Container Handle Slot Attachment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs with integrally formed or separately attached handles face challenges such as ergonomic issues, high manufacturing costs, and a tendency for handles to become dislodged, especially in heavy containers with large internal volumes.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring slots in the container body with upward directional components that securely lodge the handle's end portions, preventing dislodgment during use while allowing easy mounting and dismounting, and enabling low-cost manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a handle is integrally formed with the container body, then the handle is securely attached and cannot become dislodged, but the manufacturing cost increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is separated from the container body into two independent components: a handle assembly and a container body. The handle assembly includes a handle body with end portions that can be separately manufactured and then attached to the container body through slots, allowing independent optimization of each component's manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
Slots are pre-formed in the container body during the container manufacturing process, creating ready-made receptacles for the handle end portions. This preliminary preparation allows for simple, tool-free attachment of the handle assembly later, avoiding complex integral molding while ensuring secure attachment
2Reliability
If a handle is integrally formed with the container body, then the handle is securely attached, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle system is divided into separate modular components (handle assembly and container body) that can be manufactured using different processes and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies each individual manufacturing step while maintaining overall system reliability through the slot-based attachment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The slot structure serves multiple functions: it guides the handle end portions during assembly, secures the handle in position, and allows for easy disassembly if needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex attachment mechanisms
3Ease of manufacture
If a separately manufactured handle is attached by elastic deformation, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the handle becomes dislodged easily
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic deformation mechanism is extracted from the attachment system and replaced with a rigid slot-based mechanical engagement. The handle end portions are inserted into slots and held securely by the slot geometry and dead end portions, eliminating the need for elastic deformation while maintaining low manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The slot structure acts as an intermediary element between the handle assembly and container body, providing a secure mechanical interface. The slot's dead end portions create a positive stop that prevents the handle from becoming dislodged, while the slot itself remains a simple feature to manufacture
4Reliability
If a handle is attached by snapping studs into hollow posts, then the handle can be securely attached, but the manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex hollow post structure is extracted and replaced with simple slots formed directly in the container body walls. The handle end portions engage directly with these slots without requiring intermediate hollow posts, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of projecting hollow posts outward from the container body to receive studs, the solution inverts the approach by forming slots directly in the container body walls that receive the handle end portions. This inversion eliminates the need for complex post formation while achieving the same secure attachment function
5Reliability
If a handle is attached by sliding over a dovetail boss, then the handle can be securely attached, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex dovetail boss geometry is extracted and replaced with simple linear slots with dead end portions. The handle end portions slide into these slots and are secured by the dead ends, achieving secure attachment without the manufacturing complexity and cost of dovetail features
Data Source
AI summary
Container having a container body (2, 52, 102, 152, 202) and a handle (3, 153, 203) mounted thereto. The container body has mutually opposite upright container wall portions (7, 8, 157, 158) having mutually opposite outer surface portions facing each other. A first recess in the form of a slot (9, 59, 109, 159, 209) is provided in one of the mutually opposite upright container wall portions. The slot has a dead end (11, 61, 111, 161, 211) closed in longitudinal direction of an adjacent portion of the slot. This longitudinal direction has an upward directional component towards the dead end. A second recess (10, 160, 210) is provided in the other one of the mutually opposite container wall portions. One of the end portions (15, 215) of the handle is lodged in the slot adjacent to the dead end, the other one of the end portions (16, 216) is lodged in the second recess.