Adjustable Wedge Stop Fixture for Upright Wheeled Goods Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Displaying and storing wheeled goods like strollers, wagons, and bicycles in a retail setting poses challenges due to the need for them to be maintained in an upright position for visibility and security, while also being visually unobtrusive and secure from tipping or rolling.
Innovation Solution
A platform fixture with a frame, elongated rail, wedge stop, and mounting bracket that securely holds the wheels of the goods in place, allowing for adjustable positioning and hidden storage of unused components, maintaining the goods in an upright 'in-use' position while being visually unobtrusive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wheeled goods are displayed in an upright position on a fixed platform, then consumers can view the goods in an 'in use' position for better inspection, but the goods may tip or roll out of position due to lack of security
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge stop is made adjustable along the elongated rail, allowing the retention position to be dynamically changed according to different wheel sizes and positions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to securely accommodate various wheeled goods while maintaining them in an upright display position.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge stop acts as an intermediary component between the wheeled good and the display fixture. It provides the necessary retention force to prevent tipping while allowing easy adjustment along the rail to adapt to different product requirements.
2Reliability
If retention components are added to secure wheeled goods, then security against rolling is improved, but the visual appearance becomes more obtrusive
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge stop and mounting bracket are designed to be minimally visible from the front display area. The retention mechanism is effectively 'taken out' of the visual field by positioning it along the sides or rear of the display fixture, allowing secure retention without compromising the aesthetic presentation of the wheeled goods.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wedge stop position is fixed, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different wheeled goods sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge stop is designed to slide along the elongated rail, transforming the system from a fixed to a dynamic configuration. This allows a single fixture design to accommodate multiple wheel sizes and positions without requiring multiple specialized fixtures, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while greatly enhancing adaptability.
4Reliability
If the wedge stop is made secure and fixed, then reliability is improved, but ease of adjustment for different products is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket and wedge stop are designed with a dynamic retention mechanism that allows easy sliding adjustment during installation and reconfiguration, while providing secure fixed positioning once adjusted. The elongated rail guides the wedge stop smoothly, enabling quick repositioning for different products while maintaining reliable retention during display.
Data Source
AI summary
A platform fixture for displaying a wheeled good includes a frame, a rail, a wedge stop, and a mounting bracket. The rail extends across a top of the frame. The wedge stop is configured to selectively receive one or more wheels of the wheeled good and includes longitudinal flanges and two coupling flanges. Each of the two longitudinal flanges extends downwardly from a V-shaped top surface of the wedge stop. Each of the two coupling flanges extends inwardly from a different one of the longitudinal flanges. The mounting bracket is coupled to the rail and includes two T-shaped side segments defining a base portion and a cross bar that is wider than the base portion. Each of the two coupling flanges includes a cutout. The wedge stop is coupled to the mounting bracket by placing each base portion within the cutout of a different one of the two coupling flanges.