Product Display Crate With Adjustable Support Rod Elevation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional crates used for transporting and presenting multiple layers of products, such as fruits and vegetables, often lead to hidden products being overlooked due to the inclined arrangement, resulting in unsold items and a misleading appearance of emptiness, which affects optimal product presentation and sales.

Innovation Solution

A crate with openings in the base to accommodate support rods that can be adjusted in depth to ensure products are always positioned near the top edge, allowing for improved visibility and presentation as layers are removed, using a stand with movable support rods that penetrate the crate to elevate the product support, maintaining products above the base.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the crate is placed on an incline to present products, then the presentation effectiveness is improved, but the visibility of remaining products deteriorates when layers are removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepresentation effectivenessVSAvoidvisibility of remaining products
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The support rod mechanism introduces a vertical dimension adjustment capability, allowing the product support surface to be elevated or lowered independently of the crate's inclined positioning. This dimensional freedom resolves the contradiction by enabling products to remain visible through vertical adjustment while maintaining the beneficial inclined presentation angle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The support rod system provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the support surface to move vertically as product layers are removed. This dynamic adaptation ensures products remain visible and properly positioned throughout the sales process, while the crate itself can maintain a static optimal presentation incline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If products are arranged in multiple layers in the box, then the quantity of products is increased, but the visibility of products in lower layers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of productsVSAvoidvisibility of products
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

By introducing vertical adjustment capability through movable support rods, the system compensates for the reduced visibility caused by multiple product layers. The support surface can be elevated to bring lower-layer products into the customer's field of view, maintaining visibility while preserving the ability to stock multiple layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If the crate appears empty to customers, then the perception of product availability deteriorates, but this occurs naturally as products are removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct availability perceptionVSAvoidproducts remaining in crate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic support rod mechanism automatically adapts the product presentation level as products are removed. By elevating the support surface, the system maintains the visual appearance of a well-stocked crate even when physical inventory decreases, preventing the misleading empty appearance without requiring actual products to be present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2618702B1Box, stand, system, and method for presenting products
Publication Date: 2015.05.06 IFCO SYST GMBH
  • EP2618702B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2618702B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2618702B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a box (100) comprising a bottom, two end walls, and two side walls. A plurality of openings is provided in the bottom. Said openings are dimensioned in order to accommodate one support rod (138a-138d) each. The openings are arranged in such a way that, when support rods (138a-138d) are inserted into the openings, a support (118) laid into the box (100) is evenly raised and positioned at a position above the bottom. A stand for accommodating such a box (100) comprises a support frame (122) and the plurality of support rods (138a-138d), which can be fastened to the support frame (122). The invention further relates to a system and a method for presenting products (116).