Foldable Condiment Support in Food Container Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food containers with condiment holders are prone to spills, difficult to assemble, and costly, and fail to securely retain condiments during transport or use in moving vehicles, while also allowing moisture to condense and make food soggy due to inadequate ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A food container design featuring a first and second body portion with flaps that form a lid, including a foldable support for holding condiments and apertures for ventilation, allowing for secure condiment retention and prevention of moisture buildup, with a tab system to adjust venting and secure the lid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If interior pockets are used to hold condiments, then condiments can be contained within the container, but the pockets can be inadvertently squeezed leading to condiment spills and the containers become more difficult to assemble and more costly to produce
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a main body portion and a separate lid portion with the condiment holder integrated into the lid. This segmentation allows the condiment containment function to be isolated to the lid structure, simplifying the overall container design while maintaining the ability to hold condiments securely.
Solution Approach 2:
The condiment holder is nested within the lid structure, with the holder forming an integral part of the lid. This nesting eliminates the need for separate attachment mechanisms while maintaining secure condiment retention, thereby reducing structural complexity and assembly difficulty.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex folding shelves are formed separately and attached to the container, then condiment receptacles can be supported, but the attachments add to the cost and make assembly more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The condiment holder is merged with the lid to form an integral structure. The holder is formed as a single piece with the lid, eliminating the need for separate folding shelves and attachment mechanisms. This integration significantly simplifies manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the ability to support condiment receptacles securely.
3Temperature
If the container is sealed to keep food warm, then food temperature is maintained, but water vapor condenses on interior surfaces and drips down making food soggy
Solution Approach 1:
Vent apertures are provided in the lid to extract excess water vapor from the container interior. These apertures allow moisture to escape while the lid remains substantially closed to maintain food temperature, thereby preventing condensation buildup and food sogginess while preserving thermal retention.
4Temperature
If air circulation is restricted to maintain heat, then food stays warm, but latent heat and moisture cannot circulate away leading to increased condensation and sogginess
Solution Approach 1:
The vent apertures in the lid serve as intermediaries that allow selective passage of water vapor while maintaining overall thermal retention. The apertures are sized and positioned to permit moisture escape without creating significant heat loss, thereby mediating between the competing requirements of temperature maintenance and moisture management.
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 securely holds condiments, prevents food from becoming soggy by allowing ventilation, and is easy to assemble and use, addressing the issues of spills, cost, and moisture retention.
Implementation Method 1
the first flap includes a foldable support formed therein to hold a receptacle when in the open position
Implementation Method 2
certain, food items, such as fried chicken, emit moisture or water vapor along with latent heat stored in the food due to cooking and heating
Implementation Method 3
the water vapor can condense on the interior surfaces of the container and drip down towards the bottom of the container
Implementation Method 4
the second flap includes a tab to engage the first flap in the closed position to form a lid across the mouth of the interior
Implementation Method 5
the first flap includes a foldable support formed therein to hold a receptacle when in the open position
Data Source
AI summary
Food container is provided having a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion and the second body portion are joined together to define an interior of the container and a mouth to the interior. The first body portion has a first flap moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the first flap includes a foldable support formed therein to hold a receptacle when in the open position. The second body portion has a second flap moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the second flap includes a tab to engage the first flap in the closed position to form a lid across the mouth of the interior. A blank for forming the food container from a sheet of blank material is also provided.