Retractable Support Members for Stackable Container Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stackable containers face challenges in stable stacking, convenient access to contents, and vertical stacking while maintaining accessibility, as they often require careful placement and partial unstacking for access, and do not nest efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates retractable support members with slideable arms that move between extended and retracted positions, allowing for secure stacking and nesting, with the ability to stack and nest containers of various shapes and sizes, including square, round, and rectangular forms, and enabling 180° rotation of the top container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If containers are designed to be stackable for space savings, then floor space utilization is improved, but access to contents becomes difficult requiring partial unstacking
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions. When extended, they enable stable stacking; when retracted, they allow easy access to contents. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining stackable configuration for space savings and enabling convenient access to contents.
2Stability of the object's composition
If containers are designed with fixed support members for stable stacking, then stacking stability is improved, but nesting capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support members can be extended to provide stability during stacking operations and retracted to enable nesting. This dynamic adjustment allows the container to adapt between two states: stable stacked configuration and compact nested configuration, resolving the contradiction between stacking stability and nesting capability.
3Reliability
If containers require careful placement for stable stacking, then stacking reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed to automatically extend or retract based on the stacking operation. When a container is placed on top, the support members self-adjust to the appropriate position, eliminating the need for users to exercise high degree of care in tending to proper stacking and placement, while maintaining reliable stacking.
4Volume of moving object
If containers are designed to nest within each other, then space efficiency is improved, but stacking stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support members can be retracted to enable nesting for space efficiency and extended to provide stability when stacking is required. This dynamic transformation allows the system to achieve both nesting capability for space savings and stacking stability when needed, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a stackable container, including a base wall having multiple corners, a side wall that is generally perpendicular to the base wall, and an end wall that is generally perpendicular to the base wall and the side wall. The base wall, the side wall, and the end wall are substantially rectangular or square in shape and define an interior space. Also, a plurality of retractable support members are provided that are movable between an extended support position and a retracted position. The support members, located at the four bottom corners or four sides of the base wall of the stackable container, support the stackable container on top of another container, when the support members are in an extended support position. When the support member is in a retracted position, the containers may be nested. In an alternate embodiment, the container may have a round shape with retractable support members.