Collapsible Cart Frame With Foldable Shelf And Interior Column
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carts occupy significant space for storage and transportation due to their fixed structure, making them inefficient for compact storage and transport.
Innovation Solution
The design of collapsible carts with a frame that can transition between open and collapsed configurations, featuring foldable shelves and an interior support column, along with slidable braces for secure folding, allowing for compact storage and easy transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cart uses a fixed structure to maintain stability and support capacity, then the cart can reliably hold and transport objects, but the cart occupies significant space for storage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The cart frame is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can slide relative to each other along guide rails. This segmentation allows the frame to be extended when load-bearing is needed and collapsed to a compact size for storage, resolving the contradiction between storage volume and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cart employs dynamic telescopic mechanisms with movable shelves that can adjust their positions and the overall frame length. This dynamic capability allows the cart to transition between expanded and collapsed states, maintaining stability during use while minimizing storage space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cart is designed to expand for larger loads, then the cart can accommodate more objects, but the cart takes up substantial space when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic frame sections are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with each section fitting inside the previous one. This nesting arrangement allows the cart to be compressed to a minimal volume for storage while maintaining full expandability for various load capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic mechanism and adjustable shelves provide universal adaptability, allowing the cart to function with different load capacities by extending to different lengths. This multi-functionality enables a single cart design to serve multiple storage needs without requiring multiple fixed-size carts.
3Volume of moving object
If the cart uses a collapsible frame with foldable shelves, then the cart can be compacted for storage, but the cart requires complex mechanisms to maintain and release the collapsed state
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic frame incorporates spring-loaded or friction-based locking mechanisms that automatically engage when sections are extended and disengage when compressed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual folding operations, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the compact storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide rails and positioning pins act as intermediary elements that guide the telescopic sections during extension and retraction. These intermediaries simplify the folding mechanism by providing predetermined movement paths and automatic alignment, reducing the complexity of the overall collapsing system.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible cart may include a collapsible frame, a foldable shelf, and an interior support column. The collapsible frame includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion. The frame is configured to move between an open configuration and a collapsed configuration by relative translation between the first frame portion and the second frame portion. The foldable shelf extends between the first frame portion and the second frame portion. The foldable shelf is configured to fold to allow the frame to move from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration. The column transversely extends through a column slot defined by the foldable shelf. The cart further includes at least one column brace slidably coupling the frame to the column. The cart further includes at least one shelf brace slidably coupling the foldable shelf to the column.