Portable Locker with Nested Compartments for Ski Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ski cases are inadequate for storing all snow sports equipment, including skis, snowboards, helmets, boots, and clothing, as they lack space, protection, and convenience for daily use, and are difficult to maneuver in crowded areas.
Innovation Solution
A portable snow sports equipment locker with a rigid construction, ample internal space, and a double-door design that allows vertical standing, equipped with wheels, handles, and internal racks and straps for organization, providing protection and easy access to equipment, and optional features like a boot bag and lined goggle compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional ski cases are used, then they are simple and easy to manufacture, but they cannot hold all snow sports equipment including helmets, boots, and clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing a boot bag inside the main case interior, and optionally nesting a goggle compartment within the case structure. This allows multiple equipment types to be stored within a single case without significantly increasing external dimensions, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is segmented into distinct functional zones including a main compartment for skis/snowboards, a dedicated boot bag section, a helmet storage area, and a goggle compartment. This segmentation organizes different equipment types separately while maintaining a unified case structure, increasing effective storage capacity without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Ease of operation
If existing ski cases are designed for transportation only, then they are compact for travel, but they do not offer convenient wardrobe-type storage for daily use
Solution Approach 1:
The case incorporates a double-door design that segments access points, allowing users to open only the smaller front door for frequent items like goggles and accessories, while the main door provides access to larger items. This segmentation enables wardrobe-type convenient access to frequently used equipment without requiring the entire case to be opened, maintaining compact size while improving ease of operation.
3Quantity of substance
If the case is made larger to hold all equipment, then storage capacity increases, but it becomes difficult to maneuver in crowded locations
Solution Approach 1:
The boot bag is nested within the main case interior, allowing boots to be stored inside the already-formed case structure rather than requiring additional external space. This nesting approach maximizes storage capacity for multiple equipment types while keeping the external dimensions manageable for maneuverability in crowded locations.
4Strength
If conventional cases are used for shipping, then they are simple to ship, but they are subject to oversize rates and lack protection for equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The case employs composite construction combining a rigid outer shell made from materials like polyethylene or polypropylene with an internal foam lining and protective padding. This composite structure provides enhanced protection for expensive equipment during shipping and storage while maintaining a construction that is still relatively simple to manufacture and ship.
5Strength
If the case includes extensive protective features and organization, then equipment protection improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The case utilizes a molded foam lining and flexible protective padding that can be integrated into the case construction process. These flexible protective elements provide comprehensive equipment protection while being relatively simple to manufacture and install compared to rigid protective structures, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving protection level.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable snow sports equipment locker is disclosed. The portable snow sports equipment locker features a varying depth and tapered shape. A pair of doors allows access to the interior of the portable snow sports equipment locker. Optional wheels assist in transport of the portable storage locker. Various interior pockets and straps organize equipment. A lock holds skis and/or snowboards in place. An optional boot bag offers separate storage for boots and provides an additional mechanism for holding skis and/or snowboards in place. A telescoping embodiment allows portable snow sports equipment locker to assume either a collapsed or extended configuration. The size of the disclosed portable snow sports equipment locker offers ample room for skis/snowboards, and related equipment while remaining within the size limits for conventional freight charges. The rigid construction provides protection for stored equipment, while also allowing convenient storage and access options.