Foldable Container Closure with Hinged Diagonal Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food containers are often time-consuming to form and lack easily formed features that facilitate securing a lid to the base when closed, especially in packaging and transporting food products.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible container formed from a foldable sheet material with specific hinged panels and a front tuck flap that engages the lid and side panels to create releasable secure closures, allowing for easy assembly and stacking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional container forming methods are used, then the container structure is stable, but the forming process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforming speedVSAvoidforming complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container blank is divided into multiple hinged panels (front panel, side panels, top panels, bottom panels) that can be independently folded and positioned. This segmentation allows each panel to be formed separately through simple folding actions, dramatically reducing forming time while maintaining structural stability through the hinged connections between panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blank is pre-configured with fold lines and hinged connections in specific positions before the forming process. This preliminary arrangement of panels and hinges enables the container to be assembled quickly through predetermined folding sequences, eliminating the need for complex real-time forming operations and reducing overall forming time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If simple closure features are used, then the assembly is easy, but the securing reliability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure easeVSAvoidsecuring reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure mechanism employs a nested structure where the front panel of the lid folds over and tucks into a recess formed by the front panel and side panels of the base. This nesting arrangement creates a secure interlocking connection that reliably holds the lid to the base while allowing easy insertion and removal through simple folding motions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure system is designed to automatically engage and secure itself through the folding and tucking actions of the panels. The hinged panels self-align and self-lock into place without requiring additional fasteners, clips, or complex mechanisms, making the closure process easy while maintaining reliable securing through the geometric interlocking of the panel structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9908660B2Blank and methods of constructing a container from the blank
Publication Date: 2018.03.06 WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES LLC
  • US9908660B2 patent drawing
  • US9908660B2 patent drawing
  • US9908660B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a container is provided. The blank includes a top panel, a front tuck flap extending from a front edge of the top panel, and a top side panel extending from a side edge of the top panel. The blank also includes a bottom panel, a front panel extending from a front edge of the bottom panel, and a corner portion. The corner portion includes a minor diagonal panel extending and a major diagonal panel. The corner portion also includes a corner panel hingedly connected to the minor and major diagonal panels. The front panel is configured to engage the front tuck flap to at least partially define a first releasably secure closure of the container, and the top side panel includes a front edge configured to engage the minor diagonal panel to at least partially define a second releasably secure closure of the container.