Sidewall Mountable Elevating Assemblies for Polymeric Crates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current polymeric crate systems lack efficient methods for elevating sidewalls, which limits their volumetric capacity and structural stability, particularly in folding and stackable configurations.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a sidewall mountable elevating assembly with elongated rectangular members and fasteners that are vertically or laterally insertable into apertures on the polymeric crate sidewalls, allowing for interlocking terminal portions to secure the assembly, enhancing the crate's height and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of stationary object

If traditional polymeric crate systems are used without elevating assemblies, then the structure remains simple and manufacturing is easy, but the volumetric capacity and structural stability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolumetric capacityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elevating assembly is divided into separate modular components including longitudinal members, flanking members, and fasteners that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows the volume to be increased through additional components without requiring complete redesign of the entire crate structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elevating assembly components are designed to nest within or attach to the existing crate structure. The longitudinal and flanking members with their fasteners can be inserted into and secured on the crate sidewalls, effectively nesting the elevation function within the existing crate geometry to increase volume without proportionally increasing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of stationary object

If elevating assemblies are added to increase crate height, then volumetric capacity improves, but the difficulty of assembly and structural stability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolumetric capacityVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fasteners are pre-configured on the longitudinal and flanking members with predetermined insertion paths through vertically oriented apertures. This preliminary configuration of fastening elements allows for straightforward assembly operations where components are simply inserted and secured in sequence without requiring complex alignment or adjustment during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fasteners serve as intermediary elements that mediate the connection between the elevating assembly components and the crate sidewalls. These fasteners simplify the assembly process by providing a standardized interface that easily transitions from the longitudinal and flanking members to the aperture-receiving sidewalls, making the overall assembly operation easier despite the added structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If elevating assemblies with multiple fasteners are used, then structural stability improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into producing standardized fastener components that can be universally applied across different elevating assembly configurations. By segmenting the fastening function into reusable, identical components rather than custom-integrated features, manufacturing complexity is reduced while still achieving the structural stability needed for multiple fastener connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fasteners are designed as universal components that can be used across multiple positions and configurations within the elevating assembly system. Each fastener performs the same function of securing members to sidewalls through apertures, allowing for standardized manufacturing processes rather than custom fabrication for each fastening location, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while providing structural stability through multiple connection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4335770A1Systems methods and respective kit-of-parts for elevating polymeric crates by sidewall mountable assemblies

Publication Date: 2024.03.13 PLASGAD PLASTIC PRODS ACS LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C

AI summary

A system (10) for elevating polymeric crates (12) with mounted sidewall assembly is described; a respective method of elevating polymeric crates with sidewall mountable assemblies and a kit-of-parts implementable for elevating polymeric crates with sidewall mountable assemblies are further described; the system comprises: a polymeric crate (12) comprising a pair of longitudinal sidewalls (14A, 14B) and a pair of flanking sidewalls (20A, 20 B), at least one sidewall mountable elevating assembly (26) comprising a pair of longitudinal members (28A, 28B) and a pair of flanking members (40A, 40B); the method comprises: providing polymeric crate, providing pair of longitudinal members, providing pair of flanking members, mounting flanking members on polymeric crate, mounting longitudinal members on polymeric crate, assembling flanking members to longitudinal members; the kit-of-parts comprises: at least a pair of longitudinal members and at least a pair of flanking members.