Ovular Container With Multi-Angle Top And Integrated Handle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Containers used to transport fluids face challenges in balancing strength against breakage while minimizing material cost and weight, as they are subject to various stresses during use.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a multi-angle top portion to distribute vertical compression loads, an integrated handle with crush-resistant properties, and a gradually curved transition region between the handle and adjacent container portions, minimizing localized stress concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the container uses thicker sidewalls to increase strength, then the container's resistance to breakage improves, but the weight and material cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrush resistanceVSAvoidcontainer weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the sidewall thickness non-uniformly around the container perimeter. Specifically, the sidewall includes a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. This allows the container to have enhanced strength where needed (near the spout and handle) while reducing material usage and weight in other areas, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the container incorporates strengthening features to maximize strength, then the resistance to breakage improves, but the material cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrush resistanceVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by creating a non-uniform sidewall thickness distribution. The sidewall has a first portion with greater thickness providing strength near the spout and handle areas, and a second portion with reduced thickness minimizing material usage. This selective thickening and thinning allows the container to achieve necessary strength characteristics while optimizing material quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves the strength-material quantity contradiction by transitioning from a uniform two-dimensional sidewall to a three-dimensional variable thickness structure. The sidewall thickness varies along the perimeter, creating a complex geometric form that distributes material strategically - thicker where structural support is needed and thinner where it is not - thereby achieving strength optimization without proportional material increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the container uses a uniform sidewall thickness to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing process becomes easier, but the crush resistance and strength are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcrush resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by designing the sidewall with different thicknesses in different regions. The first portion of the sidewall has a first thickness while the second portion has a second thickness less than the first. This can be implemented through techniques such as variable die design in blow-molding processes, allowing differentiated thickness control while maintaining manufacturing feasibility. The result is enhanced crush resistance at critical areas without completely sacrificing manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves from a one-parameter (uniform) sidewall design to a multi-parameter variable thickness design. By introducing thickness variation as an additional design dimension, the container achieves improved crush resistance while the manufacturing process adapts through techniques like variable die design or multi-stage molding, balancing complexity gains with performance benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3505462B1container
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 UNILOY INC
  • EP3505462B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3505462B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3505462B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A container comprises a spout (500), a base portion (100), and an ovular sidewall extending away from the base portion to the spout. The ovular sidewall comprises a vertical portion (200), a top transition region (300), and a top region (400) extending from the top transition region to the spout. The top region comprises at least two discrete linear sections having different slopes between the top transition region and the spout. Moreover, the base portion of the container defines a support surface on which the container rests, a base channel (106, 107) extending across the diameter of the container, and an inset concave panel (102) aligned with a center of the container. The container additionally comprises a handle portion defining a complex-curved face surface (601) interrupting the top transition region and the top region, and a handle (650) extending from a bottom portion of the face surface to a top portion of the face surface.