Foldable Bulk Container Hollow Wall Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulk containers with collapsible walls often experience water and debris accumulation in recesses created by reinforcing ribs, leading to blockage of drainage holes and splashing issues during use and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable bulk container design featuring elongate hollows within the walls that are parallel to the base, minimizing indents and recesses, and providing enhanced rigidity, with the hollows concealed to maintain a flat outer and smooth inner surface, allowing for easier folding and reduced water splashing during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcing ribs are used in collapsible walls, then structural strength is improved, but water and debris accumulation in recesses occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding external ribs that create protruding recesses, the patent inverts the reinforcement approach by creating internal hollow channels within the wall panels themselves. This internal hollow structure provides strengthening without external protrusions, eliminating the indent problem while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the hollow reinforcing channels within the wall panel structure. The hollows are embedded inside the walls, creating a nested configuration where the reinforcement element is contained within the wall itself, preventing external indent formation while providing structural support.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If drainage holes are provided to prevent water accumulation, then water drainage is improved, but blockage of drainage holes by debris occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drainage function from separate drainage holes and integrates it into the hollow channel structure. The hollows themselves serve as drainage pathways, eliminating the need for separate drainage holes that can be blocked by debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow channels serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural reinforcement, create drainage pathways, and maintain a smooth external surface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drainage features that could be blocked.
3Ease of operation
If collapsible walls are used to facilitate easy storage, then storage convenience is improved, but water splashing on users during erection occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having external ribs creating indentations that collect and splash water, the patent inverts the structure to have internal hollows with smooth external surfaces. This eliminates the water collection indentations while maintaining the collapsible feature for easy storage.
4Stability of the object's composition
If ribs are added for reinforcement, then structural rigidity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reinforcement function with the wall panel structure itself. The hollow channels are integrated into the wall panels, combining the structural reinforcement element with the wall assembly, thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to adding separate external ribs.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~12
AI summary
The present invention relates to a foldable bulk container (10) including a base (12) and a plurality of walls (14 & 16) surrounding the base (12). In use, the walls (14 & 16) are adapted to fold down over the base (12). At least one of the walls (14 & 16) includes reinforcing means in the form of a first elongate hollow (18). The elongate hollow, in use, is substantially parallel to the base (12).