Transparent Litter Box Packaging with Structural Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Distributing an animal litter box with a large opening requires a package body that is visually recognizable while maintaining sufficient strength to prevent fragility and breakage during stacking and distribution.

Innovation Solution

The package body includes a transparent top face portion made of a sheet-like member, supported by a stiff accessory storage container and a case bottom plate, with high friction regions and a sloped design to secure the accessory storage container and prevent movement, ensuring the package body's structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the top face portion is made of a transparent sheet-like member to make the litter box visually recognizable, then the visibility and marketing appeal is improved, but the strength and structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual recognizabilityVSAvoidstrength of top face portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The package body uses different materials for different portions: the top face portion uses a transparent sheet-like member for visibility, while the bottom face portion and side face portions use stronger materials (paperboard or plastic) for structural strength. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between visibility and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The package body is constructed as a composite structure combining transparent sheet-like material for the top face with opaque strong material for the bottom and sides. This composite approach allows each portion to fulfill its specific function - the transparent top for display and the strong bottom/sides for structural support during stacking and distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the entire litter box is made visually recognizable with transparent materials, then the marketing appeal is improved, but the fragility and breakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual recognizabilityVSAvoidresistance to breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The package body uses different materials for different portions: the top face portion uses a transparent sheet-like member for visibility, while the bottom face portion and side face portions use stronger materials (paperboard or plastic) for structural strength. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between visibility and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The package body is constructed as a composite structure combining transparent sheet-like material for the top face with opaque strong material for the bottom and sides. This composite approach allows each portion to fulfill its specific function - the transparent top for display and the strong bottom/sides for structural support during stacking and distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 provides a package body that is visually recognizable and maintains the necessary strength for distribution, preventing breakage and ensuring stability during handling and storage.

Implementation Method 1

The animal litter box includes a high friction region that is formed on the top face of the bottom face portion of the animal litter box

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3053433B1Package for litter box for animals
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP3053433B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3053433B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3053433B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a package whereby a litter box for animals with a large opening on the top part is packaged in a manner in which the litter box can be viewed from the outside, said package being able to maintain the necessary strength during distribution. The package (1) for a litter box for animals is provided with: a litter box (10) for animals that has an opening in the top and can accommodate animal waste; an accessory (5) used with the litter box (10) for animals; and a case (4) that packages the litter box (10) for animals and the accessory (5). The case (4) has: an upper surface part (421) that at least covers the opening; a case bottom surface part (41) in contact with a bottom surface part (31) of the litter box for animals; and a pair of side parts (422) that face each other. At least the upper surface part (421) is constituted of a transparent sheet member, and further provided is an accessory accommodating container (6) that accommodates the accessory (5), and has a height that extends from a bottom surface part (21) of the litter box for animals to the upper surface part (421).