Food Tray Divider Structure for Separate Compartments and Easy Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for holding food products lack efficient divider features that allow for separate compartments and easy assembly, leading to potential mixing of food items and difficulties in handling and erection.
Innovation Solution
A tray design featuring a plurality of panels and foldable end flaps that form a divider extending upwardly from the bottom panels, allowing for separate compartments and a simplified assembly process, optionally with locking features for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If existing containers are used without divider features, then the container structure is simple, but food items may mix and compartments are not separated
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments using divider panels that extend upwardly from the bottom panels. These dividers create separate interior spaces for different food items, achieving product separation while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece construction from the blank
2Ease of operation
If traditional assembly methods are used, then the container can be formed, but assembly is difficult and handling is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The blank is pre-designed with all panels, dividers, and flaps positioned and connected in their final assembly configuration before forming. The foldable end flaps are pre-attached to respective panels, allowing the container to be erected by simple folding and locking actions without complex assembly steps
Solution Approach 2:
The container features self-locking mechanisms where the foldable end flaps automatically engage with the side panels to secure the container structure during erection. The divider panels are integrated into the blank and automatically position themselves to form the compartments without requiring separate assembly operations
Data Source
AI summary
A tray for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a front side panel, at least one front end panel, a front bottom panel, at least one divider panel, a back side panel, at least one back end panel, and a back bottom panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and a divider extending upwardly from the front bottom panel and the back bottom panel in the interior of the tray to form a front interior space and a back interior space in the interior of the tray, the divider including the front divider panel and the back divider panel.