Expanded Mesh Basket Mounting Structure for Small-Item Load Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional storage devices, such as wire baskets, have limitations in storing small objects due to the distance between wires, leading to objects falling out, and suffer from structural weaknesses from soldering connections, which affects their ability to carry heavier loads.

Innovation Solution

A storage device featuring a basket made from expanded metal mesh panels with a fastening device having a U-shaped cross section and reinforcement flanges, allowing for secure attachment to a vertical carrier and enhanced structural strength without soldering, enabling the storage of small objects and heavier loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wire baskets are used with conventional wire construction, then manufacturing is simpler, but the distance between wires causes small objects to fall out and structural strength is reduced due to soldering connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to store small objectsVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the basket construction by transitioning from conventional wire assembly to expanded metal mesh panels. This material transformation provides smaller aperture sizes to retain small objects while eliminating soldering joints, thereby improving both the ability to store small objects and the overall structural strength through continuous mesh construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses expanded metal mesh as a composite material structure that combines the functions of wire spacing (to prevent small objects from falling) and structural reinforcement (to eliminate weak soldering points). The mesh panels are integrated with reinforcement flanges and fastening devices to create a unified strong structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If expanded metal mesh panels are used instead of wire construction, then structural strength is improved and small objects are retained, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The basket is divided into separate expanded metal mesh panels that can be manufactured independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each panel to be produced using standard expanded metal mesh manufacturing processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the structural benefits of the mesh construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fastening devices with U-shaped cross sections and hooks serve as intermediary components that connect the expanded metal mesh panels to the vertical carrier. These standardized fastening components simplify the assembly process and reduce manufacturing complexity by providing a reliable connection mechanism without requiring complex welding or joining techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If fastening device is attached to vertical carrier with slots, then storage device can be mounted on walls or doors, but the fastening device must be strong enough to carry heavy loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting capabilityVSAvoidload carrying capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device extends in multiple dimensions with a U-shaped cross section that wraps around the vertical carrier and hooks into slots. The reinforcement flanges extend perpendicular to the tongue plane, creating a three-dimensional structure that distributes mounting forces across multiple contact points, thereby enhancing load carrying capacity while maintaining ease of installation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device is constructed as a composite structure combining the U-shaped profile with reinforcement flanges that extend from the tongue. This composite design integrates multiple structural elements into a single fastening component that can withstand heavy loads while maintaining simple installation through the hook-and-slot mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3182859B1Storage device and improved basket structure with hooks
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 ELFA INTERNATIONAL
  • EP3182859B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3182859B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3182859B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a storage device made of expanded metal mesh material. The storage device comprises a basket (3, 5, 7, 9) with an attached fastening device (11). The fastening device has a portion with U-shaped cross section (21) provided with hooks (13) in the interior thereof, such that the fastening device can be fitted on a vertical carrier provided with slots, the hooks (13) entering said slots, and the fastening device is at least partly inserted in the outer envelope of the basket and has a portion (25) extending under the bottom panel of the basket.