Plastic Food Container With Foldable Handle Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for hot food items, such as rotisserie chicken, face challenges with vapor condensation, liquid retention, and user comfort during carrying, as they often require close contact with heated food and have inadequate handling due to concentrated weight distribution.
Innovation Solution
A thermoformed plastic container with a mating peripheral closure and ribbed base that forms a liquid-tight seal, featuring foldable straps retained by the lid to act as a handle, allowing for comfortable carrying and preventing direct contact with heated food, while accommodating condensate liquids through a sealed cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fold up straps are provided on the container base, then the container can be carried by handles, but the narrow thickness of the strap pointing downwards concentrates all package weight on a very small surface area of the user's hand, reducing carrying comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the strap configuration from a vertical orientation (pointing downwards) to a horizontal orientation (extending laterally beyond the container sides). This dimensional change allows the user's hand to contact the strap along its entire length, distributing weight across a larger surface area and improving carrying comfort while maintaining the handle function
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the container is made cool to condense vapor, then vapor condensation occurs on the container, but this creates uncomfortable contact with heated food and may cause liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the container into two separate parts: a cool base for receiving hot food and a removable lid that can be warmed separately. This segmentation allows the base to remain cool for condensation control while the lid is warmed to prevent condensation on the food contact surface, and the liquid tight seal between parts retains any condensate liquids
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an insulating layer or air gap between the hot food and the container base, and between the two container parts. This intermediary reduces heat transfer to the base, minimizing vapor condensation while maintaining user comfort and preventing liquid leakage through the sealed joint
3Strength
If the container base is rigid, then structural strength is maintained, but the heated food contacts the customer's hand directly when engaged with the handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the handle straps laterally beyond the container sides rather than having them point downwards. This dimensional change positions the user's hand contact point away from the heated food area, reducing direct heat transfer to the hand while maintaining base structural strength for supporting the food weight
Data Source
AI summary
A container for carry out heated food items, such as rotisserie chicken, has a base which is connected to a lid by a mating peripheral closure which defines a liquid tight seal. The closure has an encircling inclined wall on the base, which helps to direct the lid into engagement with the base, and which also defines a cavity within the closure which can retain liquid. The base may be provided with two fold up straps which are retained by structure in the lid to lie generally flat to serve as a convenient carrying handle above the lid. The base has rib structure allowing it to distend downwardly when loaded with food to space the heated food from the customer's hand while engaged with the handle.