Returnable Package Assembly with Interlocking Grip Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional returnable packages face issues with structural inadequacy, cohesion during handling, and environmental impact, leading to increased costs and safety risks due to poor material strength, frictional instability, and difficult waste disposal.

Innovation Solution

A returnable package design featuring grip means with intersecting directrices and engagement protrusions/recesses that prevent relative sliding and provide self-centering, combined with shock-resistant materials and modular components for efficient handling and storage, using materials with low environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional disposable packages made of paperboard or expanded polystyrene are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but structural strength is insufficient and mechanical adequacy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into multiple confining elements (2) that can be mutually assembled, allowing each element to be manufactured separately with optimized structural properties while maintaining overall package integrity and strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The package uses confining elements made of materials with better structural-strength features than traditional disposable materials, creating a composite structure that achieves both mechanical adequacy and manufacturing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional packages are designed for single use, then waste disposal complexity increases and environmental harm worsens, but package design simplicity is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackage design simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The package is designed as a returnable system where confining elements are recovered after use, reused multiple times, and only discarded when worn out, significantly reducing waste generation and environmental harm while maintaining design simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The confining elements are designed to perform multiple functions: containing goods, withstanding compression stresses, enabling handling by lift trucks, and being reusable across multiple cycles, making the simple design serve multiple purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If packages are piled up for storage or transport, then space utilization is improved, but relative displacement and slipping occur leading to stability deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidpackage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Grip means are added to the vertical dimension of package interfaces, providing interleaved engagement between stacked packages that prevents horizontal displacement and maintains stability during piling and transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If jaw lift trucks are used to handle multiple packages, then handling efficiency is improved, but innermost packages slip downwards due to insufficient friction, worsening handling reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling efficiencyVSAvoidhandling reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Grip means act as an intermediary mechanical feature between the jaw lift truck and the packages, providing positive engagement through protrusions and recesses that prevent slipping and ensure reliable handling of multiple packages simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 package effectively absorbs static and impulse loads, maintains stability during handling and storage, reduces waste, and optimizes logistic space usage, while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Implementation Method 1

grip means (3), present on the interfacing surfaces (2a) of the confining elements (2)... comprising engagement protrusions (3a)... which mutually interact so as to prevent one of the two packages from sliding relative to the other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

friction generated on the side faces of the packages in mutual contact enables lifting and handling of a coherent package assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9511895B2Package assembly, in particular a returnable type package assembly

Publication Date: 2016.12.06 FREE PACK NET HLDG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a returnable package a comprises confining elements (2) that can be mutually assembled in a removable manner to define a holding volume, said confining elements having interfacing surfaces (2a) designed to be in mutual contact when two or more packages (1) are under piling-up and/or side-by-side relationship conditions; the package further comprises grip means (3) associated with the interfacing surfaces of the confining elements, the grip means being disposed in a matrix scheme defining directrices (4) intersecting at least two directions of possible relative sliding (5) that are mutually transverse and lie on the interfacing surfaces.