Reusable Transport Container Drainage Opening in Single-Walled Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reusable transport containers with double-walled designs and water drainage openings face issues where water can seep between the layers, increasing weight, causing odor nuisances, and potentially damaging stored goods, while current designs are complex and costly to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

A reusable transport container with a wall structure featuring both double-walled and single-walled areas, where water drainage openings are exclusively located in the single-walled areas, preventing water from entering the space between the layers and allowing for simpler and cost-effective manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water drainage openings are designed as channels with channel walls and channel floor between inner and outer cover layers, then water can drain from the container, but the manufacture becomes complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage functionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the drainage opening directly from the single-walled base area, eliminating the need for complex channel structures between layers. The opening penetrates only the base layer, allowing water to drain while avoiding the manufacturing complexity of multi-layer channel integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The wall structure is segmented into distinct single-walled and double-walled areas, with drainage openings exclusively located in the single-walled base area. This segmentation allows simple drainage hole formation in the base while maintaining the double-walled structure elsewhere for stability and smooth surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If water drainage openings penetrate both cover layers in a double-walled design, then water can drain from the container, but water enters the space between layers causing weight increase and odor issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage functionVSAvoidwater accumulation between layers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different wall structures to different locations: the base area is single-walled to allow drainage openings without water accumulation, while the side wall areas remain double-walled to maintain stability and smooth surfaces. This local differentiation prevents water from entering the space between layers while preserving the benefits of double-walled construction where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the wall is entirely double-walled, then stability and smooth surfaces are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the double-walled structure selectively only where it provides essential benefits (side walls for stability and smooth surfaces), while using single-walled construction in the base area where drainage functionality is required. This localized approach maintains container stability while significantly simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4230543A1Reusable transport container with water outlet opening
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 SCHOELLER ALLIBERT GMBH
  • EP4230543A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4230543A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4230543A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a reusable transport container (2) with a base (12) and a wall (6, 8, 14) extending away from the base, preferably vertically, wherein at least one opening (30, 32) functioning as a drainage opening is provided in the wall (6, 8, 14) so ​​that liquid can be drained from the inside to the outside through the wall (6, 8, 14). According to the invention, the wall (6, 8, 14) has at least one double-walled first region (16) and at least one single-walled second region (18), and the at least one opening (30, 32) is provided, preferably exclusively, in the at least one first region (16).