Stackable Shopping Basket Handle Plane Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shopping baskets with wheels and handles, designed for easy transport, often suffer from structural damage due to increased tensile and bending stresses when carrying large loads, especially when moved inclined, leading to reduced durability and profitability.

Innovation Solution

The basket features a drive handle located on a plane different from the load application plane, with reinforced corners and a telescopic design that distributes stress components, enhancing structural strength and rigidity, allowing for improved load handling without compromising easy transport or stackability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the basket is designed with larger capacity to transport more goods, then the transport capability is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates due to increased tensile and bending stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebasket capacityVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is repositioned from the load plane to a parallel plane above it, creating a three-dimensional spatial separation. This dimensional change reduces the bending moment arm and redistributes stresses, allowing the basket to maintain structural strength while accommodating larger cargo volumes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the basket is moved in an inclined manner to facilitate transport, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stress on the handle and structure increases causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of transportVSAvoidhandle strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By positioning the handle on a plane parallel to and above the load plane, the invention creates a geometric configuration where the handle axis is offset from the vertical line passing through the load center. This spatial arrangement reduces the bending moment component when the basket is inclined, distributing forces more favorably across the structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the handle is located on the load application plane to simplify the design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the modulus of strength decreases making the handle more prone to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle configurationVSAvoidmodulus of strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is relocated from the load plane to a parallel plane positioned above it, creating a vertical offset. This simple geometric relocation increases the moment of inertia of the handle assembly and reduces the bending stress concentration, thereby increasing the modulus of strength without significantly complicating the overall design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2117371B1Stackable shopping basket
Publication Date: 2016.08.03 ARAVEN SA
  • EP2117371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2117371B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2117371B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a shopping basket in self service stores and/or supermarkets, of the type of those which can be stacked and incorporate rolling means (5) at their base and a drive handle (4) for transporting them in an inclined manner on the floor in which said drive handle (4) is located on a plane different from the load application plane, and further having its corners reinforced by means of bends (3) defining a plane (6) on which the side branches (7) of said handle (4) slide with the aid of guide means.