Insulated Container Wheeled Accessory with Side-and-Bottom Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable insulated containers with integrated wheels are cumbersome and prone to detachment during transportation, especially when fully loaded, posing safety and usability issues.
Innovation Solution
A wheeled accessory with a wheel assembly and handle assembly that securely attaches to an insulated container, featuring elongate members, an axle assembly, and brackets that couple to the container's sides and bottom, allowing for stable transportation and easy detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If integrated wheels are added to portable coolers to facilitate transportation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheeled accessory is designed as a separate, detachable module that can be independently attached to or removed from the portable cooler. This segmentation allows the wheel assembly to function as an independent transportation aid without permanently complicating the cooler's structure, resolving the contradiction between improved ease of operation and increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly is designed to be universally compatible with various portable cooler models through standardized attachment mechanisms (sideside and bottom attachments). This multi-functionality allows a single accessory design to serve multiple cooler types, improving ease of operation across different devices without requiring complex model-specific modifications
2Ease of operation
If separate wheeled accessories are combined with portable coolers, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to detachment during lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly combines two distinct attachment methods: sideside attachment through elongate members that connect to handles, and bottom attachment through brackets that secure to the cooler's base. This merging of multiple attachment points creates a redundant, fail-safe system where if one attachment point experiences stress, the other maintains connection, thereby improving reliability while preserving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-attachment design anticipates potential detachment forces by pre-positioning attachment points at both the sides and bottom of the cooler. This beforehand cushioning ensures that lifting forces are distributed across multiple secure connection points before detachment can occur, preventing the reliability issues seen in single-attachment designs
3Reliability
If the wheeled accessory is designed to be securely attached, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into modular components: elongate members with attachment features at one end and connection points at the other, and separate brackets with their own attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard fabrication processes, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the reliability benefits of multiple attachment points
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanisms are designed to be self-aligning and self-securing, where the geometry of the elongate members and brackets naturally guides proper positioning during assembly. This self-service design reduces the need for complex alignment procedures or specialized assembly tools, improving ease of manufacture while ensuring reliable attachment
Data Source
AI summary
In general, a wheeled accessory for an insulated container is provided. In one embodiment, the wheeled accessory includes a wheel assembly configured to releasably fasten to a first side of an insulated container, and a handle assembly configured to releasably fasten to a second side of an insulated container. The handle can be used to lift the insulated container, causing one or more wheels on the wheeled accessory to contact a surface upon which the insulated container is resting, thereby allowing the handle to be used for pulling the container across the surface.