Container With Integral Condiment Pocket for Food Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food containers for bite-size foods lack an integral pocket for condiments, leading to increased material and manufacturing costs, and inefficient separation of food and condiments during transport and serving.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a unitary blank with a base panel, back and front body panels, side panels, and a pocket portion, allowing for the formation of a container with an integral pocket for condiments, which can be moved between open and closed configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate containers are used for food and condiments, then condiment storage is achieved, but material costs and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the condiment pocket directly into the container body by forming it from the same blank material. The pocket portion is created as an integral structure during the same forming process, eliminating the need for separate condiment containers and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining condiment storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The blank material serves multiple functions: it forms both the main container body for food storage and the integrated pocket portion for condiment storage. This multi-functional design allows a single structure to perform multiple storage functions, reducing the need for additional separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate containers are used for food and condiments, then condiment storage is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container and condiment pocket are manufactured as a single integrated unit from one blank, requiring only one forming process and one set of manufacturing tools. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate manufacturing operations for distinct containers, reducing labor, energy, and equipment costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The single blank material is transformed into a multi-functional structure that provides both food container and condiment pocket functions. This approach requires only one manufacturing process rather than multiple separate processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If food and condiments are transported together without separation, then packaging simplicity is maintained, but food quality and serving efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container interior is segmented into two distinct spaces: the main container body for food and the integrated pocket portion for condiments. This segmentation physically separates food and condiments during transport, preventing contamination and quality degradation, while the overall structure remains a single integrated unit for packaging simplicity.
4Device complexity
If food and condiments are transported together without separation, then packaging simplicity is maintained, but serving efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design with distinct food and condiment compartments allows for organized, efficient serving. Staff can quickly access and dispense appropriate portions from each compartment without confusion or cross-contamination, improving service speed and efficiency while maintaining a simple single-unit packaging structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Unitary blank for forming a container includes a base panel, a back body panel, a front body panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a pocket portion. The pocket portion includes a support panel, a pocket flap, a first side tab, and a second side tab. The first and second side panels are configured to be joined to the back body panel such that the front and back body panels and the first and second side panels define a container. A support panel of the pocket portion is configured to be separated from the front body panel along a front upper edge and joined to the back body panel such that the pocket portion and the back body panel define a pocket therebetween. A container and a method for forming a container from a unitary blank are also provided.