Polygonal Container Reinforced Corner Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional polygonal containers lack sufficient strength for stacking and require significant labor to convert them into display containers that prevent product loss and allow customer visibility.

Innovation Solution

A reinforced polygonal container formed from a blank of sheet material with mitered edges and reinforcing corner assemblies, allowing for enhanced structural integrity and ease of conversion into a display format.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional polygonal containers are used, then they can be manufactured with simple structures, but they lack sufficient strength for stacking and require significant labor to convert into display containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into multiple panels (front panel, rear panel, side panels) that are folded and secured together. This segmentation allows each panel to be optimized for strength while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by combining multiple panel materials and reinforcement elements. The corner structures and intermediate reinforcements create a composite framework that enhances strength without requiring a completely complex design, balancing the two parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If containers are designed with reinforced corner structures, then stacking strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is pre-configured with fold lines, cut lines, and reinforcement panel positions before manufacturing. This preliminary arrangement allows the reinforced corner structures to be formed through simple folding and securing operations, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high stacking strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Reinforcement panels and corner structures are applied only at specific locations where strength is most needed (corners and intermediate points), rather than uniformly across the entire container. This localized reinforcement achieves the required stacking strength while minimizing manufacturing complexity and material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If containers are made to be convertible to display format, then versatility is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer convertibilityVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container incorporates movable or reconfigurable elements that allow it to transition between storage and display configurations. The panel structure is designed to be flexible enough to be converted into display formats with product visibility features, achieving versatility without requiring entirely separate container designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9796501B2Polygonal container having reinforced corner structures and blank for forming same

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES LLC

AI summary

A blank for forming a reinforced container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel comprising opposing end edges, opposing side edges, and at least one miter edge connecting one of the end edges to an adjacent side edge of the opposing side edges. The blank further includes a pair of opposing end panels coupled to the bottom panel, a pair of opposing side panels coupled to the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly coupled to at least one of one of the end panels and one of the side panels for reinforcing a corner of the container.