Collapsible Pan Support Rack for Nesting and Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile support racks for commercial baking pans are cumbersome to store and transport due to their size, occupying valuable space and being difficult to manage in large quantities.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible and nestable support rack design featuring a hinge assembly that allows the side frames to transition between operational, nested, and collapsed configurations, enabling efficient storage and transport by adjusting the distance and orientation of the vertical support members and lateral ledges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional mobile support racks are designed to hold commercial baking pans, then they can efficiently transport the pans, but they occupy valuable kitchen or bakery space during storage and are difficult to transport in large quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is divided into two side frames that can move independently relative to each other through hinge assemblies, allowing the rack to be segmented into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining full functionality during use
Solution Approach 2:
The rack transitions from a static conventional design to a dynamic structure where side frames can be repositioned between operational and storage configurations using hinge assemblies, enabling adaptive space management
2Quantity of substance
If multiple conventional support racks are stored or transported, then more pans can be accommodated, but it becomes cumbersome and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The rack design enables one rack to be nested within another by collapsing the side frames together, allowing multiple racks to be stored in a compact arrangement that reduces handling complexity and improves ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple racks can be combined into a single compact unit through the collapsible design, merging what would otherwise be separate, cumbersome objects into an easily manageable configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A support rack for holding a plurality of pans includes a first side frame including a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member, and a second side frame including a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member. A hinge assembly couples the first and second side frames and is operable to position the rack in a first position in which the first side frame and the second side frame are parallel and spaced a predetermined distance apart, a second position in which the first side frame and the second side frame are nonparallel, and a third position in which the first side frame and the second side frame are parallel but closer in proximity than the predetermined distance.