Collapsible Cover With Movable Frame For Pallet Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing top covers for stacked goods on pallets fail to adequately stabilize the top layer, leading to shifting and potential falling during transport, especially when exposed to vibrations or temperature fluctuations, and are often not reusable or efficiently transportable.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible cover with a plate-like main body and a telescopic frame element that can move between a storage position and a holding position, ensuring secure hold and compact storage, preventing slipping and falling, and allowing easy handling and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid top cover is used to stabilize the top layer of goods, then the goods are better protected from shifting, but the cover becomes difficult to transport and store due to its large size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilization of top layerVSAvoidtransport space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The frame element is designed to be movable between a storage position (close to the main body) and a holding position (extended away from the main body). This dynamic structure allows the cover to compact for transport and expand for use, resolving the contradiction between stabilization reliability and transport volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The frame element can be positioned within or adjacent to the main body in the storage position, creating a compact nested configuration. When deployed, the frame element extends outward to provide stabilization, effectively nesting the stabilization structure within the cover assembly during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of moving object

If a collapsible structure with folding mechanisms is used to reduce storage space, then transport efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to pivoting areas and folding mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidfolding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into distinct functional elements: a main body and a separate frame element connected by a connecting element. This segmentation allows the frame element to be independently positioned without requiring complex folding mechanisms, reducing device complexity while achieving compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame element is extracted as a separate movable component from the main body, connected through a simple connecting element rather than integrated folding hinges. This extraction simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for complex pivoting areas while maintaining the collapsible functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If the frame element is kept close to the main body for compact storage, then transport efficiency improves, but the ability to stabilize goods is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport spaceVSAvoidgoods stabilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame element's position is dynamically adjustable between a storage position (close to the main body for compact transport) and a holding position (extended away from the main body for effective goods stabilization). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between compact storage and stabilization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4365102A1Collapsible cover
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 CARTONPLAST GRP GMBH
  • EP4365102A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4365102A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4365102A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A collapsible cover (1) is provided for covering a layer of goods, preferably a palletized layer of goods. The cover (1) comprises a main body (2) having a substantially plate-like shape and defining a main body area (20), a frame element (3) defining a frame area (30) and designed to surround the goods at least partially, and a connecting element (4) connecting the frame element (3) and the main body (2). The frame element (3) is movable between a storage position and a holding position, wherein the frame element (3) is located further away from the main body in the holding position than in the storage position. Furthermore, a packaging system and a method for manufacturing the cover (1) are provided.