Container Lid Ridge Structure for Stable Pyramid Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for powdered products like infant nutrition or milk formula are difficult to stack due to their cylindrical shape, leading to instability and inefficiencies in assembly and storage, especially in pyramidal displays.
Innovation Solution
A lid structure with an annular collar and a circumferential ridge that allows for both vertical and pyramidal stacking, featuring interruptions to facilitate secure placement of containers, enhancing stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If cylindrical containers are used for powdered products, then they are easy to manufacture and store, but they are difficult to stack tightly and form unstable displays
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into a flat base portion and a raised rim portion that are spatially separated. The raised rim portion projects upward from the flat base portion, creating distinct functional zones: the flat base for stacking support and the raised rim for lateral motion limitation. This segmentation allows the lid to provide both stable stacking and secure container positioning without requiring a complex non-cylindrical container shape.
2Productivity
If containers are stacked in pyramidal displays, then space utilization is improved, but gaps form between adjacent containers causing assembly difficulties and potential collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The raised rim portion on each lid automatically limits the lateral motion of containers stacked on top, providing self-aligning and self-stabilizing functionality. When containers are placed in pyramidal arrangement, the raised rims of lower containers naturally constrain the horizontal position of upper containers, eliminating the need for precise manual positioning and reducing assembly difficulty while maintaining space efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stacking means are added to facilitate vertical stacking, then vertical stacking is improved, but the containers cannot be placed over multiple containers and are not suitable for pyramid displays
Solution Approach 1:
The lid structure integrates multiple functions into a single component: the flat base portion provides a stable stacking surface for vertical stacking, while the raised rim portion simultaneously enables pyramid displays by limiting lateral motion of containers placed on top. This multi-functional design allows the same lid structure to support both vertical stacking and pyramidal arrangements without requiring different stacking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid structure for a container has an annular collar for attachment to the container. The collar has an opening for providing access to an interior of the container. The lid structure further includes a lid for closing the opening. The lid has an outer periphery and an upper surface with a circumferential ridge located near to but spaced from the outer periphery, whereby a further container having a base diameter can stack at an outside of the circumferential ridge. The circumferential ridge has at least two interruptions dividing the circumferential ridge into at least two ridge portions whereby at least two further containers having the same base diameter can stack partially on the lid.