Collapsible Tray With Foldable Sides And Sliding Drawer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible trays occupy significant space when not in use due to their inability to fold flat, and they lack efficient storage solutions for small items which can get lost among larger objects.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible tray design featuring a trapezoid panel with tapered edges and triangle panels, secured by panel connectors, allowing the tray to fold flat when a collapsing force is applied. The tray also includes a drawer that can be slid out for access and stored under the base, even when the tray is folded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the tray is designed with rigid sides for stability, then the tray can hold items securely, but the tray occupies significant space when stored
Solution Approach 1:
The side panels are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to transition between upright positions for stability during use and folded positions for compact storage. The hinge connections enable the sides to dynamically adjust between these states.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is divided into separate modular components including base panel, side panels, and end panels that can be independently folded and reconfigured. This segmentation allows each component to be collapsed onto the base for compact storage while maintaining structural integrity during use.
2Ease of manufacture
If the tray structure is simplified for easy manufacturing, then production cost decreases, but the tray cannot fold flat for compact storage
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is constructed from multiple simple geometric panels (rectangular base, rectangular side panels, triangular end panels) connected by hinges. Each panel is a simple shape that is easy to manufacture, and the hinge connections are straightforward mechanical joints that simplify production while enabling flat folding capability.
3Quantity of substance
If small items are stored with larger items in the tray, then storage capacity increases, but small items can get lost among larger objects
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into distinct functional zones: the base panel provides general storage for larger items, while the drawer creates a separate compartment for small items. This segmentation prevents small items from getting lost among larger ones by providing dedicated storage space with easy access through the drawer mechanism.
4Ease of operation
If the tray includes a drawer for small item storage, then organization of small items improves, but the drawer mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer mechanism is integrated with the existing hinge and panel structure of the collapsible tray. The drawer sides utilize the same hinge connections as the main tray body, and the drawer panel serves dual purposes as both a tray component and a drawer element. This merging reduces overall complexity compared to adding a completely separate drawer system.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a collapsible tray with foldable sides that includes a trapezoid panel and two triangle panels. Panel connectors secure together in a movable manner each triangle panel to the trapezoid panel. Side panels are movably interconnected at each end to the foldable side. A base is movably interconnected to each foldable side and each side panel. In use, when a collapsing force is applied to the trapezoid panel or the side panel, the adjacency between the trapezoid panel and the triangle panel folds inward allowing the foldable side, and the side panels to fold flat on top of the base. A drawer is slidably connected to the base where a user can slide the drawer out from the bottom to access contents inside and slide the drawer back under the base for storage. The drawer is useable by the user when the collapsible tray is closed.