Interlocking Display Compartments for Tiered Self-Aligning Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display units lack efficient and straightforward assembly methods for interlocking compartments, requiring complex alignment and measurement, and often do not allow for a tiered display configuration that enhances access to items.
Innovation Solution
The design of interlocking compartments with a tongue-and-groove mechanism and truncated corners enables secure assembly without precise alignment, allowing for a tiered display configuration by varying the lengths of the compartments' surfaces and incorporating projections and indentations for stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional display units are assembled, then compartments can be connected, but complex alignment and measurement are required
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is divided into multiple modular compartments that can be assembled independently. Each compartment is a discrete unit with standardized connection features, allowing them to be manufactured separately and then easily connected without complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
A tongue-and-groove mechanism serves as an intermediary connection feature between compartments. The groove in one compartment receives the tongue from another compartment, providing self-aligning connection that eliminates the need for precise measurement and alignment during assembly.
2Ease of operation
If traditional display units are assembled, then compartments can be connected, but precise alignment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue and groove connection features are pre-formed during manufacturing of each compartment. This preliminary action ensures that when compartments are assembled, the connection features are already positioned correctly, eliminating the need for precise alignment operations during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The tongue-and-groove mechanism is designed to self-align during assembly. The geometry of the tongue and groove features guides the compartments into proper alignment automatically, without requiring the assembler to perform precise alignment operations or use measurement tools.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional display units are assembled, then compartments can be connected, but tiered configuration is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit allows for dynamic configuration where compartments can be arranged in different patterns including tiered arrangements. The standardized tongue-and-groove connection system enables flexible reconfiguration without increasing assembly complexity, as the same connection mechanism works for all configuration types.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit incorporates vertical tiering by stacking compartments at different heights. This adds a vertical dimension to the display configuration, creating tiered displays that improve item accessibility while using the same simple tongue-and-groove assembly method.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to interlocking compartments which are assembled to form a display unit. In some embodiments, the interlocking compartments include a first compartment and a second compartment having a top surface, a bottom surface and a rear surface. The bottom surface of the second compartment includes a tongue and the top surface of the first compartment includes a groove for receiving the tongue. The rear surface of the second compartment includes a projection and the rear surface of the first compartment and the top surface of the first compartment form a corner having an indentation for receiving the projection. In some embodiments, the length of the bottom surface of the first compartment is greater than the length of the bottom surface of the second compartment, and the length of the bottom surface of the second compartment is greater than the length of the bottom surface of the third compartment.