Beverage serving trolley

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage serving trolleys are prone to items slipping or falling when moved, leading to a messy appearance and increased cleaning efforts, as they often require additional equipment for preparation and storage.

Innovation Solution

A beverage serving trolley with a supporting structure, a presentation basket, and a horizontally arranged top plate featuring a cutout for the basket and recessed portions for trays, secured by bolts for enhanced stability, and a smooth, easy-to-clean design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional equipment is added to the beverage serving trolley for preparing drinks, then the functionality is improved, but the appearance becomes messy and crowded

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trolley is divided into distinct functional zones: a top plate for food preparation, a presentation basket for beverages, and shelving for storage. This segmentation allows each area to serve its specific purpose while maintaining an organized overall appearance, resolving the contradiction between functionality and visual clutter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The presentation basket is nested within a designated space in the top plate, creating a hierarchical structure where the basket fits into the trolley's framework. This nesting approach consolidates multiple functions (beverage storage and presentation) into a compact unit, improving functionality without adding visual complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If items are placed on the moving trolley, then the serving capability is improved, but items may slip or fall over requiring extensive cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveserving capabilityVSAvoiditem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The top plate features a recessed portion with specific local qualities (depressed surface, potential non-slip characteristics) designed to securely hold trays and boards. This localized design ensures items remain stable during movement, maintaining reliability while preserving serving capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed portion is pre-configured in the top plate to anticipate and prevent item slippage before it occurs. By designing the surface geometry in advance to accommodate trays and boards securely, the system proactively prevents the harmful effect of items falling during movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the top plate has a complex structure to hold items securely, then item stability is improved, but cleaning effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveitem stabilityVSAvoidcleaning effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire top plate complex, only the specific recessed portion has the elevated edges and depressed surface needed for item stability. The rest of the top plate maintains a smooth, flat surface that is easy to clean, thus achieving item stability without increasing overall cleaning effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4037953B1Beverage serving trolley
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 DOMETIC APPLIANCES
  • EP4037953B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4037953B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4037953B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a beverage serving trolley comprising a supporting structure (2), at least one wheel (11A, 11B), a presentation basket (40) being configured to receive beverage bottles and ice cubes, and a horizontally arranged top plate (30) including a flat surface (33) and a rim (38) and being of a rectangular shape, wherein the top plate (30) comprises a cutout (34) that is configured to accommodate the presentation basket (40), wherein the top plate (30) and the presentation basket (40) are configured such that the presentation basket (40) can be inserted into the cutout (34) from the above and is removable from the cutout (34) by lifting the presentation basket (40) in an upward direction.