Collapsible Crate Wall Nesting and Forklift Base Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crates are inefficient in reducing size when collapsed, as their walls remain vulnerable to damage and occupy additional space, and are difficult to configure for forklift transportation.
Innovation Solution
A crate design that allows walls to be detached and stored within a base cavity, using a track system and retaining mechanisms to prevent damage and facilitate collapse, enabling forklift compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If walls are folded inward and positioned on top of the base, then the crate can be collapsed to reduce size, but the walls remain vulnerable to impact and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The walls are designed to nest within the base cavity when collapsed, with each wall containing a cavity that receives an adjacent wall. This nested arrangement protects walls from damage by enclosing them within protective structures rather than leaving them exposed on the exterior.
2Volume of moving object
If walls are removed and placed on top of the base, then the crate can be collapsed, but the walls take up additional space beyond the general dimensions of the base
Solution Approach 1:
The wall storage cavities are positioned within the general footprint of the base, with walls nested inside the base structure rather than extending beyond it. This allows the collapsed crate to maintain a compact footprint comparable to the base dimensions while still accommodating all walls.
3Ease of operation
If the base is configured to accept forklift lifting structure, then the crate can be transported by forklifts, but it becomes difficult to configure walls that collapse onto the base
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into functional zones: a lower portion with recesses for forklift tine insertion and an upper portion containing cavities for wall storage. This segmentation allows the forklift interface and collapse mechanism to operate independently without interfering with each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure serves as an intermediary that mediates between the forklift lifting requirement and the wall collapse function. The base provides both the forklift recesses for transportation and the internal cavities for wall storage, resolving the conflict between these two requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible crate is disclosed having a base and a plurality of walls. The base includes a top surface and defines a cavity below the top surface. The plurality of walls are removably attachable to one another and are movable between a first configuration where the plurality of walls extend substantially vertically above the top surface of the base and a second configuration where the plurality of walls are within the cavity of the base.