Container Securing Device with Automatic Locking Stopper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container-securing devices fail to maintain secure stacking of containers during transportation, as movable protrusions can disengage upon impact, and require manual operation for locking, posing risks of damage and instability.

Innovation Solution

A container-securing device with a flange, support pillars, and a movable protrusion that is maintained in a locked state by a stopper, allowing automatic engagement and preventing disengagement even during rollover, and featuring a pivotable mechanism with elastic members for secure locking and unlocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the movable protrusion is automatically engaged with the groove hole, then the locking operation is simplified, but the protrusion can move after container fixation causing untieing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking operationVSAvoidcontainer stacking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is pre-positioned to engage with the movable protrusion and prevent its movement after automatic engagement with the groove hole. This preliminary constraint ensures that the protrusion remains locked in place even during container stacking operations, eliminating the untieing problem while maintaining automatic locking functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the movable protrusion and the support pillar. It mediates the movement of the protrusion by providing a physical barrier that prevents the protrusion from disengaging from the groove hole, thus ensuring reliable container stacking without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the movable protrusion is manually operated for locking, then the locked state is maintained reliably, but the operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocked state maintenanceVSAvoidoperation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs its own locking function through the automatic engagement of the movable protrusion with the groove hole, followed by the stopper automatically constraining the protrusion's movement. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual operation while maintaining reliable locked state, reducing operational complexity without sacrificing security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the movable protrusion is allowed to move freely, then the device adaptability is improved, but the container security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement flexibilityVSAvoidcontainer untieing risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is pre-positioned to constrain the movable protrusion after engagement with the groove hole. This preliminary action maintains the adaptability of the device for different container configurations while simultaneously preventing the harmful effect of container untieing by ensuring the protrusion remains securely locked in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures that containers remain securely stacked and attached to cargo beds during transportation, preventing untieing and coming off, even during rollovers, and allows for manual locking of the securing mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

a movable protrusion as part of the fitting portion for making a locked state when protruded laterally out of a vertical surface portion of the support pillar; a stopper for maintaining the locked state of the movable protrusion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3281885B1Container fixing device
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 MINATO SEIKI IRON WORKS
  • EP3281885B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3281885B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3281885B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

There is provided a container-securing device capable of preventing a container from being untied even if the container rolls over. The container-securing device includes: a flange 2; an upper support pillar 3 which is provided on an upper side of the flange 2; an upper cone 31 which is fitted into a groove hole of a corner casting 100a in a lower surface of an upper container 100; a lower support pillar 4 which is provided on a lower side of the flange 2; a lower cone 41 which is fitted into a groove hole of another corner casting 101a in an upper surface of a lower container; a movable protrusion 43 for making a locked state in which it is protruded laterally out of a vertical surface portion of the lower support pillar 4 and an unlocked state in which it is retracted to the lower support pillar 4 side.