Interlocking Support Foot With Anti-Loosening Threaded Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container support systems fail to prevent loosening of support feet, leading to uneven support and increased stress on containers when filled, as they lack effective interlocking features to maintain a stable connection.
Innovation Solution
The support feet feature a helical thread and radially outward teeth with sloped and upright walls that engage corresponding support areas on the container, preventing reverse rotation and ensuring a secure attachment through a locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded support foot is used to elevate the container, then the container can be lifted and cleaned easily, but the support foot may loosen or detach over time
Solution Approach 1:
The support foot is divided into functional segments: a threaded connector portion for initial attachment and elevation, and a toothed engagement portion for secure locking. The tooth protrudes from the support foot body and engages with a corresponding recess in the container bottom, creating distinct functional zones that address both ease of installation and long-term stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The threading mechanism performs the preliminary action of attaching the support foot to the container, elevating it for cleaning and lifting access. Once this preliminary positioning is achieved, the tooth engagement mechanism takes over to prevent loosening, separating the installation phase from the operational security phase.
2Ease of manufacture
If the support foot is simply threaded onto the container, then installation is easy, but the connection may loosen under stress when the container is filled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two fastening mechanisms into a single support foot component: external threading for initial attachment and a protruding tooth with corresponding recess engagement for mechanical locking. This combination maintains installation simplicity while dramatically increasing connection strength to withstand the stress of filled containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The support foot combines different structural features (threaded cylinder and protruding tooth) in a composite design, where each feature contributes a different mechanical property: threading provides controlled attachment and the tooth provides positive mechanical interlocking resistant to loosening under load.
3Reliability
If a toothed interlocking feature is added to prevent loosening, then connection stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than complicating the entire support foot structure, the invention applies the toothed interlocking feature locally at the critical engagement point with the container bottom. The majority of the support foot remains a simple threaded cylinder, with the tooth added only where needed to prevent loosening, minimizing overall complexity while maximizing reliability.
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
This design provides a stable and secure connection between the container and support feet, preventing loosening and ensuring even support, reducing stress on the container, even when filled.
Implementation Method 1
The support feet are threaded into the recesses and serve to elevate the container above a supporting surface
Implementation Method 2
a connector which extends upwardly from the upper surface and having a helical thread
Implementation Method 3
The sloped wall is preferably oriented to extend generally perpendicular to a radial line extending outwardly from the center of the connector, and to incline upwardly from the upper surface to the peak whereby the tooth has progressively greater engagement with the container as the support foot is threaded onto a corresponding support area of the container
Data Source
AI summary
An interlocking support foot and a container assembly including the support foot permits the support foot to be threaded onto a container but resists loosening of the foot by reverse rotation of the support foot once installed onto the container. The support foot is preferably molded of synthetic resin as a unitary member including a body, a threaded connector and at least one, and preferably a circular array of teeth radially spaced from the connector. The container is complementally configured to include a plurality of support areas for threadably receiving the support foot and provided with a threaded receiver and a radially spaced notch. When the support foot is installed on the support area of the container, the tooth engages the notch and resists reverse rotation of the foot.