Ice Handling Container With Detachable Bail for Sanitary Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ice handling containers face contamination risks, ergonomic constraints, and increased shipping costs due to larger sizes, which hinder efficient handling and sanitization.
Innovation Solution
An improved ice handling container design featuring a bail with a handle and hook for ergonomic handling, integrated features for shipping efficiency, and a recessed handle assembly to prevent nesting, allowing for sanitary handling and reduced shipping costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If container size is increased to hold greater volumes of ice, then ice carrying capacity is improved, but ergonomics deteriorate and user strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a body and a separate bail assembly with handle. The bail can be detached and stored in a recess when not in use, allowing the container to be nested with others for efficient shipping while providing ergonomic handling when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The bail assembly nests within a recess in the container body when not in use. Multiple containers can be nested together for compact shipping and storage, reducing shipping space and costs while maintaining full ice carrying capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If container size is increased to hold greater volumes of ice, then ice carrying capacity is improved, but shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple containers with the bail stored in recesses can be nested together, dramatically reducing the shipping volume required. This allows more containers to be transported in the same space, reducing per-unit shipping costs while maintaining large ice carrying capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separable bail design allows the container body to be compact for shipping, with the handle component stored inside the recess, optimizing space utilization during transport.
3Device complexity
If traditional handling methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is extracted as a separate bail assembly that attaches to the container body. This allows the handle to be detached and stored in a recess, preventing contact between hands and the container mouth area, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining ease of use.
4Quantity of substance
If container size is increased to hold greater volumes of ice, then ice carrying capacity is improved, but sanitization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The separable bail design allows complete disassembly of handling components, enabling thorough sanitization of all surfaces including the handle, bail, and container body. The recessed storage area can also be properly cleaned and sanitized.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is an improved ice handling container and methods for using the container. The container includes a bottom wall with upstanding sidewalls terminating in a mouth. A bail having an apex and opposing ends is pivotally attached to opposing sidewalls of the container. The bail has a handle generally at the apex and a hook extending generally outwardly from the bail generally near the apex of the bail for hanging the container with the mouth facing generally upward. One sidewall has a handle generally adjacent the bottom wall and a hook generally adjacent the handle extending generally outwardly and upwardly from the sidewall for hanging the container with the mouth facing generally downward.