Hand-Fold Tray Cartons With Locking Walls for Stackable Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable plastic crates (RPCs) used in the grocery industry face challenges such as high cost due to washing and sanitization requirements and the risk of loss/theft, while offering advantages like stackability and branding opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A carton configuration with foldable walls and locking mechanisms, allowing for manual assembly without adhesives, featuring treated and untreated surfaces for branding and stackability, respectively, and corner walls for structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If reusable plastic crates are used for transporting and storing foods, then stackability and branding opportunities are improved, but cost increases due to washing and sanitization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a body portion and a separate closure portion that can be detached. This segmentation allows the closure to be replaced or sanitized independently, reducing the sanitization burden on the main container body and lowering overall costs while maintaining stackability of the body portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable or easily replaceable closure portion that can be discarded after use, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming sanitization of the entire container. The main body portion remains reusable and stackable, while the closure is replaced rather than sanitized, significantly reducing operational costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reusable plastic crates are used, then branding opportunities are improved, but risk of loss and theft increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the closure from the body, the system allows for branded closures to be easily replaced or customized without compromising the security of the main container. The body portion can remain unbranded or minimally branded, reducing its appeal to thieves while still providing branding opportunities through the interchangeable closure elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable closure creates a dynamic system where branded components can be easily swapped or removed. If theft occurs, only the closure is lost, not the entire container. The system adapts to branding needs while minimizing security risks through modular design.
3Ease of operation
If a carton configuration with foldable walls is used, then ease of assembly is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The blank is pre-configured with fold lines, score lines, and panel arrangements that guide the folding process. This preliminary structuring ensures that when the blank is folded into the final container shape, the walls achieve proper alignment and structural integrity without requiring complex assembly procedures or additional fastening elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable wall design allows panels to nest within each other during assembly, with inner panels fitting into spaces created by outer panels. This nesting arrangement creates interlocking structures that enhance structural integrity while maintaining ease of assembly through simple folding motions.
Data Source
AI summary
A carton for storage and display of articles can be manually formed from a blank and includes a bottom wall of the blank, a first side wall foldably connected to the bottom wall, a second side wall disposed opposite the first side wall and foldably connected to the bottom wall, a first end wall foldably connected to both the bottom wall and to the first and second side walls, and a second end wall disposed opposite the first end wall and foldably connected to both the bottom wall and to the first and second side walls. One side of the blank defines a continuous surface partially defined by interior-facing surfaces of the first and second side walls, and exterior-facing surfaces of the first and second side walls.