Stacking and organization device for cans and other containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cans and containers, especially paint cans, often drip or spill, causing material to damage surfaces without a retention mechanism to catch the drips, leading to organizational and storage challenges for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

Innovation Solution

A stacking and organization device with concentric walls and retention troughs to catch and retain spilled material, along with a mobile application for tracking and managing can contents, including paint details, local retailers, and service providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cans are stacked without a retention mechanism, then stacking and organization is simple, but paint or material drips damage the floor or supporting surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaint spill damageVSAvoidstacking device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple functional segments: body segments for holding cans, concentric walls creating separate retention troughs, and a base segment for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively preventing paint spill damage without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retention troughs formed between concentric walls act as intermediary structures that intercept and contain dripping paint before it can reach the floor. These troughs serve as a mediating element between the can and the supporting surface, preventing direct contact between spilled material and the floor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a retention trough is added to catch drips, then paint spill damage is prevented, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespill retentionVSAvoidconcentric walls and troughs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The concentric walls serve multiple functions simultaneously: they create retention troughs for catching spills, provide structural support for stacking devices, and define the boundaries of body segments for organizing cans. This multi-functionality increases reliability for spill retention while minimizing the addition of separate complex components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs nested concentric walls where an outer wall, intermediate wall, and inner wall are positioned within each other to create multiple retention troughs. This nesting arrangement allows multiple retention functions to be achieved within a compact structure, preventing spills while maintaining reasonable device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple body segments are used to organize cans, then organizational capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecan organizationVSAvoidnumber of body segments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple body segments (first body segment, second body segment, etc.) that can be arranged to organize different cans. Each segment is a self-contained unit with concentric walls and retention troughs, allowing flexible organization while maintaining consistent spill prevention functionality across all segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple body segments are combined with common structural elements (concentric walls, base segment) to create a unified device. The segments share the same retention trough design and can be stacked or arranged together, providing versatile can organization while avoiding the complexity of completely separate devices for each can

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If alternating stacking of devices and cans is used, then stacking capacity is increased, but stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking capacityVSAvoidstack stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The device is designed with a flat top surface and a stable base segment that provides a uniform stacking interface. When devices and cans are alternately stacked, each layer provides a stable platform for the next, creating equipotential stacking surfaces that maintain stability while increasing overall stacking capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The alternating stack consists of segmented units (device-can-device-can) where each device segment provides structural stability with its concentric walls and base, while each can segment contributes to the overall capacity. This segmentation creates a stable alternating pattern that increases productivity without compromising stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11479386B1Stacking and organization device for cans and other containers

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 TPO R&D LLC

AI summary

A can stacking and organization device is present herein. The device includes at least one body segment which is formed of an outer wall, an intermediate wall and an inner wall. A first trough is defined between the outer wall and the intermediate wall, and a second trough is defined between the intermediate wall and the inner wall. The intermediate wall includes at least one indentation formed upon a top surface thereof, such that material collected within the first trough can overflow through the indentation and into the second trough.