Container with improved stacking arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Containers with increased height to accommodate greater volume while maintaining a common lid size tend to have reduced stability and are prone to becoming wedged or stuck together when stacked.
Innovation Solution
The container design features a bottom panel with a downwardly folded annular skirt and a sidewall with a reduced taper angle, creating a gap between the upper rims and bottom panels of stacked containers to prevent interlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the height of larger containers is increased to maintain the same top end diameter and lid size, then the container volume is improved, but the stability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the container by reducing the sidewall taper angle and increasing height while maintaining the same top diameter, allowing larger volume containers to use standard lids while improving stability through optimized proportions
2Stability of the object's composition
If the sidewall taper is reduced to improve stability, then the container stability is improved, but the likelihood of containers becoming wedged together is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimensional feature - the annular skirt extending downward from the bottom panel - to create vertical spacing between stacked containers. This additional dimension prevents horizontal interlocking while maintaining the stable, low-taper sidewall geometry
3Volume of moving object
If the height of containers is increased, then the container volume is improved, but the tendency of containers to become interlocked when stacked is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bottom structure into a bottom panel and a separate downwardly extending annular skirt. This segmentation creates a gap between stacked containers that prevents interlocking, while the overall container height and volume are increased through the extended sidewall
Data Source
AI summary
A container is provided to be stacked within another like container for transportation, storage, or the like. Each container includes a bottom and a sidewall. The bottom includes a bottom panel portion and a downwardly folded annular skirt. The sidewall includes an upper rim and lowermost edge and forms a frustoconical shape around a central axis. An outer surface of the annular skirt is attached to an inner surface of the sidewall. A lowermost edge of the annular skirt is spaced above the lowermost edge of the sidewall to form a first gap therebetween.