Drawer Container Combination with Adapter for Height Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Kitchen drawer designs with waste bins and small containers face challenges in maximizing storage space and ensuring easy accessibility, as existing suspension devices are space-consuming and expensive.

Innovation Solution

A container combination featuring a refuse container and a small container of lower height, with an adapter container that raises the small container to the same height as the refuse container top, utilizing minimal space and serving as an additional storage unit, while an anti-tilt device prevents the small container from tipping during drawer movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a suspension system is used to raise small containers, then containers are accessible at the same height, but the device becomes complex and space-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of containersVSAvoidComplexity of suspension device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential function of raising small containers from a complex suspension system and implements it through a simple adapter container that fits into the drawer base, eliminating the need for elaborate suspension mechanisms while achieving the same height-alignment goal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter container is designed as a simple, inexpensive, single-piece plastic component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, contrasting with expensive, complex suspension systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If a suspension device is used to organize containers, then containers are easily accessible, but storage space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of containersVSAvoidStorage space in drawer
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter container is nested within the drawer base, and the small container is nested on top of the adapter, creating a compact vertical arrangement that maximizes drawer space while maintaining accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of expanding horizontally with a frame-based suspension system, the invention uses the vertical dimension by stacking the adapter container beneath the small container, thereby preserving horizontal storage space

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

3Reliability

If a frame structure is used to support small containers, then containers are stable, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveStability of container supportVSAvoidManufacturing cost of support structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter container combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support for the small container, acts as an additional storage container itself, and integrates with the drawer base, eliminating the need for separate frame structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter container serves multiple purposes: it raises the small container to the correct height, provides additional storage space, and acts as a support structure, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Volume of moving object

If the small container is lowered to maximize drawer space, then storage capacity increases, but accessibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveStorage space utilizationVSAvoidAccessibility of small container
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention resolves the conflict between storage capacity and accessibility by utilizing the vertical dimension - the adapter container is placed below the small container, raising it to an accessible height while minimizing horizontal space consumption

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

Data Source

PatentEP3447006B1Drawer with a container combination
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 A & J STOCKLI
  • EP3447006B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447006B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3447006B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a container combination comprising a primary container (6), in particular a waste container, and a smaller container (9, 10) that has a lower height than the primary container (6). The container combination further comprises an adapter container (7, 8) which is designed and provided for arrangement below the smaller container (9, 10) within the container combination. The adapter container (7, 8) raises the smaller container (9, 10) such that the upper surfaces of the primary container (6) and the smaller container (9, 10) are at essentially the same height.