Tapered Wipe Canister Structure for Shipping Load Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for wetted wipes are prone to damage from external forces during shipping and handling, leading to potential leaks and premature drying due to inadequate structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a body with a tapered outer surface and a closure mechanism that can withstand significant loads without failing, including a narrowed portion to absorb forces and minimize deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional plastic container is used for shipping wetted wipes, then the container is easy to manufacture and transport, but it suffers damage from external forces during shipping and handling, leading to potential leaks and premature drying
Solution Approach 1:
The container body is divided into multiple portions (first portion, intermediate portion, second portion) with different diameters and structural characteristics. The intermediate portion has a reduced diameter and acts as a separate structural element that absorbs and distributes applied forces, preventing stress concentration and buckling in the main body sections.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the container have different structural properties optimized for their specific functions. The intermediate portion has a reduced diameter and different wall thickness characteristics compared to the first and second portions, creating localized structural reinforcement exactly where needed to resist stacking and lateral forces during shipping.
2Strength
If the container body is made with uniform diameter throughout, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the container is more prone to buckling and folding of side walls when subjected to lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into distinct portions along its longitudinal axis, with the intermediate portion having a reduced diameter. This segmentation creates natural structural breaks that prevent continuous buckling propagation and distribute lateral forces across multiple structural zones, significantly improving resistance to wall folding and buckling.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition between portions of different diameters involves tapered surfaces with specific curvature profiles. These curved transitions distribute stress more evenly compared to sharp corners or abrupt changes, enhancing the container's ability to resist buckling under lateral forces while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding techniques.
3Strength
If the container is designed to withstand large stacking loads, then the structural integrity is improved, but the closure mechanism may become unseated and cause liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into portions with the intermediate portion acting as a structural buffer zone. This segmentation allows the first and second portions (which house the closure mechanism) to experience reduced stress transmission from stacking loads applied to the top of the container, preventing the closure mechanism from becoming unseated while still allowing the container to bear substantial loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion with reduced diameter serves as a mediator that absorbs and dissipates applied forces before they reach the closure mechanism area. This intermediary structural element protects the closure-sealing interface from excessive stress that would otherwise cause the closure to become unseated and leak.
4Strength
If the container walls are made thinner to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost and weight are reduced, but the container becomes more susceptible to damage from external forces during shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The container employs varying wall thickness and structural density at different locations. The intermediate portion has specific structural characteristics optimized for force distribution, while other portions may have different thickness profiles. This local optimization provides enhanced damage resistance in critical areas without proportionally increasing the overall weight of the container.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the container into portions with different structural characteristics, the design achieves high strength-to-weight ratio. The intermediate portion with reduced diameter acts as a lightweight structural element that provides significant force distribution and buckling resistance without adding substantial weight, allowing thin-walled construction in other areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing canister for wipes includes a container having a body that defines a cavity in which wipes can be located, the body having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and an intermediate portion located between the first end and the second end, the body having an outer surface, the first end having a first outer diameter and a part of the intermediate portion having a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter being smaller than the first outer diameter, and the outer surface being tapered from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter, and a closure mechanism that is removably coupleable to the container, and the closure mechanism can be closed to seal the cavity and opened to enable access to the cavity.