Collapsible Support Rack with Hinge Assembly for 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 multiples.
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, facilitated by vertical and horizontal hinge assemblies with sliding and pivoting linkages, enabling efficient storage and transportation.
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 multiples
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is designed with nested side frames that can be positioned one inside another using hinge assemblies. When not in use, the side frames collapse inward to nest within each other, reducing the storage footprint to a fraction of the operational size while maintaining full capacity when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The rack incorporates hinge assemblies and linkage mechanisms that enable dynamic transformation between operational and storage configurations. The side frames can pivot and collapse on demand, allowing the rack to adapt its size based on whether it is being used for transport or stored
2Quantity of substance
If multiple conventional support racks are stored or transported together, then storage capacity is maintained, but handling becomes cumbersome and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple racks can be collapsed and nested together to form a single compact unit. The hinge assemblies allow side frames from different racks to interlock when collapsed, enabling multiple racks to be combined into one transportable package that is easy to move while maintaining the capacity to hold multiple pans when deployed
3Area of stationary object
If the side frames are positioned parallel for storage, then storage efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes more complex requiring multiple hinge assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into orthogonal components - vertical hinges for collapsing side frames inward and horizontal hinges for nesting racks together. This segmentation allows independent control of each collapsing motion, simplifying the mechanism while achieving parallel frame positioning for compact storage
Data Source
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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.