Angled Tray With Slider And Traction Means For Crate Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for storing beverage crates in vehicles are inadequate as they fail to securely fasten crates during vehicle movement, leading to potential falling, cumbersome removal, noise, and wear, especially on uneven ground.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a base frame with shelf posts and elongated tubs with a slider and flexible traction means, where the tubs are angled to facilitate easy removal and secure the crates using a clamping device, ensuring the crates do not fall or cause noise during movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If boxes are stored in bath-shaped receptacles without secure fastening, then the structure is simple, but the boxes can fall out during vehicle movement over uneven ground

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of box storageVSAvoidcomplexity of fastening system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible traction means is pre-arranged within the receptacle structure, with one end attached to the bottom and the other end accessible at the front. This preliminary arrangement allows the fastening mechanism to be ready before boxes are loaded, securing them automatically when the traction means is engaged, thus improving reliability without adding complex active fastening systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible traction means acts as an intermediary element between the box and the receptacle structure. It mediates the securing function by connecting the box to the receptacle's bottom and front wall, providing reliable fastening while maintaining structural simplicity through this intermediate flexible element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If boxes are secured with complex fastening systems, then they are secure during movement, but the removal becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of box storageVSAvoidtime for box removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible traction means is pre-positioned within the receptacle, allowing boxes to be quickly secured by simply engaging the front end. For removal, the traction means is already in place to facilitate easy extraction by pulling forward, thus reducing removal time while maintaining security during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex locking mechanisms that require multiple steps to release, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple pull-forward action on the flexible traction means to both secure and remove boxes. This inversion of the traditional fastening-release sequence enables quick removal while maintaining secure storage during movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If boxes are allowed to move and jump within the receptacle, then the structure remains simple, but significant noise and wear on the vehicle occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of storage structureVSAvoidnoise and wear during box movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible traction means is pre-arranged to contact the box before movement occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the vehicle moves over uneven ground, the box is already restrained by the traction means, preventing movement-induced noise and wear while keeping the overall structure simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible traction means serves as an intermediary that eliminates direct harmful contact between the box and the receptacle walls during vehicle movement. By mediating the interaction through this flexible element, noise and wear are prevented while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the receptacle is designed with a steep angle to facilitate box removal, then boxes slide forward easily, but boxes may fall out during vehicle movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of box removalVSAvoidsecurity of box storage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle is designed with a local inclination (sloping bottom) specifically in the region where box removal is needed, while the overall structure maintains sufficient depth and the flexible traction means provides localized securing at the front. This local quality change enables easy removal through gravity-assisted sliding while the traction means prevents boxes from falling out during movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible traction means acts as an intermediary that reconciles the conflicting requirements of slope angle. It allows the bottom to be sloped for easy removal while providing the necessary restraint to prevent boxes from falling out, mediating between the gravitational force on the slope and the need for secure storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides a safe, efficient, and noise-free storage and transport of beverage crates by preventing them from falling and reducing wear on the vehicle, allowing easy removal and reattachment without excessive effort.

Implementation Method 1

a slider (9) which can be moved along the slot (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a clamping device (11) for securing the flexible traction means (10) to the side wall (4, 5) of the tub (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

The tub is sloping at an angle of 8 ° to 20 °, so that the boxes mounted therein slide forward in the direction of the user due to gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3556606B1Device for storing boxes
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 SORTIMO INT GMBH
  • EP3556606B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3556606B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3556606B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for storing boxes (1), comprising at least one elongated tray (2) which has a rectangular base (3) and a side wall adjoining this base (3) at its edges, with two longitudinal sides (4, 5) and two transverse sides (6, 7). Known devices of this kind require considerable force to remove the boxes and are not suitable for mobile use within a vehicle.The task of designing a device in such a way that the boxes can be removed without great effort and that secure storage is ensured even when the vehicle in which the device is installed is moving is solved by the fact that the base (3) has a slot (8) running parallel to the longitudinal sides (4, 5) in which a sliding piece (9) is slidably mounted, to which one end of a flexible traction element (10) is attached, and a clamping device (11) for the flexible traction element (10) is arranged on a first broad side (6) of the side wall of the or a further tub (2).