Insulated Container Rigid Work Surface and One-Handed Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable insulated containers often require two hands to open, leading to heat loss or gain, and lack a convenient resting surface for objects, which can wobble or slide on uneven surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A soft-sided insulated container with a rigid member forming a table top and a zipperless closure member that allows one-handed operation, featuring a collapsible design with securements to maintain shape and prevent sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional zipper closure is used, then the container can be securely closed, but it requires two hands to open and causes heat loss or gain
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into two independent parts: a main closure member for primary sealing and a secondary closure member for additional securing. This segmentation allows the main closure to be opened with one hand while the secondary closure provides additional security, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and secure closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The zipper mechanism is completely removed from the container design. Instead of using a traditional zipper that requires two hands to operate, the patent employs a zipperless closure system with interlocking members that can be opened and closed with one hand, eliminating the operational difficulty while maintaining secure closure.
2Ease of operation
If a rigid work surface is added to the container, then objects can be rested stably, but the container's collapsibility and compactness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The work surface is designed as a dynamic component that can transform between a rigid extended position for stable object resting and a collapsed position for compact storage. The surface includes support structures that allow it to be extended when needed and folded back against the container body when not in use, maintaining both stability and collapsibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The work surface is integrated into the container structure in a nested manner, where the surface can be folded back and stored within or against the container body. This nesting approach allows the rigid surface to be present when needed while not permanently increasing the container's footprint, preserving collapsibility and compactness.
3Weight of moving object
If the container is made collapsible for compact storage, then portability is improved, but the structural rigidity for stable object placement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs dynamic structural elements including collapsible side walls with reinforcement members and an extendable work surface with support structures. These components can be configured in a rigid state when deployed for stable object placement and collapsed for compact storage, allowing the container to adapt its rigidity based on operational needs while maintaining portability.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and a second portion that defined a lid co-operable with the first portion. The lid includes an auxiliary access opening and closure member that are smaller than the main opening, and that can be operated one-handed. A rigid work surface is provided, typically immediately adjacent to the secondary closure member, the work surface providing a place for holding or mixing a drink or for preparing a snack. In some embodiments the work surface may be movable relative to the container, whether slidable in a co-planar or parallel planar manner in translation, or folding as in a foldable shelf. The entire container assembly may be foldable or collapsible to a storage condition, and the rigid member, whether fixed or movable, does not impede that folding or collapsing.