Collapsible Container With Movable Base For Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable containers face challenges in maintaining stability during transport and handling, as they tend to collapse unintentionally under side forces and cannot be folded when goods are inside, compromising both stability and presentation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable container design featuring a rectangular frame with articulated side walls and a freely movable base that interacts with the side walls to limit vertical movement, allowing the base to function as a tray for presenting goods while preventing side walls from collapsing, and enabling folding without removing goods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If side walls are made foldable to enable container collapse for storage efficiency, then storage and transport costs are reduced, but stability during transport deteriorates and containers collapse unintentionally under lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed to be movable vertically between a lower stable position and an upper folded position, transforming the container from a static structure to a dynamic one. This allows the container to adapt its configuration based on operational needs while maintaining stability when required
Solution Approach 2:
The movable base pre-positioned in the lower position acts as a preventive measure against unintentional folding. By occupying the space that would allow side wall collapse, the base proactively prevents harmful deformation before it can occur during transport
2Adaptability or versatility
If side walls are made foldable to reduce transport costs, then storage efficiency improves, but the container cannot be folded when goods are stored inside
Solution Approach 1:
The movable base automatically transitions to the upper position when the container is inverted, enabling self-folding without manual intervention. The container's own weight and gravity facilitate the folding operation, eliminating the need for operators to manually fold containers with goods inside
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed to be folded by inverting it, reversing the conventional folding approach. When inverted, gravity causes the base to move upward and side walls to fold inward automatically, enabling folding operation while goods remain on the base
3Stability of the object's composition
If base is fixed to frame and side walls, then structural stability improves, but the container cannot convert to tray configuration for goods presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with vertical movability along the side walls, transforming it from a fixed component to a dynamic one. This allows the base to transition between a lower position for stable containment and an upper position for tray configuration, enabling the container to adapt its function based on operational requirements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Container (1), preferably a plastic container, with a rectangular frame (2) forming the upper edge of the container (1); and side walls (4) connected to the frame (2), preferably hinged and pivotally inwards. The container (1) has a bottom (6) that is not connected to the frame (2) and the side walls (4) and is vertically movable within the container (1), wherein the geometries of the side walls (4) and/or the bottom (6) interact in such a way as to limit the vertical degree of freedom of the bottom (6) in a direction away from the frame (2).