Open-Container Stacking Spacer With Rim Supports and Wall Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stacking aids for containers are unstable and prone to tipping or slipping, as they do not provide sufficient support surface area and often detach from the container sides, leading to potential instability during transport.
Innovation Solution
A spacer with elongated base body and plunger portions that fit into container recesses, combined with support plates that rest on the container rims, providing a large surface area for stability and fastening elements to secure the containers, ensuring they do not tip or slip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If stacking aids merely rest on the side walls of containers, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the stacking stability deteriorates and the aids can easily bounce off or fall off
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking aid is divided into multiple functional segments: engagement hooks that penetrate container walls, support surfaces that rest on container rims, and fastening elements that enclose side walls. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, combining simple manufacturing with high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacking aid features nested structural elements where engagement hooks penetrate into container walls, support surfaces nestle on container rims, and fastening elements enclose side walls. This nesting creates multiple levels of mechanical interlocking that prevent bouncing and falling while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If engagement hooks have small support surface area compared to longitudinal extension, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stacking stability deteriorates and the stack may tilt under lateral load
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking aid transitions from one-dimensional longitudinal engagement to three-dimensional multi-point contact by adding engagement hooks that penetrate walls, support surfaces that contact rims, and fastening elements that enclose sides. This dimensional expansion provides stability against tilting without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement hooks are designed to penetrate container walls before stacking occurs, pre-establishing secure mechanical connections. The support surfaces are positioned to rest on rims in advance, creating preliminary stable contact points that prevent tilting under subsequent lateral loads.
3Device complexity
If spacers do not rest on or minimally rest on container side walls, then the device complexity is minimized, but the stacking stability deteriorates and the entire stack may tip to one side
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking aid merges multiple functions into a single integrated device: engagement hooks for wall penetration, support surfaces for rim contact, and fastening elements for side wall enclosure. This merging provides comprehensive stability while maintaining relatively simple device structure compared to multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the stacking aid have specialized local qualities: engagement hooks with penetrating geometry for secure insertion, support surfaces with appropriate curvature for rim contact, and fastening elements with enclosing geometry for side wall retention. These localized design features maximize stability without requiring complex overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A spacer for stacking first and second containers on each other. The spacer includes an elongated base body having a first support plate with a first support surface and a second support plate with a second support surface. Plunger portions project from the base body in opposite directions. The plunger portions are designed to plunge into respective recesses inside wall rims of the first and second containers stacked on top of each other or upside-down of each other. Fastening elements project from the base body to laterally enclose respective side walls of the first and second containers. The first and second support surfaces are designed to rest on the respective side wall rims of the first and second containers when the plunger portions plunge into the respective recesses of the first and second containers. The first and second support plates are spaced parallel from each other.