Reusable Shipping Container with Multi-Point Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shipping containers, especially those made of cardboard, are not secure for repeated use and lack robustness during transportation, particularly when handling larger goods or pallets, as they can easily come apart and are vulnerable to external damage.
Innovation Solution
A shipping container design featuring interlocking upper and lower parts with multiple locking locations around the circumference, made from a resilient plastic material, using molded projections and a flexible locking element like a steel cable to secure the parts together, allowing for adjustable height and enhanced security against deformation and tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cardboard shipping containers are used, then they are easy to manufacture and inexpensive, but they lack security and robustness during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by combining plastic material for the container body with metal locking elements (such as steel cables or chains) for securing. This composite approach integrates the ease of manufacturing and cost-effectiveness of plastic with the high strength and security properties of metal fastening components, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The shipping container is divided into separable components including an upper part, lower part, and removable side walls that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall security through the locking mechanism that connects the segments.
2Ease of manufacture
If cardboard containers are used, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but they can easily come apart and are vulnerable to external damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plastic material for the container body which provides inherent strength and resistance to external damage, while metal locking elements provide additional structural reinforcement. This composite material strategy maintains cost-effectiveness while significantly improving robustness compared to pure cardboard construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is pre-configured with locking locations and engagement features that are built into the container structure during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation ensures that the container is ready for secure assembly from the outset, preventing premature disassembly and enhancing overall strength without requiring complex assembly procedures.
3Reliability
If multiple locking locations are implemented, then security and handling stability are improved, but the complexity of the locking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed with universal features that allow the same locking element (such as a cable or chain) to engage with multiple locking locations around the container circumference. This multi-functional design provides secure locking at several positions without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each location, thereby maintaining security while controlling overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible locking elements such as cables or chains that can be routed through multiple locking locations and secured with simple fastenings. These flexible elements provide secure multi-point locking without the need for rigid, complex mechanical structures at each location, simplifying the overall locking mechanism while maintaining security.
4Reliability
If plastic material is used instead of cardboard, then security against external damage is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular plastic material parameters such as thickness, density, and structural configuration that optimize both security and manufacturability. By carefully selecting and controlling these parameters during the manufacturing process, the patent achieves high security against external damage while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized plastic forming techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-use shipment container includes an upper part and a lower part, respectively, each provided with a bottom and walls and nesting together. To produce a shipment container that offers a high level of security and also can be handled securely, the parts can be locked in relation to each other at a plurality of locking points which are distributed over the periphery of the upper part or the lower part.