Food container and method and system for making and using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food packaging and delivery systems fail to maintain food temperature, lead to waste generation, and allow tampering, compromising the dining experience and environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A multi-use container system with integrated delivery units (IDUs) utilizing advanced materials and insulation, phase-change materials (PCMs), and induction heating to maintain food temperature, reduce waste, and prevent tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional packaging materials (cardboard, paper, single-use plastic) are used, then the container is easy to manufacture and dispose, but the food temperature cannot be maintained during delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The container uses a composite structure combining an inner food-contact container made of food-safe material with an outer protective container made of different material having insulating properties. This composite structure maintains food temperature while managing the complexity through functional differentiation of layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer protective container serves multiple functions: thermal insulation to maintain food temperature, structural protection during transport, and potential integration with heating elements. This multi-functionality addresses the temperature maintenance requirement without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Loss of substance
If conventional single-use packaging is used, then the container is easy to manufacture and dispose, but environmental waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables recovery and reuse of the container through a centralized facility that collects, cleans, and redistributes containers. This transforms the single-use model into a circular economy model, reducing waste while the standardized design maintains ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design transitions from disposable to reusable by changing the usage parameter from single-use to multiple-use cycles. The material selection and structural design account for repeated use while maintaining manufacturability through standardized production processes.
3Reliability
If conventional packaging is used, then the container is simple in structure, but food tampering cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The inner food-contact container is nested within the outer protective container, creating a hierarchical structure. This nesting provides security through multiple barriers while maintaining relative simplicity by using standard container forms at each level.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer protective container acts as an intermediary between the food and the external environment, preventing direct access and tampering. This intermediary layer enhances food security without requiring complex security mechanisms within the food container itself.
4Temperature
If advanced insulation and heating systems are integrated, then food temperature is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element, insulation layers, and container structure are merged into an integrated system where components work together as a unified thermal management solution. This combining reduces the number of separate systems needed while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container system provides self-heating or self-warming capability through integrated heating elements that activate automatically or on-demand, eliminating the need for external heating equipment or manual intervention to maintain food temperature.
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 system effectively maintains food temperature during delivery, reduces waste, and enhances the dining experience by providing a restaurant-like quality meal with customizable temperature control and reduced environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
phase-change materials (PCMs)
Implementation Method 2
phase-change materials (PCMs)
Implementation Method 3
induction heating
Implementation Method 4
advanced materials and insulation
Data Source
AI summary
Containers for food, and methods and systems for making and using the same. An exemplary container for food can include an insulated tray including one or more sub-units and one or more heat sink units configured to store the food and fit in the tray. An alternative container can include a container base and a receptacle fitting in the container base, the container base including one or more thermal function pieces therein for maintaining a temperature of the receptacle. An alternative container can include a serving base defining one or more slots for holding the food items, respectively, and a cover configured to cooperate with the serving base, wherein at least the serving base, or at least the cover, includes a thermal function piece, the thermal function piece including a phase-change material. An exemplary method for using the container includes treating the phase-change material to an initial temperature.