Nestable Cut Flower Container with Staggered Anti-Interlocking Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nestable cut flower containers face issues with reduced stability when stacked due to low outer channel walls, leading to potential sliding and tilting during transportation, which compromises nesting height and safety.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a staggered anti-interlocking flange that offsets from the outer channel wall, allowing for reduced nesting height without compromising sliding prevention, and features a channel-shaped sleeve holder with a tapered sliding surface to prevent unintended interlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the outer channel wall is made low to reduce nesting height, then the nesting efficiency is improved, but the stability of stacked containers deteriorates due to potential sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-interlocking function is segmented from the outer channel wall by introducing a separate flange structure that extends downward. This allows the outer channel wall to remain low for efficient nesting while the flange provides the necessary anti-sliding function at a different vertical position.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-interlocking protection is moved from the vertical dimension (outer channel wall height) to a horizontal offset dimension. The flange extends downward and offsets horizontally from the outer channel wall, creating anti-interlocking protection in a different spatial dimension that doesn't increase nesting height.
2Stability of the object's composition
If anti-interlocking flanges are made high to prevent sliding, then the stability is improved, but the nesting height increases reducing nesting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-interlocking function is segmented from the outer channel wall by introducing a separate flange structure that extends downward. This allows the outer channel wall to remain low for efficient nesting while the flange provides the necessary anti-sliding function at a different vertical position.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange acts as an intermediary element between the outer channel wall and the lower container. It provides the anti-interlocking function by extending downward to contact the lower container, while the tapered surface mediates the transition to prevent unintended interlocking.
3Ease of manufacture
If the container structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the anti-interlocking protection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is integrated as part of the channel-shaped sleeve holder structure, formed in one piece during injection molding. This merging of the anti-interlocking flange with the sleeve holder maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing enhanced anti-sliding protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange structure serves multiple functions: it provides anti-interlocking protection, guides container alignment during nesting, and works with the tapered surface to prevent unintended interlocking. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single manufactured component.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a container for cut flowers, the container being nestable, the container comprising a container body which at an upper region is provided with a channel-shaped sleeve holder for holding a protective sleeve arranged to protect cut flowers. The channel-shaped sleeve holder is open at its top. Further, the channel-shaped sleeve holder has an outer channel wall. The container further comprises at least one anti-interlocking flange extending downwardly from the channel-shaped sleeve holder. The anti-interlocking flange, or at least a bottom section of the anti-interlocking flange, is staggered with respect to the outer channel wall, or at least a top section of the outer channel wall.