Stackable Container With Segmented Columns For Water Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stackable and nestable containers are not suitable for storing and transporting products like seafood, as they can be damaged by water retention, and stacked containers are unstable due to poor alignment and movement.
Innovation Solution
The design includes containers with liquid evacuation means and stabilizing features such as columns and grooves that allow water to flow out, preventing contact with contents and enhancing stability by aligning evacuation openings and using ribs for support, ensuring water drains passively without external intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If containers are made with mesh or grid surfaces to allow water flow, then water evacuation is improved, but product damage and hygiene issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The container bottom is segmented into multiple columns with individual evacuation openings, creating discrete drainage paths that prevent water accumulation while maintaining product integrity and hygiene
Solution Approach 2:
Water is extracted from the container interior through evacuation openings in the columns, removing the harmful liquid that would otherwise damage products or create hygiene issues
2Ease of operation
If containers are stacked simply on rims, then stacking ease is improved, but stack stability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Columns from upper containers are nested within recesses of lower containers, creating a nested structure that provides both ease of stacking and enhanced stability through precise geometric interlocking
Solution Approach 2:
The columns and recesses have asymmetric complementary shapes that prevent lateral movement while maintaining simple vertical stacking, achieving stability without complex mechanisms
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water evacuates from upper containers, then water damage prevention is improved, but liquid flow into lower containers worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation openings in the columns act as intermediaries that channel water vertically outward from each container, mediating the drainage process to prevent lateral flow into lower containers while maintaining effective water removal
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
This solution prevents water damage to products and stabilizes stacked or nested containers, ensuring efficient storage and transport while maintaining hygiene and reducing transport costs.
Implementation Method 1
water flows via the evacuation means... water naturally accumulates at the bottom of the container and flows via the evacuation means
Implementation Method 2
The column of the first container has a shape that is substantially complementary to that of the reinforcement so as to prevent lateral movements of the container with relation to the second container
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system of stackable and/or nestable type containers (1) comprising at least one first container and at least one second container. The first container comprises a plurality of columns (9) enabling the first container to be stacked on and/or nested into the second container and the system comprises a means (11,12) for evacuating liquid out of said containers. The present invention also relates to a system of stackable and/or nestable type containers comprising at least one first container and at least one second container. The first container comprises a plurality of columns enabling the first container to be stacked on and/or nested into the second container and the second container comprises a means (14, 15) for stabilizing the first container with relation to the second container.