Double-Walled Food Container Thermal Insulation via Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional containers fail to effectively maintain frozen confections at low temperatures in warm environments, and existing thermally efficient options like Styrofoam have environmental drawbacks, making them unsuitable for retail and single-use applications.
Innovation Solution
A thermally efficient container system featuring a double-walled construction with an inner and outer tub, a locking assembly, and a nested design that includes a hinge and ornamental features, providing superior thermal insulation and structural integrity while being compostable and suitable for both frozen and hot foods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If single-walled containers are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into an outer container and an inner container as separate components. The outer container provides structural support and exterior protection, while the inner container holds the food product. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the air gap between them providing thermal insulation without requiring complex integrated structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner container is nested within the outer container, with the inner container positioned inside the cavity of the outer container. This nesting arrangement creates an insulating air gap between the two containers while maintaining a compact overall structure. The nested design provides superior thermal insulation compared to single-walled containers without significantly increasing the external dimensions.
2Temperature
If Styrofoam containers are used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes air as an insulating material in the gap between the outer and inner containers. Air is a natural, non-toxic, and environmentally benign material that provides effective thermal insulation. This approach replaces Styrofoam and other synthetic insulating materials with a sustainable alternative that has minimal environmental impact while maintaining thermal performance.
3Temperature
If conventional containers are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but thermal protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is segmented into separate outer and inner containers that can be manufactured independently using standard成型 processes. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using conventional manufacturing techniques without requiring complex multi-material molding or assembly processes, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving superior thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The air gap between the outer and inner containers serves as an intermediary thermal barrier. This simple design element effectively reduces heat transfer between the external environment and the food product without requiring complex active cooling systems or sophisticated insulation materials, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enhancing thermal protection capability.
4Temperature
If double-walled construction is implemented, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The double-walled construction is achieved through segmentation into separate outer and inner container components rather than a single complex molded piece. This approach provides the thermal insulation benefits of a double-walled structure while keeping each individual component relatively simple in design, allowing for easier manufacturing and assembly compared to integrated double-walled designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner container is nested within the outer container, creating a compact double-walled structure. This nesting arrangement maximizes the insulating air gap within a space-efficient configuration, providing superior thermal insulation without excessively increasing the overall size or structural complexity of the container system.
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 container system maintains frozen products at below 18 degrees F for three times longer than single-walled containers, is easy to assemble and label, and is environmentally friendly, making it suitable for retail and single-use applications.
Implementation Method 1
The container system maintains frozen products at below 18 degrees F for three times longer than single-walled containers
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally efficient container system having a lid and a base that has a chamber to include a frozen product, or a hot product. The container system includes an outer container including an outer tub and an outer lid. The outer lid can be coupled to the outer tub via one or more hinges. The container system also includes an inner container including an inner tub configured to fit into the outer tub and form a first cavity between at least a portion of the inner tub and the outer tub, and an inner lid configured to fit within at least a portion of the outer lid and adjacent to a proximal surface of the outer lid forming an enclosed second cavity between the inner lid and the outer lid. The container system can include one or more locking assemblies that are configured to secure the lid to the base.