Plastic Dumpster With Internal Channels For Strength And Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic waste containers lack strength around tine pockets or channeled areas, and they are not deeply nestable without removing external pockets or lift members, and they do not provide interior storage space above the channel or tine pocket area.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container design featuring outwardly open elongate channels within the interior volume that can be engaged by lift members, allowing for improved channel strength, deep nesting, and interior storage, with the option to add reinforcing sleeves after fabrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal channel members are used to reinforce the container, then the structural strength is improved, but the metal components are subject to corrosion and require complex assembly processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines plastic container walls with integrally formed metal channel members, creating a composite structure where the plastic provides corrosion resistance and the metal provides structural strength. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by utilizing the complementary properties of both materials in a unified construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal channel members are integrally formed with the plastic container walls through a molding process, merging two previously separate components into a single integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and ensures structural integrity while maintaining corrosion resistance of the plastic portions.
2Ease of operation
If outwardly extending fork pockets are present to receive lift members, then the container can be lifted and handled, but the containers cannot be deeply nestable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the lift member engagement feature from an external outwardly extending pocket to an internal channel structure within the container walls. This dimensional repositioning allows the container to maintain liftability while eliminating the external protrusions that prevented deep nesting, as the channels are contained within the wall thickness.
3Weight of moving object
If the container walls are made thin to reduce weight, then the weight requirement is met, but the structural rigidity and strength are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction with plastic providing the base structure and integrally formed metal channel members providing localized reinforcement. This allows thin-walled construction for weight reduction while the metal channels maintain structural rigidity and strength where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire container wall thick for strength, the patent applies metal reinforcement locally within specific channel areas where structural support is needed for lift member engagement. This localized quality approach maintains overall light weight while providing targeted strength enhancement.
4Reliability
If enclosed channel areas are used to surround metal sleeves, then the metal components are protected, but the sleeves cannot be easily replaced if corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metal channel members from enclosed protective housings and integrates them directly into the plastic container walls through integral forming. This allows the metal components to remain protected by the plastic structure while being easily accessible for replacement if needed, as they are not trapped within enclosed areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve.