U-Shaped Dividing Element for Shopping Trolley Basket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separating elements for shopping cart baskets are typically prefabricated to specific dimensions and lack flexibility, making it difficult to easily and efficiently attach them to existing baskets without significant effort.
Innovation Solution
A generic separating element with U-shaped connecting elements that can be force-fitted or form-fitted into existing baskets, allowing for easy attachment and adjustment, featuring a guide system with a non-positive connection and optional positive locking mechanism for secure fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separating grids are prefabricated to specific dimensions, then they can be securely attached to shopping trolley baskets, but they lack flexible adjustment capability and cannot be easily adapted to different basket sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The separating element is divided into a grid structure with multiple cells, allowing the overall structure to be flexible while maintaining local stability. The grid can be configured in different patterns and sizes to adapt to various basket dimensions while maintaining secure attachment at key points.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating element uses wires of varying diameters and flexibilities in different regions of the grid. This allows the grid to be rigid enough for secure attachment in some areas while remaining flexible enough to bend and adapt to different basket shapes and sizes in other areas.
2Reliability
If eyelets are completely closed around wires by welding, then the dividing grille cannot move in the longitudinal direction, but the attachment process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding process with a mechanical friction-based attachment system. The wires pass through the grid structure and are held in place by friction between the wire surface and the grid material, eliminating the need for welding while maintaining position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid structure is designed to automatically secure itself to the basket wires through its own geometric features. The wires pass through openings in the grid, and the grid's structure inherently prevents removal without tools, making the attachment process simple and tool-free.
3Reliability
If separating elements are made rigid for secure attachment, then they provide stable separation, but they cannot be easily installed or removed without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The separating element uses a wire grid structure that exhibits flexible behavior during installation and removal, allowing it to bend around the basket wires and be easily inserted or removed. Once in place, the grid maintains its rigid form to provide stable separation. This dual behavior is achieved through the inherent flexibility of wire structures.
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
Enables simple and secure attachment of the separating element to both longitudinal and transverse sides of the basket, ensuring stability and adaptability to various basket sizes, while also allowing for easy installation and removal without damage.
Implementation Method 1
pushing the first connecting element into the separating element, which is necessary to grasp the wire, only requires overcoming the frictional connection with which the second section of the connecting element is held in the first guide of the separating element
Implementation Method 2
The slight undercut is designed so that the elasticity or deformability of the materials used allows the undercut to be overcome without damage
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a dividing element (1), by means of which the interior of a basket, particularly a shopping trolley basket, can be subdivided, comprising a plurality of connecting elements for fastening the dividing element (1) to the sides of the basket, wherein a first section (11) of a first connecting element (16) for fastening the dividing element (1) to one side of the basket is designed to be at least substantially U-shaped, and wherein one leg (11a, 11b) of the at least substantially U-shaped first section (11) adjoins a second section (17) of the first connecting element (16), which second section is retained in a first guide formed in the dividing element (1) by friction locking and/or by interlocking.