Seamless Stackable Container Rim Structure for Airtight Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stackable containers with seams and folds are prone to leaks, require separate lids, and generate excess waste, making them inefficient for packaging liquid products and increasing material consumption.

Innovation Solution

A seamless container design with a protruding rim structure featuring grooves and protrusions that align and interlock with similar containers, forming an airtight and watertight closed volume without separate lids, using materials like fibrous materials or thermoplastics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate lids are used to close containers, then containers can be closed and stored separately, but material consumption increases and storage space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer closureVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the container body and lid into a single integrated structure where the rim of the container body forms interlocking features (protrusions and grooves) that directly engage with the flange of the lid, eliminating the need for separate closure components and reducing material consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate lids are used to close containers, then containers can be closed and stored separately, but storage space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer closureVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated design allows the lid and container body to be stored together in a nested configuration, reducing the total storage volume compared to storing separate lids and containers in different stacks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If containers are made with folds and seams, then containers can be manufactured from cardboard or paper, but leaks occur and airtight sealing is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer manufacturingVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a seamless, molded thin-walled structure made from thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material that forms continuous surfaces without folds or seams, enabling airtight and watertight sealing while maintaining ease of manufacture through injection molding or similar processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The container structure combines thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material to create a seamless body that integrates the rim and wall structure, eliminating the need for folds and seams while achieving reliable sealing performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If containers have folds and seams, then containers can be manufactured from cardboard or paper, but hard-to-reach areas increase food waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer manufacturingVSAvoidfood waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The seamless molded structure creates smooth, continuous surfaces without folds or seams, eliminating hard-to-reach areas where food would be trapped and wasted, while maintaining ease of manufacture through modern plastic forming processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

5Ease of manufacture

If containers have overlapping areas from folding, then containers can be manufactured from cardboard or paper, but material consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer manufacturingVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The seamless molded thin-walled structure eliminates the need for overlapping areas required by folded construction, reducing material consumption while maintaining ease of manufacture through injection molding or similar processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The use of thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material allows for seamless molded construction that eliminates overlapping areas and reduces overall material consumption compared to folded cardboard or paper containers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4653337A1Seamless container
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 METSA SPRING OY
  • EP4653337A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4653337A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4653337A1 patent drawingFigure 3~6

AI summary

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seamless container comprising; a bottom, a wall structure extending in a first direction, said wall structure comprising protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure, the rim structure comprising at least one groove and at least one protrusion; wherein said seamless container is stackable, and said rim structure of the seamless container is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of a second container in a second position.