Pivoting Food Container With Divider Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disposable food containers fail to effectively separate food products of different temperatures and moisture levels, leading to issues like a cold burger and a soggy bun due to heat and moisture transfer during storage.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a pivotally connected body with an integral divider wall that separates the interior space into upper and lower portions, using a projection to support the divider wall and reduce assembly time, allowing for separate storage of food items with different temperature and moisture levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single interior space is used in the container, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but food products of different temperatures and moisture levels cannot be separated, leading to heat and moisture transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a base portion and a top portion that can be separated, with an optional divider wall that can be removed. This segmentation allows the container to be configured as a single space or divided into multiple spaces depending on the food products being stored, thereby maintaining food quality while keeping the base structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The container features a top portion that is pivotally connected to the base portion, allowing it to be opened and closed dynamically. The divider wall is also designed to be removable or reconfigurable, enabling the interior space to transition between divided and undivided states based on storage requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If downwardly projecting feet are used to support the divider wall, then the divider wall is stable, but the amount of space in the base portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using downwardly projecting feet that occupy horizontal space, the divider wall is supported by upwardly extending walls of the base portion. This vertical support mechanism eliminates the need for horizontal feet, thereby maintaining divider wall stability while preserving maximum storage space in the base portion.
3Loss of time
If a projection is used to support the divider wall, then assembly time is reduced, but the projection requires precise positioning and support structure
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure for the divider wall is merged with the base portion's upstanding walls rather than being a separate component. The projection on the divider wall interfaces directly with the base portion's wall structure, eliminating the need for additional support elements and simplifying the overall assembly process.
4Ease of operation
If the top portion is pivotally connected to the base portion, then the container can be opened and closed easily, but the connection requires additional hinges or pivot mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection mechanism is extracted and integrated into the container's structural design, where the top portion is pivotally connected to the base portion through a hinge that is part of the container body rather than an external attachment. This integration simplifies the mechanism while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A container is provided including a container body having an interior space. The container body has a base portion, a top portion pivotally connected to the base portion, and a divider wall that separates upper and lower portions of the interior space with the top portion closed on the base portion. A slot of the container body is disposed generally between the upper and lower portions of the interior space, and a projection of the divider wall sized to fit into the slot to support the divider wall in an operable position between the upper and lower portions of the interior space with the top portion closed on the base portion.