Collapsible Pet Crate Hinged Walls and Hooking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pet crates are difficult to store and transport due to their rigid structure, especially when not in use, and often require complex disassembly or lack stability, making them impractical for large animals and costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible pet crate design featuring hinged vertical mesh walls that fold inwardly onto a plastic lid, which can be combined with a plastic base, using quick-closing hooking means and lifting feet to facilitate easy cleaning and transportation, with optional wheels for mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the crate uses a rigid structure with fixed walls, then structural stability is maintained, but storage space requirements increase and transportation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The crate employs a dynamic folding mechanism where vertical mesh walls are hinged to the roof, allowing them to transition from a rigid extended configuration to a compact folded state. The walls can be folded inward toward the base, enabling the crate to collapse into a compact form factor for storage and transportation while maintaining structural stability when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The crate is divided into separable components including the base, roof, and vertical walls that can be independently folded and positioned. The vertical walls are segmented and hinged to the roof, allowing them to be folded inward independently, creating a collapsible structure that reduces volume while maintaining integrity when assembled.
2Strength
If the crate uses complex joining systems like electro-welding or multiple profiles, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the joining parameters from complex electro-welding or multiple-profile systems to simple hooking mechanisms. The vertical mesh walls are hooked to the roof and base using straightforward hooking means, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining adequate structural strength for pet containment.
3Ease of operation
If the crate uses removable base design, then cleaning ease is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The crate is segmented into a removable base and a roof assembly with vertical walls. The base can be easily detached from the roof, allowing complete removal and cleaning of the base while maintaining the structural integrity of the roof and walls. This segmentation enables easy cleaning without compromising the stability of the crate when assembled.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular frame expandable to form a pet's cage comprises a plurality of modules (20) each of which consists of a substantially quadrangular vertical wall, said modules being arranged adjacently to each other to define the outer shape of the cage, and wherein each vertical edge of each module comprises connecting elements adapted to allow the connection and retention of each vertical wall of a module to a vertical wall of another adjacent module. The modular frame is expandable on a horizontal plane according to a predetermined configuration to form a pet's cage having predetermined shape and dimensions.