Portable multipack

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multipack coolers for beverage containers are structurally complex, expensive, and inefficient in maintaining cooling due to drainage of melted ice, and they often lead to damage and bulkiness issues during transportation.

Innovation Solution

A multipack design featuring a rigid primary container with a closing wrap that seals the top open housing, using lightweight materials and a handle to enhance strength and portability, while maintaining cooling efficacy through the use of a heat-insulating layer and spacer trays to secure beverage containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If prior art multipack coolers are designed with complex structural features (drain holes, waterproof lining, containment skirts), then cooling functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling functionalityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex drainage system, waterproof lining, and containment skirt features from prior art multipack designs. Instead, it uses a simple wrap-around closure system that seals the top opening, eliminating the need for drain holes and waterproof linings while maintaining cooling functionality through ice placement and melting within the sealed container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than designing complex drainage systems to manage melted ice water, the patent inverts the approach by sealing the container to retain the melted ice water inside, allowing it to continue cooling the beverage containers. The closure system prevents water escape while maintaining cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If prior art multipack coolers allow drainage of melted ice water, then leakage is prevented, but cooling efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidcooling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of melted ice water into a beneficial cooling agent. By sealing the container with a wrap-around closure, the melted ice water is retained and continues to cool the beverage containers, transforming what would be waste water into an extended cooling resource.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If beverage containers are grouped in multipacks for protection, then handling is improved, but structural complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehandlingVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible wrap-around closure made of thin material that encircles and secures the group of beverage containers. This simple wrap system provides protective grouping and easy handling without requiring complex rigid structures, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If ice chests with double walls and insulation are used, then cooling capacity is improved, but weight and bulkiness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a simple, lightweight wrap-around closure system that provides sufficient cooling capacity for the duration of use without requiring heavy double-walled construction or extensive insulation. The design accepts that the cooling system is temporary and disposable, eliminating the need for durable, heavy materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 design reduces manufacturing costs, enhances structural strength, prevents container damage, and maintains cooling efficiency by retaining melted ice's cooling effect, making it lightweight, cost-effective, and easy to handle.

Implementation Method 1

a heat-insulating layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3807170B1Portable multipack

Publication Date: 2022.08.17 ANHEUSER BUSCH INBEV SA

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AI summary

The present disclosure provides a multipack (100) for holding a plurality of beverage containers (190) comprising a closing wrap (120). The multipack (100) includes a primary container (102) formed from an open top housing (110), having a bottom surface (111), and a plurality of sidewalls (112) connected and extended away from the bottom surface to define an inner surface (119) there between, accessible through a top open surface (113). The closing wrap (120) includes a plurality of panels defining a first end panel (121) connected to a second end panel (122) through a bottom panel (123) at one end and extending towards a top panel at another end. In use, the closing wrap is wrapped around a pair of sidewalls of the primary containers wherein the top panel of the closing wrap sealingly covers the open top surface of the primary container.