Insulated box assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging perishable or temperature-sensitive items poses challenges as existing insulated packages are often bulky, difficult to store, and cannot be recycled, leading to environmental issues due to disposal in landfills.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-regulating lid and insulated box assembly with a monolithic sidewall liner that can be configured in unfolded and folded states, providing climate control and being 100% recyclable, allowing for efficient storage and transportation of sensitive items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional insulated packages are used to maintain temperature stability, then temperature control is achieved, but the packages become bulky and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating lining is divided into multiple separate panels that can be folded flat for storage, yet assembled to provide complete insulation coverage when in use. This segmentation allows the insulation system to be compact during storage while maintaining full thermal protection during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating panels are designed with foldable joints and connection mechanisms that allow the structure to transition between a compact folded state for storage and an expanded assembled state for temperature maintenance, making the volume dynamic rather than fixed.
2Temperature
If traditional insulated packages are used to protect temperature-sensitive items, then temperature control is achieved, but the packages cannot be recycled and are disposed of in landfills
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating panels are constructed from materials and structural designs that enable them to be recycled, fundamentally changing the end-of-life parameter from landfill disposal to recyclable material recovery, thereby reducing environmental pollution.
3Temperature
If insulating lining is added to the box assembly, then temperature stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating lining is segmented into separate panels that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the box, reducing the complexity of manufacturing each individual panel while maintaining the overall insulation performance.
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 effectively maintains temperature stability for perishable items, reduces storage space requirements, and promotes environmental sustainability through recyclability, addressing the bulkiness and disposal issues of traditional insulated packages.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating lining positioned within the inner cavity, the insulating lining defining a top corner portion
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated box assembly includes a monolithic outer box comprising four outer lateral sidewalls, the four outer lateral sidewalls defining an inner surface of the monolithic outer box, the inner surface defining an inner cavity; a monolithic inner box comprising four inner lateral sidewalls, the monolithic inner box received in the inner cavity, the four inner lateral sidewalls defining an outer surface of the monolithic inner box; and a monolithic sidewall liner affixed to the outer surface of the monolithic inner box and received in the inner cavity between the outer lateral sidewalls and the inner lateral sidewalls, the monolithic sidewall liner configurable in an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration; wherein, in the unfolded configuration, the monolithic sidewall liner is substantially planar, and in the folded configuration, the monolithic sidewall liner is folded to define four lateral liner panels.