Modular container holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage solutions, such as racks and shelves, are inflexible and unsuitable for containers of diverse shapes and sizes, often obstructing the insertion or removal of containers when stacked and lacking alignment consistency.
Innovation Solution
A modular container holder with a detachable magnet mounting system and frictional engagement to secure to a vertical surface, featuring a tiltable basket portion that prevents obstruction in vertical stacking and allows for flexible alignment and configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional racks and shelves are used to store containers, then storage function is provided, but the structure is fixed in size and shape and cannot be reconfigured or expanded to suit specific storage needs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple individual holder units that can be independently attached and arranged. Each holder is a separate module that can be positioned independently on the mounting surface, allowing flexible reconfiguration without moving the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The holders can be arranged in both horizontal rows and vertical columns on the mounting surface, utilizing two-dimensional space for flexible configuration. This allows the same set of holders to be reorganized into different patterns depending on storage needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If repositionable holders are used to hold containers of diverse shapes and sizes, then adaptability improves, but the holders are difficult to stack vertically as holders in the stack are obstructed by the holders positioned above
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the basket portion extend forward and block access to holders below, the basket is tilted backward relative to the mounting surface. This inversion of the typical forward-extending basket design allows containers to be inserted and removed from lower holders without obstruction from upper holders.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple holders are used simultaneously, then storage capacity increases, but there is no way of ensuring consistent alignment between multiple holders employed simultaneously, resulting in a haphazard or disorganized arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
All holders use the same magnet mounting means with identical dimensions and attachment mechanisms. This universal design ensures that every holder aligns consistently with the mounting surface and with each other, maintaining organization regardless of how many holders are deployed or how they are arranged.
4Adaptability or versatility
If holders are detachably secured to mounting surface, then repositionability is achieved, but the holders may slide downwardly upon the vertical mounting surface
Solution Approach 1:
A friction element is introduced as an intermediary between the magnet mounting means and the mounting surface. This friction element enhances the holding force of the magnetic attachment, preventing the holder from sliding downward while maintaining the ability to detach and reposition the holder when needed.
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
Enables efficient and organized storage of containers of various shapes and sizes without obstruction, ensuring consistent alignment and preventing sliding, thus optimizing space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the backing panel has a magnet mounting means adapted to detachably secure a modular container holder upon the vertical mounting surface
Implementation Method 2
a friction element positioned upon the rear face of the backing panel, which is adapted to frictionally engage the vertical mounting surface to prevent the modular container holder from sliding downwardly
Data Source
AI summary
A modular container holder comprising a backing panel and a basket portion, the backing panel has a magnetic mounting means adapted to detachably secure the modular container holder to a vertical mounting surface, the basket portion projects forwardly from the backing panel and is adapted to receive and retain a container. A contiguous modular arrangement of multiple modular containers positioned in column or row configurations allows multiple containers to be stored, while the basket portion is tilted forwardly to prevent the obstruction of basket openings when the modular container holders are vertically stacked in the column configuration.