Collapsible Cart Base With Pivoting Center Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible carts have structural weaknesses due to numerous conjugating points, making them inconvenient and inefficient for users to unfold or store, and they do not minimize size effectively for easy transportation.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible cart design featuring a first and second frame member, front and rear spacing members, and a base member, with pivotally connected X-shaped structures and base connecting bars, allowing for easy folding and minimization of size by moving components off a shared plane when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If multiple conjugating points are used to enable collapsible structure, then the cart can be folded and stored in confined space, but the structure becomes weaker and more complex to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The cart frame is divided into multiple collapsible segments (first and second frame members with connecting units) that can be independently folded. This segmentation allows the cart to be broken down into smaller parts for compact storage while maintaining structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cart employs dynamic pivot connections and movable support units that allow smooth transitions between expanded and collapsed states. The pivotal connections enable the frame members to rotate and fold without requiring complex locking mechanisms at each joint, improving ease of operation.
2Volume of moving object
If multiple conjugating points are used to enable collapsible structure, then the cart can be folded and stored in confined space, but the structure becomes weaker
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple frame members are merged through pivotal connections to form a unified X-shaped supporting structure when expanded. This merging creates a triangulated geometry that distributes loads across multiple members, strengthening the overall structure despite the presence of multiple connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The cart includes pre-configured locking mechanisms and engagement features that are activated before full expansion. This preliminary action ensures that structural integrity is maintained from the beginning of the expansion process, preventing weakness at the conjugating points during transition.
3Volume of moving object
If traditional collapsible cart design is used, then the cart can be folded, but it requires additional effort and time to engage and disengage multiple conjugating points
Solution Approach 1:
The cart employs self-latching mechanisms and gravity-assisted folding that allow the structure to collapse and lock into place automatically with minimal user intervention. The design eliminates the need for users to manually engage multiple separate locking points, significantly reducing the time and effort required for folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism is designed to progress through a standardized sequence of movements that naturally guide the frame members into their collapsed position. This periodic action pattern ensures consistent, repeatable folding cycles that minimize the time required for each operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible cart may include a first frame member, a second frame member, a front spacing member, a rear spacing member, and a base member. The front and rear spacing members are configured to separate the first frame member and the second frame member for a predetermined distance to create a receiving space for the cart when it is in a fully open status. The base member may have a plurality of base connecting bars and a center unit that has four opening to pivotally engage with the base connecting bars, and the center unit and the four base connecting bars are positioned on the same plane surface when the cart is in a fully open status. The user can start collapsing the cart by simply pushing down the center unit to disengage the center units with the base connecting bars.