Sector-Shaped Thermal Pizza Container with Insulated Snap Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers fail to effectively maintain the temperature of pizza slices during transportation, as they lack efficient insulation and sealing mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A sector-shaped container with a base and lid, both comprising an outer shell and inner insulation layers, featuring a flared lower portion on the lid that creates a snap seal with a curled bottom lip to maintain temperature and accommodate multiple slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If existing containers are used for transporting pizza slices, then the container structure is simple, but the temperature maintenance capability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature maintenanceVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container employs a composite structure with an outer shell layer and an inner insulation layer, combining materials with different thermal properties. The outer shell provides structural integrity while the inner insulation layer (with lower thermal conductivity) minimizes heat transfer, thereby maintaining pizza temperature during transport without excessive structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The container is divided into functional segments: the base portion for holding pizza slices and the lid portion with sealing mechanism. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the base for capacity and the lid for sealing and insulation - resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective temperature maintenance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If existing containers are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the sealing mechanism is ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container incorporates a flexible bottom lip that can deform to engage with the lid's sealing surface. This flexible element creates an effective seal through elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical fasteners, maintaining reliability while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom lip is designed with a curled configuration rather than a straight edge. This curvature allows the lip to flex and conform to the sealing surface when the lid is placed on the base, creating a reliable seal through geometric design rather than complex sealing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Volume of moving object

If a sector-shaped container is used to accommodate pizza slices, then the space utilization is improved, but the container design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidcontainer design

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container adopts a sector-shaped (asymmetric) design with a curved bottom lip instead of a conventional rectangular symmetric form. This asymmetric geometry optimizes space utilization for triangular pizza slices, allowing the container to closely fit the shape of the contents and reduce wasted space, while the asymmetry is achieved through simple geometric forms rather than complex design elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 container effectively maintains the temperature of pizza slices through continuous insulation and secure sealing, ensuring freshness during transport.

Implementation Method 1

The base and the lid are each comprised of an outer shell layer and an inner insulation layer continuously disposed on the outer shell layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The flared lower portion is selectively engageable with the bottom lip to seal and alternatively unseal the base cavity and the lid cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic Deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11325753B2Thermal pizza slice container apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 JOHNSON SHANDELLE

AI summary

A thermal pizza slice container apparatus for transporting a pizza slice and maintaining temperature includes a base having a base bottom side, a base sidewall, and an open base top side defining a base cavity. The base bottom side is sector-shaped and configured to accommodate a slice of pizza. A bottom lip is coupled to a perimeter of the open base top side. A lid has a lid top side, a lid sidewall, and an open lid bottom side defining a lid cavity. The lid top side is sector-shaped and conforms to the base bottom side. The lid sidewall has a flared lower portion that is selectively engageable with the bottom lip to seal and alternatively unseal the base cavity and the lid cavity. The base and the lid are each comprised of an outer shell layer and an inner insulation layer.