Modular Interlocking Plastic Containers for Secondary Construction Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing environmental and humanitarian issues caused by the disposal of plastic bottles, particularly PET plastic, which contribute to waste accumulation and environmental degradation, necessitate the development of plastic bottle designs with secondary uses to enhance recycling rates and reduce waste.
Innovation Solution
The design of scalable, modular, interlocking containers that can be used as vessels for transporting and storing liquids or solids, and subsequently as sturdy building materials for constructing shelters and structures, promoting recycling and reducing waste through their multiple lifecycle applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic bottles are disposed of after single use, then the convenience and low cost of plastic packaging is maintained, but environmental degradation and waste accumulation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms single-use plastic bottles into multi-functional objects by enabling their reuse as construction blocks for shelter building. The bottles maintain their original packaging function while gaining a secondary construction function, allowing them to serve multiple purposes throughout their lifecycle and thereby reduce waste without increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding plastic bottles after single use, the patent implements a recovery system where used bottles are collected and repurposed as building materials. This closes the material loop by recovering the plastic material and giving it continued utility in construction applications, preventing environmental pollution while maintaining the economic benefits of plastic packaging
2Adaptability or versatility
If plastic bottles are designed for secondary uses, then recycling rates and resource utilization improve, but the complexity of the product design and lifecycle management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bottle's lifecycle into distinct functional phases: primary use as packaging, transition phase through collection programs, and secondary use as construction material. This segmentation simplifies lifecycle management by creating clear transition points and responsible parties for each phase, reducing overall system complexity while enabling high adaptability and recycling rates
3Loss of substance
If plastic bottles are used as building materials, then the need for traditional construction materials decreases and waste reduction is achieved, but the structural strength and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite construction system where plastic bottles are combined with other materials such as cement mortar, soil, or metal fasteners. This composite approach leverages the strength contributions of each material, allowing plastic bottles to serve as structural building blocks while maintaining adequate structural integrity and durability for shelter construction
Data Source
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AI summary
A Modular interlocking container comprising : a top end section comprising an opening formed by a neck protruding from a surface of the section, wherein the top end surface is formed at a rising angle from the outer edges of the top end and converging around the neck; a bottom end section comprising an indention formed in the bottom end surface shaped to receive a second top end protruding neck formed on a second container, wherein the bottom end surface is formed at a rising angle similar to the top end surface rising angle from the outer edges of the bottom end section and converging around the indention; a plurality of lateral walls, wherein each lateral edge of a wall connects to a lateral edge of an adjacent wall, thereby forming a walled unit having a polygonal cross section, wherein the top end section connects securely to a first end of the walled unit, and the bottom end section connects securely to a second end of the walled unit, thereby forming a container; a handle laterally connected to a first wall of the container; and a ressed groove formed laterally within a second wall of the container, wherein the groove is shaped to slidably receive a second handle formed on a second container.