Portable Container Lid Worktop for Power Tool Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable containers for hand-held power tools are cumbersome for convenient handling during workpiece machining, as they require complex stacking mechanisms that hinder ease of use and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A portable container with a detachable worktop made of a softer material than the lid body, allowing for a tension-resistant stacking configuration while providing a work surface for machining, and featuring a receptacle for the worktop that does not interfere with the coupling mechanism, enabling easy stacking and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the container is designed with a lid that can be closed and stacked, then the container provides storage functionality and can be stacked for portability, but the configuration becomes cumbersome for convenient handling during workpiece machining

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage and stacking functionalityVSAvoidhandling convenience during machining
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is segmented into two distinct components: the lid body (made of rigid plastic) and the worktop (made of softer material). This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function independently - the lid body provides structural integrity and stacking capability, while the worktop provides a functional machining surface, thereby resolving the contradiction between stacking functionality and handling convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lid is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a closure for the storage compartment, provides a stacking surface for connecting containers, and incorporates a worktop that serves as a machining surface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate storage container and worktable, improving ease of operation during machining while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the worktop is integrated into the lid body, then the work surface is available for machining, but the coupling mechanism between containers is interfered with and stacking becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework surface availabilityVSAvoidcoupling mechanism interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the worktop from the lid body into distinct components, the invention eliminates interference between the work surface and the coupling mechanism. The worktop can be positioned and configured without affecting the lid body's stacking features, thereby providing work surface availability while avoiding coupling mechanism interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle in the lid body acts as an intermediary structure that holds the worktop. This intermediary arrangement allows the worktop to be positioned on the lid body without directly interfering with the coupling means, as the receptacle serves as a mediating interface between the worktop and the lid body's stacking features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the worktop is made of softer material, then it provides better work surface properties for machining, but the material difference from the lid body complicates the construction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework surface qualityVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The worktop is made of softer material specifically where it contacts the workpiece and tools, providing better work surface properties for machining operations. The lid body remains made of rigid plastic for structural integrity and stacking. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying material softness only where needed for machining while maintaining overall construction simplicity through the receptacle-based integration system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2805799B1Portable container, in particular for a manually operated machine tool
Publication Date: 2016.11.23 FESTOOL GMBH
  • EP2805799B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2805799B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2805799B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a portable container (10), in particular for a hand-held power tool (86), with a container body (11) which has a storage compartment (20) for storing objects, bounded by circumferential side walls (16-19) and accessible through a storage compartment opening (42) on a top side (40) of the container (10), and which can be placed on a surface with its bottom side (41), wherein the container (10) has a lid (12) on its top side (40) for closing the storage compartment opening (42) and is designed on its top side (40) for stacking another container (10) along a stacking direction (100) and has first coupling means (61) in the region of the top side (40) for cooperating with second coupling means (62) of the upper container (10) to couple the containers (10) in a tensile-resistant manner in the stacking direction (100).and wherein the lid (12) has a lid body (43) which is movably mounted on the container body (11) by means of a hinge arrangement (63) and/or can be attached to the container body (11). It is provided that the lid (12) has a worktop (47) whose upper surface (48) is made of a material different from that of a lid body (43) of the lid (12) and is designed to support a workpiece for machining, and that the lid body (43) has a receptacle (44) in which the worktop (47) is received in such a way that it enables the first coupling means (61) to interact with the second coupling means (62) of the upper container (10) and the containers (10) can be coupled in a tensile-resistant manner in the stacking direction (100).