Party accessory storage and display unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current serving trays are complex, costly to produce, and lack functionality for storing and displaying serving accessories, are not easily collapsible or transportable, and often fail to keep food warm during transit, leading to issues with beverage spillage and separate carrying of cups.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible party accessory storage and display unit with a U-shaped design featuring hinged and pivotable panels, allowing for easy setup, transport, and storage, with compartments for various items like plates, cups, straws, and condiments, and the option for a handle for self-contained transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If serving trays are made complex with multiple compartments and covers, then functionality for storing accessories and keeping food warm is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate items (serving tray, accessory storage, beverage carrier, and cover) into a single integrated unit. The tray body includes built-in compartments for accessories, a cup holder for beverages, and an integrated cover that closes over the food serving area, eliminating the need for separate components while maintaining all desired functions
Solution Approach 2:
The serving tray is designed as a multi-functional unit that simultaneously serves as a food serving surface, accessory storage container, beverage carrier, and food cover. The integrated design allows one device to perform multiple functions that previously required separate items, reducing overall complexity while enhancing versatility
2Reliability
If serving trays are made sturdy and multi-compartment, then ability to retain food and beverages is improved, but ease of collapse and storage difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple compartments within the main body (food serving area, accessory storage compartments, beverage cup holder) that are integrated into a single collapsible structure. This segmentation allows functional organization while maintaining the ability of the entire structure to collapse flat for storage
Solution Approach 2:
The tray employs a dynamic collapsible design that transitions between an erected functional state (where compartments maintain their shape to hold food and beverages) and a collapsed storage state (where the entire structure flattens). The design allows the structure to be rigid when needed for serving and flexible when needed for storage
3Ease of manufacture
If serving trays are designed for limited capacity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to different group sizes worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is designed with excessive capacity relative to individual needs, incorporating multiple accessory compartments and space for both food and beverages in a single unit that can serve multiple people. This partial over-design allows the same manufactured unit to adapt to different group sizes by adjusting what is placed in each compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A party accessory storage and display unit has a central portion with two spaced apart planar panels which form a U-shaped opening there between and a display panel hingeably and detachably mounted on the central portion to move between an open position and a closed position adjacent to the central portion. Two pivotal members are each pivotally connected to opposite sides of the central portion to move between a storage condition inside the U-shaped opening and a serving position outside of the U-shaped opening of the central portion. The central portion and the two pivotal members have several compartments for holding accessory items for a social event. A display panel is hingeably attached to the central portion for displaying selected indicia. The unit is easily adapted to be supported by different configurations and sizes of tables, and is easily set up, taken down, and transported.