Foldable Trolley Sliding Frame and Pivot Wheels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional load trolleys cannot further reduce their volume for storage since their main frame bodies are not foldable.
Innovation Solution
A foldable trolley design featuring a frame body unit with a sliding upper frame structure that can fold onto a lower frame structure, along with pivotable wheel units, allowing the trolley to convert from an unfolded to a folded state for reduced storage volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the main frame body is made non-foldable (conventional design), then the structural simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the storage volume cannot be further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frame body is divided into two separate frame structures: a lower frame structure and an upper frame structure. This segmentation allows the upper frame to be folded onto the lower frame for compact storage, while maintaining structural integrity during use. The positioning member is also segmented into a positioning block on the lower frame and a corresponding positioning feature on the upper frame, enabling controlled folding motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper frame structure is designed to fold onto and nest within the lower frame structure when not in use. This nesting arrangement significantly reduces the storage volume of the trolley by allowing the frame components to occupy the same spatial envelope, transforming the trolley from an extended configuration to a compact folded state.
2Volume of stationary object
If the upper frame structure is made foldable, then the storage volume is reduced, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The upper frame structure incorporates a sliding mechanism that allows it to move dynamically between an extended operational position and a folded storage position. The sliding rod with positioning features enables controlled movement while maintaining structural stability during use, and allows compact folding for storage. This dynamic design balances manufacturability with space efficiency.
3Volume of stationary object
If the wheel units are made pivotable toward the lower frame structure, then the overall compactness when folded is improved, but the complexity of the wheel assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel units are integrated with the lower frame structure through pivotal connections, merging the wheel assembly with the frame system. This integration allows the wheels to pivot toward the lower frame during folding, achieving compact storage without requiring separate, complex folding mechanisms for the wheel assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable trolley includes a frame body unit and two wheel units. The frame body unit includes a lower frame structure and am upper frame structure. The upper frame structure includes a sliding rod slidably disposed on the lower frame structure. The upper frame structure is slidable in a direction toward a bottom of the lower frame structure, via sliding connection of the sliding rod and the lower frame structure, and fold on the lower frame structure, so as to convert the frame body unit from an unfolded state to a folded state. The wheel units are disposed respectively on two sides of the lower frame structure, and are operable to pivot toward the lower frame structure.