Rotatable Foldable Cart Frame for Easy Collapse and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable carts and frames fail to achieve ease of setup, collapse, and packaging while maintaining functionality, aesthetics, stability, and robustness within manufacturing constraints.
Innovation Solution
A foldable cart frame with rotatable rods and couplers, supported by a flexible container, allowing for easy expansion and collapse, and a telescoping handle for enhanced portability and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional foldable cart designs are used, then manufacturing costs can be controlled, but ease of setup and collapse is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cart frame is divided into multiple modular rod segments (first rod, second rod, third rod, fourth rod, fifth rod, sixth rod) that can be independently positioned and connected. This segmentation allows each rod to be easily adjusted and collapsed independently, significantly improving ease of setup and collapse while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized connection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure incorporates rotatable couplers that allow dynamic adjustment of rod positions and angles. The rotatable connections enable the frame to transition smoothly between expanded and collapsed states, enhancing ease of operation while the standardized rotation mechanism keeps the overall device complexity controlled.
2Reliability
If more rods and couplers are added to improve stability, then robustness increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each rod and coupler in the frame is designed to serve multiple functions. The rods provide structural support, define cart dimensions, and enable folding movements. The couplers simultaneously connect rods, allow rotation for collapsing, and maintain structural integrity. This multi-functionality achieves high stability and robustness without requiring additional specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of connection, rotation, and structural support into integrated rod-coupler assemblies. Rather than having separate components for each function, the design combines these elements into a unified system where the couplers and rods work together as cohesive units, achieving robustness while minimizing the total number of discrete components.
3Ease of operation
If the cart is designed to be fully foldable for easy storage, then portability improves, but functionality during use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable couplers enable the frame to dynamically adjust between fully expanded, partially collapsed, and fully collapsed configurations. This dynamic capability ensures that the cart maintains full functionality when expanded for use, while allowing complete folding for portability and storage, achieving both goals without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure allows for continuous parameter changes in rod positions and angles through the rotatable connections. This enables the cart to transition smoothly between different operational states and storage configurations, maintaining adaptability and functionality across the full range of motion while achieving complete foldability for portability.
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 solution provides a foldable cart that is easy to set up, collapse, and package, while improving functionality, aesthetics, stability, and robustness, all within desirable manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first coupler for receiving and securing therein the second end of the third rod; a second coupler for receiving and securing therein the second end of the fourth rod; a fifth rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fifth rod is rotatably coupled to the first end of the first rod
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable cart frame including a first rod having a first end and a second end; a second rod having a first end and a second end; a third rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third rod is rotatably coupled to the first end of the second rod; a fourth rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fourth rod is rotatably coupled to the second end of the second rod; a first coupler for receiving and securing therein the second end of the third rod; a second coupler for receiving and securing therein the second end of the fourth rod; a fifth rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fifth rod is rotatably coupled to the first end of the first rod; a sixth rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the sixth rod is rotatably coupled to the second end of the first rod; wherein the fifth rod extends through the first coupler, and wherein the fifth rod is rotatable within the first coupler; wherein the sixth rod extends through the second coupler, and wherein the sixth rod is rotatable within the second coupler; a seventh rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the seventh rod is received and secured in the first coupler; an eighth rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the eighth rod is received and secured in the second coupler; and whereby a flexible container is supportable by at least the second ends of the respective fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth rods. A foldable cart that includes the foldable cart frame and a flexible container is also disclosed.