Self-lifting Pet Food Container with Weight-Responsive Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional large containers for storing pet food require significant space and become difficult to access as the food supply is depleted, necessitating a solution that maintains accessibility regardless of the remaining amount.
Innovation Solution
A self-lifting supply container with a movable tray, guided by tracks and elastic bands, where the weight of the supply material causes the tray to descend and tension the elastic bands, and removing material reduces weight, allowing the tray to ascend, keeping the supply accessible at the top.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large container is used to store pet food, then the food supply capacity is increased, but the floor or shelf space required is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The container transitions from a wide, low profile to a narrow, tall profile by utilizing vertical space. The container tower extends upward with multiple levels, allowing the same food capacity to be achieved in a smaller footprint area by distributing storage across vertical dimensions rather than horizontal space.
2Area of stationary object
If a narrower but taller container is used to reduce floor or shelf space, then the space requirement is reduced, but the accessibility of food becomes difficult as the food supply is depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a movable tray that automatically adjusts its vertical position based on the weight of remaining food. As food is depleted and weight decreases, the tray rises to maintain the food supply at a consistent accessible height. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for users to reach deeper into the container as food levels decrease.
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses the weight of the food itself to drive the mechanism that maintains accessibility. The elastic bands and pulley system automatically respond to weight changes, causing the tray to rise or fall without external intervention. The system serves itself by using the food's weight as the driving force for its own adjustment.
3Ease of operation
If a movable tray with elastic bands and pulleys is used to maintain food accessibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical system of elastic bands and pulleys is replaced with a simpler spring mechanism integrated into the container walls. The springs directly engage with the movable tray, providing the necessary lifting force without requiring separate pulley assemblies. This substitution maintains the automatic weight-responsive functionality while significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The self-lifting mechanism ensures that pet food remains accessible at the top of the container regardless of the amount remaining, eliminating the need to reach deep into the container, thus addressing space and accessibility issues.
Implementation Method 1
the weight of the supply material added to the movable tray causes the movable tray to descend into the container tower, tensioning by stretching the elastic bands, and removing a portion of the supply material, reducing weight on the movable tray causes the movable tray to partially ascend the container tower, by way of tension in the elastic band, lifting the movable tray
Implementation Method 2
more than one pulley which is secured on the exterior container surface of each of the container walls proximate to the container top, and more than one elastic band. One end of each of the elastic bands is attached to the exterior container surface of the container wall proximate to the container bottom, and the other end of the elastic band passes over the pulley and is secured to the guide
Implementation Method 3
the weight of the supply material added to the movable tray causes the movable tray to descend into the container tower
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a self-lifting supply container that includes a movable tray, guides fastened to the movable tray, and container walls with tracks cut therethrough. The movable tray fits within the container walls allowing the movable tray to slide up and down the tracks. Elastic bands pass over pulleys that are secured to the container bottom and the guides. In operation, the weight of a supply material added to the movable tray causes the movable tray to descend into the container tower, tensioning the elastic bands and removing a portion of the supply material, reducing weight on the movable tray causes the movable tray to partially ascend the container tower keeping the supply material accessible to a user proximate to the container top regardless of the amount of the supply material remaining on the movable tray within the self-lifting supply container.