Asymmetric Crate End Columns for Handle Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crate designs for carrying beverage containers, particularly those with an odd number of bottles along the end wall, often reduce the space between the handle and bottles, making it uncomfortable for users to grasp the handle due to the alignment of bottles with the center, which is a limitation in accommodating different bottle sizes.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a base with opposed side and end walls, spaced end columns with side flanges and a lower rib, and a handle that extends between these columns, allowing for increased finger space when grasping the handle by tapering the end columns and positioning the handle to maximize space between the handle and adjacent bottles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If bottles are arranged with an odd number along the end wall (e.g., 3 bottles), then the crate can accommodate larger bottle sizes (e.g., 1.5 liter), but the center bottle aligns with the handle center, reducing finger space for grasping
Solution Approach 1:
The end columns are made asymmetric in width, with one column wider than the other. This asymmetric design shifts the handle position relative to the bottle arrangement, creating sufficient finger space even when an odd number of bottles are placed along the end wall. The wider column provides additional clearance between the handle and the center bottle, resolving the conflict between accommodating large bottles and maintaining grasping comfort.
2Device complexity
If the handle is positioned centrally between bottles, then the crate structure is simplified and symmetrical, but insufficient finger space is provided when odd-numbered bottle arrangements are used
Solution Approach 1:
The crate structure intentionally introduces asymmetry through end columns of different widths. This breaks the perfect symmetry of the crate design to prioritize ergonomic functionality. The asymmetric column configuration allows the handle to be positioned optimally for finger clearance while maintaining overall structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between structural symmetry and operational ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A crate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the sides of the base and a pair of end walls extending upward from ends of the base. The end walls each include a pair of spaced apart end columns each having a side flange partially defining a bottle receiving pocket and a lower rib projecting upwardly from the base between the side flanges. A handle extends across the pair of spaced apart columns at each end wall.