Collapsible Cart Linkage for Compact Under-Rack Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shopping carts with collapsing mechanisms do not allow for compact storage due to the front legs being folded over the basket, making it difficult to store them efficiently on vehicle trunks.
Innovation Solution
A cart design that transitions from a use state to a storage state through coordinated folding of front and rear leg parts, where the legs are stored below the rack part, utilizing a simple link mechanism without actuators, allowing for compact storage by sliding onto a cargo rack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front legs are folded over the basket in existing collapsing mechanisms, then the cart can be collapsed, but the cart in the collapsed state cannot be stored in a compact manner
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of folding the front legs over the basket as in conventional designs, this patent inverts the folding direction by storing the front legs below the upper surface of the rack part. The front leg parts are configured to fold downward and rearward, passing below the rack part to a stored position, which fundamentally changes the collapse geometry to achieve compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs coordinated folding between front and rear leg parts in different spatial dimensions. The front leg parts fold in a first direction (downward and rearward below the rack), while the rear leg parts fold in a second direction (upward and forward above the rack), utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently to achieve compact storage.
2Ease of operation
If a complex actuator mechanism is used to coordinate the folding of front and rear legs, then the cart can collapse properly, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cart employs a self-service collapsing mechanism where the user simply pulls the handle, and the coordinated folding of front and rear leg parts occurs automatically through the mechanical linkage built into the structure. The connection part between front and rear leg parts creates a mechanical relationship that causes one leg part to move in coordination with the other without requiring external actuators or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the collapsing functions of front and rear leg parts into a unified mechanical system. The connection part integrates the movement of front leg parts and rear leg parts into a single coordinated action, where pulling the handle simultaneously initiates the folding sequence of both leg parts through the mechanical coupling, eliminating the need for separate actuation mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A compactly collapsible cart is provided. The cart includes: a rack part on which a load is placed, and a pair of front leg parts and a pair of rear leg parts provided to the rack part and having wheels on distal ends thereof. The cart is able to transition from a use state for use as a cart, through coordinated folding of the pair of front leg parts and the pair of rear leg parts, to a storage state in which the front and rear leg parts are stored below an upper surface of the rack part.