Reusable Clip Assembly for Water Heater Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large appliances, such as water heaters, face challenges in packaging due to bulky and non-reusable packaging assemblies that occupy excessive storage space and are costly, necessitating a solution that is compact, inexpensive, and reusable.
Innovation Solution
A positioning and retaining assembly comprising a top cap and bottom pad with clips arranged around the appliance's periphery, allowing for secure engagement and preventing contact with the carton walls, with options for roll-up designs or molded foam for reduced material usage and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional packaging assemblies are used for large appliances, then the appliance is protected during shipping, but the packaging becomes bulky and occupies excessive storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging assembly is divided into separate functional components: a reusable positioning and retaining assembly with clips, and a disposable carton. The positioning assembly includes multiple clips that can be detached and reused, while only the carton is discarded after use. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while reducing overall packaging volume by reusing the positioning components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where the positioning and retaining assembly (including clips and positioning structures) is designed to be recovered and reused across multiple shipping cycles. Only the carton is discarded after the appliance is delivered. This recovering approach directly reduces packaging volume and storage space requirements while maintaining appliance protection through repeated use of the positioning assembly.
2Reliability
If traditional packaging assemblies are used for large appliances, then the appliance is protected during shipping, but the packaging becomes costly and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning and retaining assembly is designed as a universal component that can be used across multiple shipping cycles for the same appliance type. The clips and positioning structures serve multiple functions: securing the appliance during shipping, maintaining positioning within the carton, and providing protection. This multi-functionality reduces costs by eliminating the need to manufacture new packaging assemblies for each shipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where the positioning and retaining assembly (including clips and positioning structures) is designed to be recovered and reused across multiple shipping cycles. Only the carton is discarded after the appliance is delivered. This recovering approach directly reduces packaging volume and storage space requirements while maintaining appliance protection through repeated use of the positioning assembly.
3Reliability
If clips are arranged around the appliance periphery to secure it, then the appliance is firmly retained, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning and retaining assembly is divided into separate functional components: a reusable positioning and retaining assembly with clips, and a disposable carton. The positioning assembly includes multiple clips that can be detached and reused, while only the carton is discarded after use. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while reducing overall packaging volume by reusing the positioning components.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips are designed to be self-positioning and self-securing components that automatically engage with the appliance positioning structures without requiring complex assembly procedures. The clip design allows for easy attachment and detachment, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining firm retention of the appliance during shipping.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a positioning and retaining assembly for securing an appliance in a carton that comprises a top cap and bottom pad. The top cap and bottom pad each includes a board and a plurality of clips secured to the board. The clips are arranged to engage the appliance at spaced apart locations around the periphery of the top and bottom of the appliance, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, one of the legs of each top clip has a ledge projecting outwardly from the top clip to engage the top of the appliance. In yet another embodiment, either the top cap or bottom pad can be replaced with a current roll-up design or molded foam, thereby only one of the top cap and bottom pad are used in the positioning and retaining assembly. The assembly is especially useful with water heaters.