Hard Plastic Hauler Sled With Flexible Handle for Stairs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carrying heavy items up stairs can cause strain, obstruct vision, and increase the risk of tripping, especially when multiple trips are necessary, due to the physical exertion required.
Innovation Solution
A hauler device with a hard plastic sled and a long, flexible handle that allows users to pull items across the ground or upstairs, featuring collapsible side walls, optional wheels, and a handle with a hand cushion for comfort, reducing physical effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heavy items are carried up stairs by hand, then the items can be transported, but significant strain is placed on the back, shoulders, and legs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lifting and carrying items upward, the invention inverts the approach by having the user pull the sled horizontally along the staircase incline. The items remain in the sled while the user applies pulling force through a long handle, transforming the lifting action into a pulling action that utilizes leg and back strength more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled acts as an intermediary device between the user and the items. It transfers the weight-bearing function from the user's body to the sled, which slides along the staircase surface. The long handle serves as another intermediary, extending the user's reach and allowing force application at a more ergonomic distance from the body.
2Quantity of substance
If large or numerous items are carried upstairs, then the items can be transported, but the person's line of sight is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from vertical carrying (items held at chest or head level, blocking forward vision) to horizontal pulling (items contained in a sled on the ground). By changing the spatial dimension from vertical to horizontal, the items are positioned below the user's line of sight, allowing simultaneous viewing of both the items in the sled and the path ahead on the stairs.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple trips are made to transport all items, then all items can be transported, but the time required and physical exertion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sled's large capacity allows multiple items that would otherwise require separate trips to be combined into a single load. The sled can accommodate numerous items simultaneously, merging multiple transportation tasks into one trip, thereby reducing total time and cumulative physical exertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled serves multiple functions: it transports various types of items (groceries, retail items, etc.), accommodates different quantities, and can be used on both flat surfaces and staircases. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for different devices or multiple trips for different item types.
4Ease of operation
If items are carried upstairs, then the items can be transported, but the risk of tripping or stumbling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the items from the user's direct control and placement on the body, transferring them to the sled. This separation removes the obstruction caused by carried items, eliminating the hazard of items shifting or blocking the user's view, thereby reducing tripping risk.
5Force
If a sled is used to transport items, then physical strain is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into simple, discrete components: a sled body, a long handle, and optional wheels. Each component performs a single function, and the overall structure remains simple despite the multi-functional capability. This segmentation maintains ease of manufacture and understanding while achieving the desired force reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
A hauler device is disclosed for transporting multiple items across the floor or upstairs with ease. The device is a hard plastic sled equipped with a long, rope-type or flexible handle to pull the sled across the ground or upstairs. The hauler device comprises a body component that is configured in a rectangular (i.e., rectilinear) shape as a sled. The body component is capable of holding multiple items to be transported across the floor or upstairs, such as groceries, retail items, etc. Attached to the body component is a long, cord-type or flexible handle used to pull the sled. Thus, once the body component of the device is loaded with items, a user can transport the items by pulling the handle of the sled in a convenient and less physically taxing manner.