Folding Container Lock Member Tilting Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding containers face issues with unreliable unlocking operations due to tilting of the operation portion during downward movement and require strong force for unlocking, resulting from complex mechanisms that convert vertical movement into horizontal movement of lock bar-like members.
Innovation Solution
A folding container design where first opposite side walls are brought down towards the bottom portion first, with a lock member on each side wall featuring a pivotal shaft, allowing the operation portion to be pivotally moved upward or downward to cancel the lock state between the lock member and second opposite side walls, preventing tilting and enabling reliable unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operation portion is pushed downward to unlock the lock member, then the locking function is released, but the operation portion may tilt during movement causing unreliable unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the operation portion and the surrounding components. This guide structure constrains the operation portion's movement path, preventing tilting while allowing vertical movement, thus ensuring reliable unlocking operation.
2Reliability
If a complex mechanism is used to convert vertical movement into horizontal movement of the lock bar, then the locking function is achieved, but strong force is required causing heavy transmission loss
Solution Approach 1:
The complex conversion mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler direct linkage. The lock bar is directly connected to the operation portion, eliminating intermediate conversion mechanisms and reducing transmission loss while maintaining the locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of converting vertical movement to horizontal movement through a complex mechanism, the design inverts the approach by allowing the lock bar to move vertically directly with the operation portion, simplifying the transmission path and reducing energy loss.
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
This design ensures a reliable unlocking operation by preventing the operation portion from tilting and reducing the force required, allowing for easier and more efficient folding of the container.
Implementation Method 1
a pivotal shaft formed in the operation portion is pivotally supported in a bearing hole formed in each of the first opposite side walls
Data Source
AI summary
A lock member L1 including an operation portion L1a and a lock bar L1b is disposed on each of first opposite side walls 2 to be brought down firstly toward a bottom portion 1, and a pivotal shaft 13 formed in the operation portion is pivotally supported in a bearing hole 2g2 formed in each of the first opposite side walls to be brought down firstly toward the bottom portion. To allow cancellation of a lock state between the lock member and each of second opposite side walls to be brought down secondly toward the bottom portion, the operation portion is pivotally moved downward. During an unlocking operation, even when an operator pivotally moves the operation portion included in the lock member, the operation portion is prevented from being tilted. Thus, the lock bar of the lock member can be used to reliably perform the unlocking operation.