Foldable Warning Cone With Crimped Side Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional warning cones are not easily transportable, occupy significant space for storage, and may pose a fire hazard, while lacking the flexibility to adapt to various environments and conditions.

Innovation Solution

A foldable warning cone design featuring tapered side panels and a base panel that can be folded along a central seam, with crimped or indented sides for increased stiffness, and adhesive strips for secure placement, made from water-repellent materials like paper or plastic, allowing for easy deployment, visibility, and compact storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional warning cones are constructed out of plastic or rubber, then they provide durability and visibility, but they occupy significant space for storage and transport

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidstorage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cone is divided into multiple panels (base panel and side panels) connected by folding seams, allowing it to be segmented into a compact folded state for storage while maintaining its full conical shape when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cone transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic foldable structure that can change its volume between deployed and stored states, adapting to different spatial requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If traditional warning cones are made from rigid materials, then they maintain structural integrity, but they pose fire hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidfire hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The material properties are changed from traditional plastic/rubber to fire-resistant materials like treated paper or fabric, altering the combustion characteristics while maintaining structural sufficientness for the cone's function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cone is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable item made from inexpensive fire-resistant materials, prioritizing safety over long-term durability, similar to disposable warning devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Volume of moving object

If the side panels are made flexible for easy folding, then storage becomes compact, but structural integrity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage volumeVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the cone have different properties: the base panel is made wider and more rigid for stability when deployed, while the side panels are designed to fold along specific seams, creating localized flexibility where needed and rigidity where required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS7823526B2Foldable cone

Publication Date: 2010.11.02 VANGUARD ADA SYST OF AMERICA

AI summary

The foldable warning cone (10) is formed from paper, thin plastic, fabric, or a combination thereof, and includes two tapered side panels (12) and a base panel (14). The base panel (14) extends between the lower edges (34) of the side panels and includes a central folding seam (16), which allows the base panel to be folded upward so that the cone can collapse into a very thin configuration.