Foldable base element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable base elements for sales displays face challenges in providing cost-effective, resource-saving, and environmentally friendly production while ensuring stability for heavy goods, easy assembly, and space-saving transport and storage.
Innovation Solution
A foldable base element design featuring a rectangular frame wall made of corrugated cardboard panels with pivotable connections and internal reinforcement elements, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without additional cuts, using adhesive areas and fold lines for stability and space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional foldable base elements with angled side walls and internal struts are used, then stability under load is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible inward bending of side walls
Solution Approach 1:
The base element is divided into modular components: a frame made of four side walls and separate reinforcing elements that can be independently positioned and attached. This segmentation allows the side walls to maintain their aesthetic rectangular appearance while the reinforcing elements provide the necessary structural stability under load, resolving the conflict between appearance and stability.
2Ease of operation
If foldable base elements are designed for easy assembly and disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional connection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The frame and reinforcing elements are designed to work together as an integrated system where simple adhesive connections provide both the necessary assembly ease and sufficient structural strength. This merging of components with simple connections avoids the need for complex mechanical fastening mechanisms, thereby maintaining ease of operation without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Strength
If base elements are made from multiple separate components for stability, then strength is improved, but loss of substance increases due to additional material usage and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The frame and reinforcing elements are designed as flat-pack components that can be efficiently manufactured and stored in a compact state. This preliminary preparation allows for optimized material usage during manufacturing, reducing waste from cutting and shaping operations, while the assembled structure provides the necessary structural strength when deployed.
4Volume of moving object
If base elements are designed to be fully disassembled for space-saving transport, then volume is reduced, but reliability decreases due to potential loss of components
Solution Approach 1:
The frame and reinforcing elements are designed to work together as an integrated system where simple adhesive connections provide both the necessary assembly ease and sufficient structural strength. This merging of components with simple connections avoids the need for complex mechanical fastening mechanisms, thereby maintaining ease of operation without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
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
The design enables quick, inexpensive production and easy transformation between flat transport and three-dimensional use positions, providing sufficient stability for heavy loads while being environmentally friendly and aesthetically appealing.
Implementation Method 1
The outer free ends of the narrow sides of the panel are connected by folding the two outermost of the four side walls together by means of an adhesive process, and that the reinforcing element consists of a second rectangular panel which overlaps the fold line between the first outermost side wall and the adjacent side wall on its inner sides and is connected to the adjacent side walls in question by means of an adhesive area extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the first panel.
Data Source
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AI summary
A foldable base element is presented as a base for sales displays for presenting goods, comprising a surrounding frame wall made of four interconnected side walls and at least one reinforcing element connected to the inside of the frame wall. The base element can be reversibly folded from a flat transport position into a spatially usable position. According to the invention, the frame wall consists of a one-piece, rectangular panel, which forms all four side walls, pivotably connected to each other by fold lines, arranged side by side. The outer free ends of the narrow sides of the panel are connected by folding the two outermost of the four side walls together using an adhesive process. The reinforcing element consists of a second rectangular panel.which overlaps the fold line between the first outermost side wall and the adjacent side wall on their inner sides and is connected to the adjacent side walls in question by means of an adhesive area running perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the first panel, wherein the reinforcing element has two fold lines arranged parallel to the adhesive areas between its adhesive areas located at its free ends and wherein one of the two fold lines is located above the fold line between the first outermost side wall and the adjacent side wall.