Two-compartment leak-proof paperboard container
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 'take-out' food industry faces challenges with containers that do not effectively prevent leakage of liquids or sauces during transport, and many are made from non-degradable materials, requiring improved solutions for storing and transporting multiple food items in separate compartments.
Innovation Solution
A two-compartment container design featuring a tray with hingedly connected closure flaps, an interior partition, and folded gussets that adhere to form a leak-resistant structure, made from paperboard materials that are easily degradable or recyclable, ensuring secure storage and transport of food items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional containers are used for transporting food, then multiple separate containers are needed for different food items, but this increases handling complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments by interior partitions, allowing different food items to be stored separately within a single container structure. This segmentation enables the container to handle multiple food items simultaneously without requiring multiple separate containers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional container designs are used, then multiple containers are required for different food items, but this increases transportation cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple container functions are merged into a single container by creating compartments through interior partitions. This combining approach allows one container to replace multiple separate containers, reducing the total quantity of containers needed for transporting different food items.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard container designs are used, then handling multiple containers is required, but this increases handling time
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple container handling operations are merged into a single handling action. By integrating multiple compartments into one container structure, the system reduces the number of separate handling operations required, thereby decreasing the time lost to handling multiple separate containers.
4Reliability
If existing container designs are used, then leakage of liquids or sauces cannot be prevented, but this compromises food integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes a tray structure with closure flaps that form a sealed enclosure. This shell-like structure prevents liquid leakage by containing fluids within the compartment boundaries, addressing the harmful effect of sauce or liquid leakage while maintaining food integrity during transport.
5Ease of manufacture
If traditional container materials are used, then non-degradable materials like Styrofoam are employed, but this harms the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter is changed from non-degradable Styrofoam to degradable paperboard. This parameter change maintains the container's manufacturing feasibility while eliminating the harmful environmental effect of non-biodegradable waste, allowing the container to decompose naturally after use.
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
The container effectively prevents leakage and is environmentally friendly, providing a cost-effective solution for the food industry by using recyclable materials while maintaining the integrity of food items during transport.
Implementation Method 1
Each folded gusset contacts and adheres to the opposing sidewall or the third sidewall, optionally by thermal bonding
Implementation Method 2
an exterior surface of each extension portion contacts and adheres to an extension contacting portion of an interior surface of the adjacent opposing sidewall, optionally by thermal bonding
Data Source
AI summary
Blanks for forming two-compartment containers and the resulting containers are described herein. The container includes a tray and four closure flaps hingedly connected thereto. The closure flaps can be closed to enclose food or other substances therein, or opened to provide access to and removal of the tray contents. The tray is separated into two compartments by an interior partition. Generally, each compartment is liquid tight. Each compartment includes a bottom, three sidewalls, one partition wall, and four corners; each corner is adjacent to a folded gusset. Two opposing sidewalls are located on a first set of opposing sides of the bottom and a third sidewall and the partition wall are located on a second set of opposing dies of the bottom. Each folded gusset generally adheres to an adjacent sidewall. In at least one compartment, each opposing sidewall contains an extension portion that adheres to its adjacent opposing sidewall.