Wine Bottle Packaging Partition with Cushioned Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wine packaging solutions face challenges in securely supporting bottles during transportation, particularly when bottles are inverted, leading to increased pressure on seals and potential leakage, and are labor-intensive to assemble, with limited adjustability and inadequate shock absorption.

Innovation Solution

A partition system with semi-circular recesses for bottle necks and cylindrical parts, using adhered cushioning strips or rings made of soft, compressible, and tensile material to form rings around bottles, providing dual support and shock absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If bottles are positioned vertically and inverted for transportation, then space utilization is improved, but seal pressure increases and leakage risk worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidseal pressure and leakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing compressible cushioning material at the partition surfaces before bottles are inserted. This cushioning material (such as foam or rubber) is positioned in advance to absorb the weight of inverted bottles and distribute the load, preventing excessive seal pressure while maintaining the inverted vertical positioning for optimal space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing cushioning material specifically at the contact points between bottles and partitions, rather than uniformly throughout the packaging. The cushioning is localized at critical areas where bottles rest on partitions and where necks are supported, addressing the seal pressure problem only where needed while maintaining structural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If rigid partitions with slots are used to support bottles, then structural strength is improved, but shock absorption capability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidshock and vibration damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining rigid partition structures with flexible cushioning materials. The rigid partitions (made of wood, metal, or rigid plastic) provide structural strength and maintain package integrity, while the attached or integrated cushioning material (foam, rubber, or elastomer) absorbs shocks and vibrations, creating a composite system that delivers both strength and shock protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by using flexible cushioning material that can be attached to rigid partition surfaces. This flexible layer conformally covers the rigid partitions, allowing the rigid structure to maintain its shape and strength while the flexible surface deforms to absorb impact energy from shocks and vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flexible corrugated sheets are used for cushioning, then shock absorption is improved, but assembly complexity and labor requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching the cushioning material to the rigid partitions during partition manufacturing, before the packaging assembly process. This pre-attachment eliminates the need for separate cushioning installation steps during packaging assembly, reducing labor requirements and simplifying the assembly process while maintaining effective shock absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies merging by combining the cushioning function with the partition structure itself. Rather than treating cushioning as a separate component that requires independent installation, the cushioning material is integrated into the partition design, merging two functions (structural support and shock absorption) into a single unified component that simplifies assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If bottles are supported by single flange linings in horizontal position, then assembly is simplified, but stability under shock and vibration worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidlining stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing cushioning material at multiple specific locations: at the partition surfaces where bottles rest, and at the neck support areas. This localized multi-point cushioning prevents the lining from shifting under shock and vibration while maintaining assembly simplicity, as each cushioning element is independently positioned at its critical contact point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively reduces the risk of leakage by distributing pressure and absorbs shocks, enhancing the protection of bottles and the packaging system during transit, while simplifying assembly and reducing labor requirements.

Implementation Method 1

using adhered cushioning strips or rings made of soft, compressible, and tensile material to form rings around bottles, providing dual support and shock absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

made of soft, compressible, and tensile material to form rings around bottles, providing dual support and shock absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The solution effectively reduces the risk of leakage by distributing pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure distribution: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3070021B1Protective packaging in which wine bottles can be transported
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 JF HILLEBRAND
  • EP3070021B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3070021B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3070021B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A protective structure for protecting bottles, particularly wine bottles, comprises a first pair of elements (10) which are spaced apart horizontally. The elements have recesses (12, 14) in their upper surfaces for receiving bottles. There is a second pair of elements inverted with respect to the first pair and having recesses in their lower edges. The recesses of the second pair of elements register with the recesses of the first pair of elements so as to define circular bottle receiving openings. A ring of cushioning material lines each opening. The cushioning material is in the form of semi-circular strips, the strips of registering recesses forming a ring, or in the form of a complete ring. Each ring includes a web (24) which lies against the semi-circular faces (20, 22) of the recesses (12, 14) and flanges (26) which lie against the side faces of the elements (10).