Plastic Bakery Tray with Mesh Walls and Nesting Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal wire bakery trays pose safety hazards due to sharp edges, are prone to rust and contamination, and are costly, heavy, and difficult to clean, while also lacking in sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A plastic bakery tray with a mesh configuration, integrally formed nesting tabs, and a flared wall structure that is durable, washable, and recyclable, providing a safer, lighter, and cost-effective solution for storing and transporting baked goods, with features like radiused surfaces and a nesting design for efficient storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If metal wire trays are used, then air circulation and visibility are improved, but safety hazards from sharp edges and rust contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal wire to plastic, fundamentally altering the physical properties of the tray. This material substitution eliminates sharp edges while maintaining the mesh configuration for visibility and air circulation, directly resolving the safety hazard without sacrificing the visibility function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a plastic material that combines the benefits of mesh structure (visibility and air circulation) with the safety advantages of non-metallic material (no sharp edges, no rust). The integrated plastic construction merges structural support and safety features into a single material system.
2Strength
If metal wire trays are used, then structural strength is improved, but weight and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material density parameter by substituting metal with plastic, significantly reducing the tray's weight while maintaining adequate structural strength through the mesh design and integrated construction. This parameter change directly addresses the weight-handling difficulty contradiction.
3Reliability
If metal wire trays are used, then durability is improved, but cleaning difficulty and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface property parameter by using plastic material with smooth, non-porous surfaces that resist rust and are easier to clean compared to metal wire trays. The integrated construction eliminates joints and crevices where dirt can accumulate, making the tray more durable and easier to maintain.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic material is used, then safety and cost-effectiveness are improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plastic material that provides both safety benefits (no rust, no contamination) and adequate structural strength through its integrated mesh construction. The material properties and structural design work together to maintain strength while eliminating the harmful factors associated with metal.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray employs a mesh configuration that segments the solid plastic into a grid pattern, providing structural strength through the distributed framework while maintaining the safety advantages of plastic material. The segmented structure optimizes both strength and safety properties.
Data Source
AI summary
A bakery tray includes a base including a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface including a plurality of nesting tabs extending upwardly therefrom. A wall structure extends upwardly from a periphery of the base and includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The wall structure includes an upper rim having a uniform height above the base, the wall structure having a mesh configuration. The base and the wall structure are integrally formed from a plastic material, and the plurality of nesting tabs are configured to support another bakery tray nested within the bakery tray.