration (e.g., for use in enclosing the board) and a folded configuration (e.g., for storage purposes when not enclosing the board). The board pod assembly includes a bottom lid configured to couple to a surface of the frame. The assembly further includes a top lid configured to couple to a surface of frame (e.g., an upper surface of the frame) opposing the surface to which the bottom lid is attached.