Foldable Handle Carrier for Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carton and carrier designs for holding and transporting containers are inefficient in terms of material usage and user convenience, as they often require additional handling steps and do not provide a clear view of the containers' labels or graphics, and they lack a robust and ergonomic handle mechanism for easy carrying.
Innovation Solution
A carrier system comprising multiple panels that can be folded to form a handle, allowing the carrier to transition between a compact shipping position and a user-friendly carrying position, with adhesive regions for enhanced stability and container retention, accommodating various container shapes and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional rigid handle structure is used, then the handle provides structural support, but it increases material usage and device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The handle panel is designed to be movable relative to the top panel, transitioning between a first position (flush with top panel) and a second position (folded back for grasping). This dynamic configuration allows the handle to provide structural support when needed while minimizing material usage when not in use, eliminating the need for a permanently rigid handle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is divided into distinct functional panels: a top panel, a handle panel foldably connected to the top panel, and attachment panels. This segmentation allows the handle panel to be independently positioned and folded, providing structural support only when required for carrying, thereby reducing overall material usage.
2Ease of operation
If the handle panel is always folded back for carrying, then carrying convenience is improved, but the carrier occupies more space during storage or transport
Solution Approach 1:
The handle panel's position is dynamically adjustable. During storage or transport, the handle panel can be folded flush against the top panel, minimizing the carrier's volume. When carrying is required, the handle panel is folded back to provide an ergonomic grip, thus optimizing both storage efficiency and carrying convenience at different stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle panel nests against the top panel when not in use, with the handle panel being stored within the profile of the top panel. This nesting configuration minimizes the overall volume of the carrier during storage or transport, while allowing easy deployment when carrying is needed.
3Reliability
If additional handling steps are required, then container retention is improved, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment panels are designed with features that automatically engage with the containers when the carrier is assembled, providing reliable container retention without requiring additional manual handling steps. The structure self-secures the containers through the attachment panel geometry and folding action.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment panels are pre-configured with retention features during carrier manufacturing. When the carrier is folded and assembled, these pre-configured features automatically position and retain the containers, eliminating the need for additional user actions to secure the containers.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the carrier design obscures container labels, then structural integrity is improved, but visibility and information access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier panels are designed with selective transparency or open configurations in specific regions where container labels need to be visible. The attachment panels and top panel maintain structural integrity in load-bearing areas while allowing visual access to container information in non-critical structural zones, thus simultaneously achieving structural stability and label visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels having at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, at least one top panel, and at least one handle panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel. The carrier also includes a handle formed from the at least one handle panel, the handle is positionable between a first position wherein the at least one handle panel is generally parallel to the at least one top panel, and a second position in which the at least one handle panel is folded relative to the at least one top panel and is positioned for grasping and carrying of the carrier.