Reinforced Foldable Container Blank for Rigid Protective Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable containers suffer from issues of rigidity and strength, leading to potential damage of fragile items during transport, instability of contents, complex assembly, and large footprint.

Innovation Solution

A blank for constructing a foldable container with a reinforcement system comprising multiple panels and reinforcement fins that enhance rigidity and strength, allowing for easy assembly and compact storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional foldable containers are used, then the container can be easily folded and stored, but the rigidity and strength are insufficient, causing damage to fragile items during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverigidity and strengthVSAvoidcomplexity of reinforcement system
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is divided into multiple panels (front, rear, lateral, reinforcement panels) connected by folding lines, allowing the structure to be segmented for flexibility while maintaining overall strength through the reinforcement panels positioned at critical locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container combines the base cardboard material with additional reinforcement panels made of the same or similar material, creating a composite structure that leverages the strengths of each component to achieve both flexibility and rigidity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional foldable containers are used, then the container can be compactly stored, but the stability of objects during transport is poor, allowing items to shift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of objectsVSAvoidfootprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is designed to fold from a two-dimensional flat configuration into a three-dimensional container structure, maximizing the use of vertical space and providing stability to objects while maintaining a compact footprint when collapsed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If traditional foldable containers are used, then the container can be quickly assembled, but the assembly operations are complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidcomplexity of assembly operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is designed with self-aligning folding lines and pre-positioned reinforcement panels that automatically assume their correct positions during assembly, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures or additional fastening operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement panels and folding lines are pre-configured in the blank during manufacturing, so that during assembly the user only needs to perform simple folding actions without needing to plan or execute complex assembly sequences

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4703281A1Blank for constructing a foldable container and relating foldable container
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SCOTTON
  • EP4703281A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4703281A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4703281A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A blank (10) for constructing a foldable container (100), comprising a plurality of intended folding lines which define on the blank (10) a plurality of panels which are suitable for being folded in accordance with a sequence of successive folds in order to define said container (100), said plurality of panels comprising: a lower panel (3) which is intended to form a base (103) of said container (100), a first side panel (1) and a second side panel (2) which are mutually opposite, a front panel (5) and a rear panel (4). Said blank (10) comprises a reinforcement system that includes: reinforcement fins and reinforcement panels. Each reinforcement fin and each reinforcement panel are intended to be folded on the respective panel to form a first external rim (E1) and a second external rim (E2). The front panel (5) and the rear panel (4) are intended to form a front wall (105) of the container (100) and a rear wall (104) of said container (100), respectively. The side panels (1, 2) are intended to form a first side wall (101) and a second side wall (102) of said container (100) respectively, so that the first side wall (101) is spaced apart from the first external rim (E1) and the second side wall (102) is spaced apart from the second external rim (E2).