Interlocking Base Plates for Accessible Euro Container Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standardized small load carriers, such as Euro boxes, occupy loading space inefficiently, limiting the use of the space for placing additional objects and hindering accessibility when used as a base.
Innovation Solution
A base system comprising substantially rectangular base plates with alternating connecting recesses and projections around the edges, allowing for form-fitting connection without tools, forming a robust intermediate base that can be walked on and used to place further objects without impairing accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standardized small load carriers are placed directly on the loading space floor, then they provide simple stacking capability, but they occupy loading space inefficiently and hinder accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The base plates extend beyond the footprint of the small load carriers in the horizontal plane, creating an accessible surface that protrudes into the loading space. This dimensional extension allows objects to be placed on the base plates without requiring direct access to the carriers themselves, thereby improving accessibility while maintaining space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plates serve as intermediary surfaces between the small load carriers and the objects to be stored or accessed. By placing objects on the base plates rather than directly on the carriers, the system mediates the conflict between space occupancy and accessibility, allowing efficient space utilization while providing easy access to stored items.
2Strength
If base plates are connected with multiple fastening elements, then connection robustness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection recess and connection protrusion are merged into a single integrated connection geometry that combines multiple fastening functions. The L-shaped recess with its bottom wall and side wall formations integrates what would otherwise require separate fastening elements, reducing complexity while maintaining connection robustness through the unified structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection geometry utilizes composite structural features combining different geometric elements (L-shaped recess, protruding portion, bottom wall formation, side wall formation) to achieve robust connection. This composite approach to connection design provides strength equivalent to multiple fastening elements while using a single integrated geometry.
3Ease of operation
If base plates are made large to improve stability and accessibility, then loading space occupancy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate design applies local quality by extending the plate surface only in specific areas where accessibility is needed, rather than uniformly increasing the entire plate size. The selective extension creates accessible surfaces where required while minimizing the overall footprint to maintain loading space efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A base system for laying on at least two standardized small load carriers, in particular Euro containers, arranged on a flat underlying surface. The base system has at least two base panels with a substantially rectangular design, and each base panel is provided around the edges with connecting recesses and connecting protrusions which alternate at least indirectly and via which the base panels can be connected together in a formfitting manner along the edges. Mutually facing sides of respective base panels are designed to complement each other, wherein each base panel is provided around the edges with connection geometries which are identically designed and which directly adjoin each other around the edges.