Container with a taper mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible containers, such as sacks, are cumbersome and inefficient for transporting objects due to their inability to snugly adapt to the object being transported, especially when using externally folded materials with overhanging bays.

Innovation Solution

A flexible container with a taper mechanism that uses wire pulls guided through spaced-apart wire pull guides to reduce the interior circumference, allowing for effective adaptation to the object, with zigzag-shaped wire pulls and eyelet or loop guides for efficient pulling, and a lid that can be closed to simplify recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If externally folded straps or similar structures are used, then the container can be made flexible, but the container becomes cumbersome and cannot adapt snugly to the object being transported

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAdaptability to objectVSAvoidCumbersomeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container utilizes a flexible material shell that can conform to the shape of the object being transported. The taper mechanism with wire pulls operates within this flexible shell structure, allowing the entire envelope to adapt to the object's dimensions while maintaining flexibility for easy storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The container incorporates a dynamic taper mechanism that can actively adjust its circumference through wire pulls. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the container to transition between different sizes and shapes, enabling snug adaptation to various objects while remaining compact when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the container circumference is reduced to adapt to the object, then adaptation effectiveness is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAdaptation effectivenessVSAvoidTaper mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The taper mechanism is divided into multiple independent wire pulls, each responsible for reducing the circumference at different locations. These segmented wire pulls are guided through separately arranged wire pull guides, allowing independent adjustment and simplifying the overall control mechanism while achieving effective adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Wire pull guides (eyelets or loops) are introduced as intermediary elements to facilitate the wire pulls' movement through the flexible material. These guides simplify the interaction between the wire pulls and the container structure, reducing the direct complexity of the taper mechanism while maintaining effective circumference reduction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10745175B2Container with a taper mechanism

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 X CEN TEK GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A container with a taper mechanism, wherein the container is designed to be flexible and is provided for enclosing an object in the interior thereof, wherein the taper mechanism can pull together at least two pulling sides of a tapering surface of the container by means of at least one wire pull to reduce the circumference of the interior of the container, wherein the wire of the wire pull is alternately guided in spaced-apart wire pull guides arranged on the opposite pull sides along the pulling sides.