Ribbed Polymeric Container Thermal Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally insulative containers fail to effectively maintain the temperature of hot liquids and foods while minimizing the sensation of heat on the exterior, often requiring additional materials and manufacturing time for double-wall configurations.
Innovation Solution
The development of an insulative container with a plurality of ribs integrally formed on both the interior and exterior surfaces, creating thermally insulative gaps that retain heat inside while reducing heat transfer to the exterior, allowing safe handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a thin-walled container is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates causing heat to transfer to the exterior surface
Solution Approach 1:
The container wall is segmented into multiple rib structures spaced apart from each other, creating multiple thermal barriers instead of a single continuous wall. This segmentation increases thermal resistance while maintaining thin overall wall thickness, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and thermal insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structures extend radially outward from the interior surface, adding a dimensional element to the wall structure. This creates multiple thermal pathways and air gaps that increase insulation effectiveness without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity, addressing the contradiction between thin wall design and heat transfer reduction.
2Temperature
If a double-wall configuration is used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements (insulation ribs, structural support, and surface design) are merged into a single integrated container wall structure. This eliminates the need for separate double-wall components while achieving comparable or superior thermal insulation performance, resolving the contradiction between insulation effectiveness and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structures serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide thermal insulation, structural reinforcement, and surface design elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby decreasing device complexity while maintaining or improving thermal insulation performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness wall is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but thermal insulation effectiveness deteriorates as heat rapidly spreads through the container body
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure transitions from uniform thickness to a design with localized variations through the rib protrusions. The ribs create localized thermal barriers with air gaps that significantly reduce heat transfer in critical areas, while the overall manufacturing process remains relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and heat loss reduction.
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 container effectively maintains the temperature of contents by reducing heat transfer to the outside environment, allowing users to handle hot containers without feeling excessive heat, and is cost-effective with a simpler manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of protrusions integrally formed within the interior surface and the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall and extending along the axial length of the at least one sidewall. The plurality of protrusions define a series of thermally insulative gaps formed between each of the plurality of protrusions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to an insulative container. The insulative container may include a base and at least one sidewall which extends upwardly from the base and terminates in a rim. The at least one sidewall may include an interior surface and an exterior surface and a plurality of protrusions integrally formed within the interior surface and the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall and extend along the axial length of the at least one sidewall. The plurality of protrusions define a series of thermally insulative gaps formed between each of the plurality of protrusions.