Hip-Support Container Rim Geometry for Ergonomic Carrying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional containers, such as laundry baskets, do not provide adequate comfort and ergonomic design for carrying on the hip, as they lack a specific engaging area that effectively supports the container on the hip and allows comfortable grasping by the arm.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a rim with an engaging area along the concave wall, positioned further from the base than along the side and convex walls, creating a larger, flexible, and textured surface for hip support and easy grasping by the arm, enhancing comfort and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rim is positioned at the same distance from the base along all walls, then the container has a simple symmetric structure, but it cannot provide adequate hip support comfort or allow comfortable grasping by the arm
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is positioned at different distances from the base along different walls, creating an asymmetric structure. Specifically, the engaging area along the concave wall is positioned further from the base than the rim along the side walls and convex wall. This asymmetry allows the container to conform to the human body's anatomy, providing comfort on the hip while allowing the arm to reach and grasp the rim at the lower convex wall position.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the rim are positioned at different heights to serve different functions. The engaging area along the concave wall is positioned higher to provide hip support, while the rim along the convex wall is positioned lower to allow comfortable arm grasping. This local differentiation of rim position optimizes both hip comfort and arm accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the engaging area is positioned further from the base along the concave wall, then hip support comfort is improved, but the rim structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rim follows the asymmetric contour of the container body, positioned further from the base along the concave wall where hip contact occurs. This asymmetric positioning creates a larger engaging area that conforms to the hip's curvature, providing enhanced comfort while maintaining structural integrity through the container's overall bean-shaped cross-section design.
3Ease of operation
If the rim is positioned lower along the convex wall, then arm grasping comfort is improved, but the container's structural symmetry is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is positioned lower along the convex wall where the arm grasps the container. This lower positioning allows the arm to reach and hold the rim more comfortably while carrying the container on the hip. The asymmetric rim positioning is integrated into the overall bean-shaped cross-section design, maintaining structural coherence while optimizing ergonomics.
Data Source
AI summary
The container (20) comprises a base (22), a concave wall (24), a convex wall (26), and a pair of side walls (28) with all walls (24, 26, 28) extending upwardly from the base (22) to a rim (30) which presents an engaging area (50) having an apex (52) and midpoint (54). The apex (52) of the engaging area (50) is disposed a greater distance from the base (22) than the distance of the top (38) of the rim (30) from the base (22) along the side walls (28) and the convex wall (26), whereby the engaging area (50) presents a concave surface area for supporting the container (20) on the hip of a human body. The engaging area (50) further includes a second dimension (h2) which decreases in height along the rim (30) from the apex (52) and the midpoint (54) of the engaging area (50) toward each side wall (28). The engaging area (50) further includes a support plane (ρ3) which slants relative to vertical at an acute angle (θ) allowing the engaging area (50) to rest comfortably on the human body.