Foldable Gel-Pack Insulated Container for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulated containers for keeping food and drinks cool or warm are often bulky, inefficient in space usage, and require ice or gel packs that can be messy or difficult to manage, especially when trying to maintain temperature for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible insulated container with pliable walls containing gel packs, designed to fold into a compact shape for storage and easy use, featuring elongate pockets with foldable crease lines and a closure flap secured by fastener straps, allowing for efficient cooling or heating by placing the container in a freezer or microwave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional insulated containers use ice or gel packs for cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but the container becomes bulky and takes up significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible gel packs with thin film construction that can conform to the container walls, replacing traditional rigid ice blocks or bulky gel containers. The gel packs are designed with flexible walls that allow them to be compressed and folded, significantly reducing the space they occupy while maintaining their cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and form of the cooling medium from rigid or semi-rigid to a flexible, collapsible gel structure. The gel packs can be compressed to high density, allowing them to occupy minimal space when not in use, yet expand to fill the container when activated for cooling.
2Temperature
If gel packs are used for cooling, then temperature maintenance is improved, but the gel packs can be lost or make items wet
Solution Approach 1:
The gel packs are integrated directly into the container structure, with pockets formed in the container walls that hold the gel packs in place. This merging of the cooling element with the container body eliminates the risk of gel packs being lost or moving around, and the integrated design ensures proper positioning for effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The container walls act as an intermediary structure between the gel packs and the items being cooled. The walls contain the gel packs in designated pockets and provide a barrier that prevents direct contact between the gel packs and food items, eliminating the wetting problem while maintaining thermal contact for effective cooling.
3Temperature
If containers have gel material in walls for cooling, then cooling function is provided, but the containers are difficult to fold into compact condition
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate modular sections with foldable walls that can be collapsed independently. The gel packs are positioned in pockets that allow the walls to fold flat without creating resistance, enabling the entire container to be compacted to a thin profile for easy storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The container walls are designed with dynamic folding mechanisms that allow them to transition between upright and folded states. The gel packs are secured in a way that permits the walls to flex and fold during collapse, and the container can be easily reopened by applying force to unfold the walls back to their functional position.
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 maintains desired internal temperatures for extended periods while being compact and easy to store and reuse, reducing space and mess issues associated with traditional cooling methods.
Implementation Method 1
insulated container with one or more pliable walls containing gel packs
Implementation Method 2
The walls having at least an inner layer and an outer layer
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible insulated container has a base wall and a peripheral wall with an open end defining an enclosure. The peripheral wall has at least two layers and is divided into elongate pockets between the layers, with foldable crease lines between adjacent pockets. Each pocket contains a flexible-walled, insulating gel pack which substantially fills the pocket. The crease lines may be defined by stitching securing the outer and inner layers of the container together. The gel packs may be surrounded by matting, foam or mesh material which is sewn into the lines of stitching, or may have integral peripheral rims sewn into the lines of stitching. The container is foldable between an erect, open condition and a storage condition in which it is folded along the crease lines into a substantially flattened package.