Substrate mounted container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage containers occupy valuable space by resting on floors or mounting to walls and ceilings, failing to utilize the space between building joists effectively.
Innovation Solution
A container designed to be mounted between joists in a building substrate, featuring a pivotable lid and flanges that abut the joists, allowing for concealed storage and optional magnetic or hydraulic lift mechanisms for ease of use, ensuring the container is coplanar with the substrate's surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional storage containers rest on floors or mount to walls, then they provide accessible storage space, but they occupy valuable floor space or wall surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The container is repositioned from conventional floor or wall mounting to utilization of the vertical space between floor joists. By mounting the container body between joists with flanges extending to abut adjacent joists, the invention transforms unused three-dimensional space between structural elements into functional storage volume, eliminating the need for floor or wall surface occupation.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional storage containers mount to walls or ceilings, then they provide organized storage, but they do not utilize the space within substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The container exploits the previously wasted vertical dimension between floor joists by positioning the container body within this space and securing it with flanges that abut adjacent joists. This dimensional repositioning transforms structural void space into usable storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The container body is nested within the space between joists, with flanges extending outward to abut the joists. This nesting arrangement allows the container to occupy and utilize the existing structural space without requiring additional mounting surfaces.
3Volume of moving object
If a container is mounted between joists with flanges abutting joists, then it utilizes previously unused space, but it may protrude from the substrate surface
Solution Approach 1:
The lid surface is configured to be coplanar with the floor covering material, creating a seamless appearance at the interface between container and floor. This local quality adjustment ensures the container does not visually protrude from the substrate surface while maintaining the storage volume between joists.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid surface is configured to match the appearance of the surrounding floor covering material in terms of color, texture, and material composition. This visual matching allows the container to blend seamlessly with the substrate surface, eliminating visual protrusion while maintaining functional storage space.
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
The container effectively utilizes previously unused space between joists for storage while maintaining a seamless appearance with the substrate, providing organized storage without protruding from the structure.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic coupling having one or more components coupled to the body and/or lid to thereby releasably hold the lid in a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A container is described herein that is configured to be mounted between joists in a substrate of a structure, such as a floor, wall, or ceiling. The container includes a body portion sized to be disposed between the joists and a lid to cover an opening to the body. The lid can further be configured to be coplanar with a covering material of the substrate so that the container does not project outwardly from the substrate.