Nested Basket Handle Retention via Curved Receptacle Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing stackable hand baskets often experience an unintended detachment of the carrying handle from the second receptacle during use, especially when the load is uneven, which compromises the stability and usability of the basket.

Innovation Solution

The second receptacle is redesigned with two lower wire areas shaped as quarters of a circle and an upper wire section forming a semicircle, creating a connection between them, with a small radius to securely hold the carrying handle, preventing its independent release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the second receptacle is designed with a conventional structure, then the stacking ability is maintained, but the carrying handle can independently detach during use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle retentionVSAvoidstacking ability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the second receptacle by using curved wire areas with specific radii (Ru and Ro) instead of straight lines. This curvature modification creates a guide path that mechanically prevents handle detachment while maintaining the receptacle's overall dimensions for stacking compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies curvature by forming the second receptacle with wire areas shaped as quarters of a circle and a semicircle. These curved geometries create a guiding path that naturally retains the carrying handle during use, preventing independent detachment while preserving the stacking function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the second receptacle uses a larger radius design, then the guide length increases for better handle storage, but the height of the receptacle increases affecting stacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle storageVSAvoidreceptacle height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the radius parameters (Ru and Ro) to be small (up to maximum R=3), which creates a compact curved guide path. This parameter optimization achieves sufficient handle retention through the curved geometry while keeping the overall receptacle height unchanged for proper stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The curved wire areas with small radii are nested within the existing receptacle structure, creating an efficient guide path that maximizes handle retention within the constrained height dimension, allowing the handle to be securely guided without increasing the overall receptacle dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP1896335B1Small nested basket
Publication Date: 2009.10.07 WANZL METALLWARENFAB GMBH
  • EP1896335B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1896335B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a small nested basket (1) which is produced from individual wires (4) and comprises a bottom, a carrying handle (5) and a wire part (6) on every lateral wall (3), every wire part (6) having a fist recess (7) for bearing the carrying handle (5) and being equipped with supporting elements (8). Said supporting elements allow to nest the basket in an additional small basket. The carrying handle (5), in the position of use, is received in a second recess (9). The invention is characterized in that every second recess (9) is provided with equal lower radii (11) having a size in the range of from R3 and R0.