Folding Handcart Hinge Mechanism for Box Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-wheeled and four-wheeled handcarts face challenges in stowing folded boxes between the loading plate and the main body, leading to reduced ease of use, and four-wheeled carts become cumbersome to transport when folded as they lack wheels for movement.
Innovation Solution
A folding handcart design with a loading plate that folds vertically into the main body, incorporating a hinge unit and wheel mechanisms to create a stowing space for the folded box, and auxiliary wheels for mobility when the plate is folded, ensuring the cart remains upright and can be easily transported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the loading plate is folded toward the main body to reduce cart size, then the cart becomes more compact and easier to store, but no stowing space is available for folded boxes between the loading plate and main body
Solution Approach 1:
The cart structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the supporter creates a dedicated stowing space between the loading plate and main body, allowing folded boxes to be stored separately from the collapsed loading plate. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing simultaneous storage capacity and compact folded configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporter extends vertically from the lower portion of the main body, utilizing the vertical dimension to create stowing space. When the loading plate is folded toward the main body, folded boxes can be placed in the space between the loading plate and main body at a different vertical level, effectively using three-dimensional space to resolve the two-dimensional folding conflict.
2Volume of stationary object
If the loading plate is folded toward the main body to create a compact configuration, then storage space is reduced, but a stowing space can be provided for folded boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The supporter serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the loading plate, creates a stowing space for folded boxes, and enables the cart to maintain its configuration during folding. This multi-functionality allows the cart to provide both storage space and controlled folding capability without requiring additional complex mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a four-wheeled handcart with automatic folding is used, then folding capability is improved, but the cart becomes heavy and difficult to carry when folded due to lack of movement capability
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel units are designed to be dynamically configurable - they can rotate to different positions. When the loading plate is folded toward the main body, the wheel units rotate to contact the ground, enabling the cart to be moved easily. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by providing movement capability only when needed, reducing the effective weight during transport.
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
Enables efficient storage of folded boxes between the loading plate and main body, maintains stability when unfolded, and allows for easy transport with wheels, addressing the limitations of conventional carts.
Implementation Method 1
a loading plate provided with at least one loading plate wheel unit, connected to the supporter of the main body through a hinge unit, folded while being rotated toward the main body by the hinge unit
Implementation Method 2
The loading plate wheel unit may be configured such that the loading plate wheel unit is rotated and folded toward a bottom surface of the loading plate according to rotation of the first wheel rod when the loading plate is folded while rotating toward the main body
Implementation Method 3
The upright leg may be configured such that the upright leg protrudes according to the rotation of the hinge unit to make the folding handcart upright when the loading plate is folded toward the main body
Data Source
AI summary
A folding handcart includes: a main body provided with a supporter configured to extend vertically from a lower portion thereof; and a loading plate provided with at least one loading plate wheel unit, connected to the supporter of the main body through a hinge unit, folded while being rotated toward the main body by the hinge unit, and stowing an article or a folding box, wherein, when the loading plate is folded while being rotated toward the main body, a predetermined stowing space is provided between the main body and the loading plate in accordance with an area of the supporter such that the folding box is folded and stowed therein.