Device for accommodating objects and transportation means comprising such a device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airplane trolleys face challenges in maintaining safety and reducing weight due to heavy transmission mechanisms and the need for robust locking systems that can withstand 9g forces during sudden changes in speed, while also being easy to operate and resistant to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
The use of a locking mechanism with a plurality of engagement members on the locking edge and door post that engage perpendicularly to the pivot axis, allowing for strong and reliable locking without moving parts, and enabling the door to pivot between locked and unlocked positions by changing the engagement distances, thus eliminating the need for a separate handle and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transmission mechanism with a handle and latch is used to lock the door, then the door can be securely locked, but the weight of the trolley increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transmission mechanism, handle, and latch from the door assembly, extracting only the essential locking function. The door edge itself is used as the locking element that engages directly with the housing, eliminating the need for separate locking components and thereby reducing weight while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a mechanism that pulls or pushes a latch into a locked position, the invention inverts the approach by having the door edge itself engage directly with the housing. The locking action is achieved by the door's own structure rather than through a separate mechanism, fundamentally changing how the locking function is implemented.
2Strength
If a robust locking system is used to withstand 9g forces, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the locking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential locking function from complex mechanisms, using a simple direct engagement between the door edge and housing. This minimalistic approach reduces complexity while maintaining the strength needed to withstand 9g forces during sudden changes in speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the locking strength at the specific engagement point between the door edge and housing, rather than distributing complexity throughout the entire door assembly. The engagement members are strategically positioned to provide maximum strength where needed.
3Reliability
If a flat handle in a shallow cavity is used for locking, then the trolley meets safety requirements, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flat handle and shallow cavity configuration, extracting only the essential door edge engagement. This simplification improves ease of operation by allowing direct manipulation of the door edge itself, while the engagement members maintain the reliability needed for safety compliance.
4Ease of operation
If a transmission mechanism with moving parts is used, then the door can be locked and unlocked, but the reliability decreases due to susceptibility to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all moving parts from the transmission mechanism, extracting only the essential door edge engagement. This eliminates components that could malfunction while preserving the core locking and unlocking functionality through direct engagement between the door edge and housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The door edge itself performs the locking function without requiring separate moving parts or transmission mechanisms. The engagement members on the door edge directly interact with the housing, allowing the door structure to serve its own locking purpose and reducing susceptibility to malfunction.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to device (1) for accommodating objects, in particular for use in an airplane, comprising a housing (5) and a door (18) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (PA) between an open position and a closed position. The door (18)is movable in a direction which extends substantially parallel to the pivot axis (PA) between a locked position and/an unlocked position. The door (18) comprises a locking edge (182) and the housing (5) comprises a door post (101), wherein the locking edge (182) engages with the door post (101) in the locked position to lock the door in its closed position and allow movement of the door (18) in the direction which extends substantially parallel to the pivot axis (PA) between the locked and the unlocked position.