Single-use expandable liquid container and blank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-use liquid containers for medical use, such as urinals, often have angular shapes that are uncomfortable for users and cannot be easily expanded from a collapsed state to a usable form, leading to leakage and inefficient storage, while also requiring more material and complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A single-use container made from sheet material with a convex front and rear wall and concave side walls, designed to be easily transformed from a collapsed to an expanded state through specific fold lines, providing ergonomic comfort and structural strength without the need for oil-based wax waterproofing treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the container is designed with angular shape to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the container walls, specifically designing the front and rear walls with convex curvature and the side walls with concave curvature. This curved geometry provides ergonomic comfort to users while still being manufacturable from a flat blank through die-cutting and folding operations, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and user comfort.
2Volume of moving object
If the container is made collapsible to reduce storage space, then storage efficiency is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into multiple wall sections (front wall, rear wall, side walls) that are connected through fold lines. This segmentation allows the container to be collapsed into a compact form for storage while maintaining the ability to expand into a structurally strong configuration during use, thus resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The container transitions between two dynamic states: a collapsed state for storage and an expanded state for use. The fold lines enable this dynamic transformation, allowing the container to adapt its volume and structural characteristics based on operational requirements, thereby resolving the contradiction between compact storage and structural strength.
3Ease of operation
If the container is designed to expand easily with simple movement, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-formed with fold lines and creases during manufacturing that enable easy expansion by the user. These preliminary structural features are built into the container blank before use, allowing the user to simply push or pull to expand the container without complex mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between expansion simplicity and structural complexity.
4Strength
If more material is used to increase structural strength, then strength is improved, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes the inherent strength of folded sheet material to achieve structural integrity without requiring excessive material thickness or quantity. The fold lines and geometric configuration of the walls provide structural reinforcement, allowing the container to maintain strength while using minimal material, thus resolving the contradiction between container strength and material consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a single-use container (200) manufactured from sheet material, the single-use container comprising: a base (206), wherein the base is flat and forms a surface on which the single- use container can stand, - a front wall (201), a right wall (202), a left wall (203) and a rear wall (204) which extend upward from the base, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are convex, and wherein the right wall and left wall are concave, an upper end (207) which connects the front wall, right wall, left wall and rear wall.