Ice-Holding Container Bundle Structure for On-Pack Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for bottles and cans do not effectively facilitate cooling during outdoor or social events, as they do not provide a means to incorporate ice directly within the bundle, leading to the need for cumbersome ice containers.
Innovation Solution
A bundle of containers with an impermeable structure made from cardboard or plastic, featuring a concave box-shaped design with extended lateral walls to hold a predefined amount of ice, wrapped with thermoretractable plastic and sealed to maintain cooling, allowing for easy introduction and containment of ice or coolant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cardboard or plastic film bundles are used for packaging containers, then transport and storage are facilitated, but cooling of the containers during outdoor events requires separate cumbersome ice containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the container bundle structure with an integrated ice holder compartment. The bundle now simultaneously performs packaging/transport function and cooling function by incorporating a dedicated impermeable compartment designed to hold ice, eliminating the need for separate ice containers during outdoor events.
Solution Approach 2:
The bundle structure is transformed into a multi-functional device that combines packaging, transport, and cooling capabilities. The integrated ice holder compartment allows the same bundle to serve as both protective packaging and cooling system, reducing the number of separate items needed.
2Reliability
If an impermeable structure is introduced to hold ice within the bundle, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bundle is segmented into distinct functional zones: a container-holding area and an integrated ice holder compartment with impermeable characteristics. This segmentation allows the ice holder to be designed specifically for cooling reliability while maintaining overall bundle manufacturability through modular construction approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The bundle employs composite material construction, combining traditional cardboard or plastic film with impermeable materials in the ice holder compartment. This composite approach ensures water-tightness for effective ice containment while maintaining ease of manufacture through established material layering and bonding techniques.
3Ease of operation
If the bundle structure is modified to include an integrated ice holder, then separate ice containers are eliminated, but the original packaging functionality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The protective packaging structure and ice holder function are merged into a single integrated bundle design. The lateral walls extend to form both the protective enclosure for containers and the boundaries of the ice holder compartment, ensuring that container protection and cooling portability are achieved simultaneously without compromise.
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 solution enables efficient cooling of containers within the bundle without the need for separate ice containers, simplifying preparations for outdoor or social events by maintaining the cooling effect and preventing ice meltwater loss.
Implementation Method 1
bundles obtained from wrapping plastic films, of thermoretractable type, capable of compacting the content thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A bundle of containers like bottles or cans comprises a structure (2) for holding containers (3), having a base wall (4) intended to support the containers (3) and lateral walls (5) extending from the base wall (4), which define a compartment (6) intended for the support of the containers (3). The compartment (6) is impermeable for receiving a predefined amount of ice intended for cooling the containers. The bundle (1) also comprises a wrapping (7) made of thermoretractable plastic material which wraps the structure (2) for holding containers (3) and the containers (3) arranged therein. The wrapping (7) has at least one access opening (8) for the introduction of the ice into the housing compartment (6) of the structure (2) for holding containers (3). An optional spacer between containers provides gaps for receiving the coolant.