Insulated box assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging perishable or temperature-sensitive contents faces challenges in maintaining temperature stability during storage or shipping, leading to spoilage, destabilization, freezing, melting, or evaporation, and existing insulated packages are often bulky and difficult to store, with many not being recyclable.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-regulating lid and insulated box assembly comprising a lid box with a temperature-regulating insert, an outer box with insulating lining, and a monolithic sidewall liner for climate control and cushioning, allowing for efficient storage and shipping of temperature-sensitive items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional insulated packaging is used to maintain temperature stability, then temperature protection is improved, but the package becomes bulky and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating lining is nested within the cavity of the outer box, with the lining itself forming a compact structure that fits efficiently within the available space. The lid liner and box liner are positioned concentrically, maximizing insulation effectiveness while minimizing overall package volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating lining utilizes flexible liner materials that can conform to the box cavity shape, providing effective thermal insulation with thin-walled construction. The lid liner and box liner are made from flexible materials that deliver high insulation performance relative to their thickness, reducing the bulk of the package.
2Temperature
If traditional insulated packaging is used to maintain temperature stability, then temperature protection is improved, but the package cannot be recycled and is disposed of in landfills
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating lining components (lid liner and box liner) are designed to be separable from the box structure, enabling them to be recovered and recycled independently. The liners can be removed and processed through appropriate recycling channels, preventing them from being disposed of in landfills with the non-recyclable box portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging system is segmented into distinct components: the outer box, the lid liner, and the box liner. This segmentation allows different materials to be optimized for their specific functions while enabling selective recycling of the liner components separate from the box, reducing overall waste generation.
3Temperature
If insulating lining is added to the box cavity, then temperature regulation is improved, but the structural integrity at corners may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lid liner and box liner are positioned to provide enhanced insulation at the corners and edges of the box cavity, where heat transfer is most significant. The liners extend fully to the corners, ensuring that temperature regulation is maintained at these critical locations without compromising structural integrity, as the liners are positioned within the cavity rather than replacing structural elements.
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 assembly maintains temperature stability, provides cushioning, and is compact for storage, while being recyclable, thus reducing waste and enhancing the protection of perishable goods during transit.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating lining positioned within the inner cavity
Implementation Method 2
a monolithic sidewall liner received in the inner cavity between the outer lateral sidewalls and the inner lateral sidewalls
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated box assembly comprising an outer box comprising a plurality of outer lateral sidewalls, the outer lateral sidewalls defining an inner surface, the inner surface defining an inner cavity; an inner box comprising a plurality of inner lateral sidewalls, the inner box received in the inner cavity, the inner lateral sidewalls defining an outer surface; a sidewall liner received in the inner cavity between the outer lateral sidewalls and the inner lateral sidewalls, the sidewall liner defining a liner outer surface and a liner inner surface opposite the liner outer surface; and a lid assembly disposed within the inner cavity, the lid assembly comprising a lid box and a lid liner.