Pivotable Intermediate Shelf for Shopping Basket Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shopping carts with existing separating elements do not provide additional storage space, leading to incomplete filling due to protection of sensitive goods, resulting in lost sales opportunities.

Innovation Solution

A pivotally attached intermediate floor that can be moved from a non-obstructive position to cover the separated area, resting on the separating element for added stability and support, allowing heavier loads without damaging sensitive items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a divider is installed to protect sensitive goods, then delicate items are protected from damage, but additional storage space is not provided leading to lost sales opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of delicate itemsVSAvoidstorage space utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate shelf is designed to be pivotable between a retracted position (first position) and an extended position (second position). When the divider is in use protecting delicate items, the shelf can be pivoted to the extended position to provide additional storage space. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between protection mode and storage mode, resolving the contradiction between protecting delicate items and maximizing storage space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If an intermediate shelf is added to provide additional storage, then storage capacity increases, but the external dimensions and nesting capability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidexternal dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate shelf is pivotably attached to the divider and can be moved between a retracted position where it does not protrude from the shopping cart's outer dimensions, and an extended position where it provides additional storage capacity. This dynamic design allows the shelf to increase storage capacity when needed while maintaining the original external dimensions for nesting when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate shelf utilizes the vertical dimension by pivotably extending downward from the divider when needed, rather than increasing the horizontal footprint of the shopping cart. This allows additional storage capacity to be created in the vertical space without compromising the horizontal nesting capability of the shopping carts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the intermediate shelf is pivotably attached to provide flexible storage, then storage flexibility increases, but the structural stability and load-bearing capacity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate shelf is designed to rest against and be supported by the divider when in the extended position. This combination of the pivotable attachment mechanism and the support from the divider structure provides both the flexibility of movable storage and the structural stability needed to bear loads, resolving the contradiction between storage flexibility and load-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3947105B1Shopping basket
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 WIETH FRANZ

AI summary

The invention relates to a shopping basket, in particular a shopping cart basket, with a separating element for dividing the interior of the shopping basket, having a first shopping basket region divided off by the separating element, wherein a wire or a brace is arranged on the top side of the shopping basket, and an intermediate base is pivotally secured to the wire or the brace such that the intermediate base can be pivoted from a first position in which the base is arranged outside of the first region of the shopping basket into a second position in which the base covers the first region of the shopping basket. The intermediate base rests against the separating element in the second position, in particular the intermediate base lies on the separating element in the second position.