Collapsible Pallet Bin Lid Securing and Stacking Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collapsible pallet bins face challenges in secure stacking and efficient use of space due to the lack of a reliable mechanism for securing the lid and ensuring balanced load transfer between bins in both collapsed and erected positions.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible pallet bin design featuring a base with downward columns, hingeably connected walls, and a lid that can be secured to both the walls and base in both positions, utilizing a split peripheral rib for water runoff and latches for stability, with a snap-fit column system and angled surfaces for easy emptying, allowing for secure stacking and balanced load transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a collapsible pallet bin is designed with hingeably connected walls and a removable lid, then the bin can be collapsed to save space, but the stacking stability and load transfer between bins become unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The bin is divided into modular components: a base unit and four wall units that can be independently collapsed. Each wall is hinged to the base and can be folded flat, allowing the bin to be segmented into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsed walls are nested within or adjacent to the base structure, creating a compact nested configuration. The walls fold flat against the base or against each other, allowing multiple bins to be stacked efficiently while maintaining stability through the interlocking base and wall design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lid is made removable and securable to both walls and base, then the bin versatility is improved, but the complexity of the securing mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with universal securing capability that works in multiple configurations: it can be attached to the base alone, to the walls alone, or to both simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows the same lid to provide different levels of closure and security depending on the bin's operational needs, eliminating the need for separate lid designs for different configurations.
3Ease of operation
If the columns are designed with snap-fit connection, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the load transfer balance between stacked bins may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The columns are pre-formed with integrated snap-fit connections and angled surfaces during manufacturing. The angled surfaces are built into the column structure beforehand, ensuring that when columns are assembled and stacked, the load transfer is automatically balanced without requiring additional adjustment or complex alignment procedures during assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible bin includes a base having a floor from which a plurality of spaced apart columns extend downwardly. A plurality of walls are hingeably connected to an upper surface of the base. A lid is securely received on upper edges of the walls when the walls are in the erected position. The lid can also be secured to the base when the walls are in the collapsed position. The bin is securely stackable in the collapsed and erected positions, with and without lids.