Deformable Lid for Heat Insulating Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold storage boxes with undeformable outer boxes face efficiency issues when the volume of stored objects decreases, leading to increased air volume which deteriorates heat insulation due to air's high specific heat capacity.
Innovation Solution
A heat insulating container with a deformable plate-shaped lid that adjusts its position and shape to match the volume of the object, reducing air volume and maintaining efficient insulation by bringing its peripheral edge into close contact with the container's side walls, utilizing a connecting elastic part to change its projected area and fit snugly around the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the container uses an undeformable outer box, then the structural strength is maintained, but the heat insulation efficiency deteriorates when the volume of stored objects decreases due to increased air volume
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be deformable rather than fixed, allowing it to change its position and shape dynamically. The lid can be pressed downward to reduce the internal volume of the container when stored objects have smaller volume, thereby reducing the amount of air inside and improving heat insulation efficiency while maintaining structural integrity through controlled deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is constructed as a flexible plate-shaped structure that can deform under external force. This flexible design allows the lid to adapt to different storage volumes by changing its position, reducing air volume, and improving thermal insulation without compromising the overall structural strength of the container body
2Ease of manufacture
If the container volume is fixed, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to different object volumes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a dynamic lid that can change its position and deformation state to adapt to different object volumes. The lid can be pressed downward to reduce internal volume when needed, providing versatility without requiring multiple container sizes or complex adjustable mechanisms, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The container's internal volume parameter can be changed by deforming the lid to different positions and shapes. This allows a single fixed container structure to provide multiple effective volume configurations, enhancing adaptability to different storage needs while keeping the manufacturing process simple and the base structure fixed
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 deformable lid design effectively suppresses the deterioration of heat insulation efficiency by adjusting to the object's volume, minimizing air presence and maintaining effective temperature regulation.
Implementation Method 1
the lid is configured by connecting a plurality of sections by means of a connecting elastic part... the projected area of the lid can be reduced by compressing the connecting elastic part so as to reduce the interval between the sections
Implementation Method 2
Air has high specific heat than the contents, thus posing a problem that the cold insulation (heat insulation efficiency) inconveniently deteriorates when the inside of the box is filled with a relatively large amount of air
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose of the invention is to provide a heat insulating container capable of suppressing the deterioration of heat insulation performance even if the volume of an object stored is reduced. A heat insulating container 1 includes a storage space 13 formed by a bottom wall 11 and side walls 12, a container body 10 having an opening 14 continuous to the storage space 13, and a deformable plate-shaped lid 20. The lid 20 is configured such that at least a part thereof is deformed in a state of being inserted into the storage space 13 through the opening 14 of the container body 10 thereby to bring peripheral edges 21 thereof into close contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 of the container body 10.