Folding Grill Cart Locking Structure for Stable Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a portable grill cart that can securely support a grill during use and easily transport it to different locations, while also providing a convenient support surface and safely securing the grill and fuel tank during transport.
Innovation Solution
A folding grill cart with a table top assembly, support frame assembly, and tank support system that includes toe clips, leg lock members, a spring-loaded lock button, and a collapsible handle, allowing the cart to be easily converted between an upright use position and a collapsed transport position, with optional features like wheels and a tank support system to keep the fuel tank off the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cart is designed to support a grill securely during use, then the grill stability is improved, but the cart becomes more complex and harder to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The cart is divided into collapsible leg assemblies that can be segmented and folded together. The support frame includes multiple legs with pivot points that allow the structure to be divided into collapsible sections, enabling easy folding and transport while maintaining stability when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The cart employs dynamic locking mechanisms including spring-loaded lock buttons and cam-locked toe clips that can transition between locked and unlocked states. These dynamic elements allow the cart to be quickly assembled and disassembled while providing secure stabilization when in use
2Ease of operation
If the cart is made collapsible for easy transport, then the ease of transport is improved, but the grill security during transport may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cart includes pre-positioned locking mechanisms such as toe clips and lock buttons that are ready to engage automatically or with minimal action. The spring-loaded buttons and cam-locked clips are designed to secure the grill before transport begins, ensuring reliability is maintained during the transition to collapsed state
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional complex mechanical locking systems are replaced with spring-loaded buttons and cam-locked clips that provide secure locking through simple mechanical advantages. These substituted mechanisms maintain grill security while requiring minimal effort to operate during transport
3Reliability
If locking mechanisms are added to secure the grill, then the grill security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system employs spring-loaded buttons that automatically engage and disengage through user interaction. The cam-locked toe clips self-lock when the grill is positioned, utilizing the grill's own weight and position to activate the locking action, thereby reducing the need for complex manual locking procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanisms utilize changes in mechanical parameters such as spring compression and cam rotation to achieve secure locking. By changing the state of these simple components rather than adding complex locking systems, the patent maintains grill security while minimizing overall device complexity
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cart includes a tank support system to keep the fuel tank off the ground, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tank support system is merged with the existing collapsible leg structure of the cart. The same legs that support the grill also provide support for the fuel tank when raised, eliminating the need for separate tank support components and reducing overall device complexity while improving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The cart's support structure serves multiple functions: it supports the grill during use, provides collapsible folding for transport, and raises the fuel tank off the ground for safety. This multi-functional design achieves safety improvements without adding dedicated tank support components that would increase complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The present inventions relate to folding carts for use with grills, the carts securing the grill upright for use and folding for transport. The present inventions also relate to fuel tank support systems for use with grill carts or stands.