Plyometric Box Stacking Ribs Prevent Wedging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Plyometric boxes often become wedged together when stacked, making them difficult to separate and store efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The plyometric box design features a platform with opposed sidewalls, each with first and second stacking ribs on their interior surfaces, which extend downwardly from the platform. These ribs are spaced upwardly from the sidewall's bottom edge, allowing for easy stacking and unstacking without wedging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If plyometric boxes are stacked together for storage, then storage space is reduced, but the boxes become wedged together and difficult to separate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidease of separation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sidewalls are segmented into multiple stacking ribs instead of a single continuous surface. These ribs create discrete contact points between stacked boxes, allowing the boxes to be separated by applying force at specific locations between the ribs rather than along the entire contact surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stacking ribs act as intermediary elements between the contacting surfaces of stacked boxes. By providing localized contact points rather than continuous surface contact, the ribs serve as mediators that reduce the wedging effect while maintaining stacking stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If stacking ribs are added to the sidewalls, then ease of stacking and unstacking is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of stackingVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacking ribs are integrated directly into the sidewall structure during manufacturing, merging the stacking function with the structural function of the sidewalls. This combination approach adds the stacking feature without requiring separate, additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewalls serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the box and simultaneously provide the stacking ribs for easy stacking and unstacking. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by combining multiple features into single components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12280283B2Plyometric box

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 COULTER VENTURES LLC

AI summary

A plyometric box for includes a platform, a first pair of opposed sidewalls, and a second pair of opposed sidewalls. Each sidewall extends downwardly from the platform, and includes a first side, an opposed second side, a first pair of stacking ribs on an interior surface of the sidewall proximate the first side, and a second pair of stacking ribs on an interior surface of the sidewall proximate the second side. Each stacking rib extends downwardly from the platform along the sidewall and a bottom surface of each stacking rib is spaced upwardly from a bottom edge of the sidewall.