Segmented Food Packaging Container with Insulating Sub-Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dessert containers have a single chamber, which limits the ability to store multiple flavors of desserts like Neapolitan ice cream without comingle, and they lack a robust mechanism to maintain separate ratios of foodstuffs until use.
Innovation Solution
A food packaging container with two or more separated sub-chambers, each with a tight-fitting lid, coupled via a planar strip or vertical bridges, allowing for separation via a pull tab or perforated split, and made of a food-grade material with insulating properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single chamber container is used, then the container structure is simple, but multiple flavors of desserts cannot be stored separately without comingle
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple separate chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that are physically isolated from each other by partition walls. Each chamber can independently store different flavors of desserts, preventing comingle while maintaining a unified container structure. The partition walls extend from the bottom wall to the open end, creating effective separation between chambers.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a tight-fitting lid is used, then protection from contamination is improved, but access to individual chambers requires exposing all chambers
Solution Approach 1:
The lid system is segmented into multiple independent lids (first lid, second lid, third lid), each corresponding to a specific chamber. Each lid can be removed or opened independently to access its respective chamber without disturbing or exposing the other chambers. This maintains the protective sealing function while enabling selective access to individual chambers.
3Temperature
If the container is made of insulating material, then thermal insulation is improved, but the material becomes harder and more brittle at frozen temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The container is constructed from composite materials that combine thermal insulation properties with mechanical strength at low temperatures. The container body, partition walls, and lids are made from materials specifically selected to maintain both insulating characteristics and structural integrity when storing frozen desserts, overcoming the brittleness issue of conventional insulating materials at frozen temperatures.
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 separate flavors and ratios of desserts, prevents comingle, and ensures protection from contamination until use, while also providing thermal insulation to keep desserts at the desired temperature.
Implementation Method 1
the planar strip operable to join and form a void between the sub-chambers
Implementation Method 2
made of a food grade material having insulating properties, such as thermally insulating properties
Implementation Method 3
the sub-chambers are separable via a pull tab or perforated split along the planar strip
Data Source
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AI summary
A food storage container (100) having a graduated, substantially cylindrical container (100) having a first sub-chamber (101A) and a second sub-chamber (101B). A coupling mechanism (401A, 401B, 1001, 1002A, 1002B, 1005A, 1005B, 1003) is operable to couple the first sub-chamber and the second-chamber. The coupling mechanism is fabricated so as to allow the separation of the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber using a moderate separation force. Each sub-chamber is slightly less than half of the total cylindrical container space and each sub-chamber further comprising an open end and a closed end for containing a food product, such as ice cream, gelato, sorbet, custard, yogurt and pudding or other viscous or semi-viscous food product.