Sink-Mounted Collapsible Colander With Fold-Flat Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional colanders are difficult to handle and store due to their size and shape, often leading to spills and inefficient use of space.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible colander system that attaches to a sink wall, featuring a retractable front wall, foldable side walls, and a bottom wall with apertures, allowing for multiple configurations between a use position, a shelf position, and a collapsed storage position, using a support member and locking system for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional colander is used, then it can perform the function of rinsing and draining foods, but it is difficult to handle and requires manual holding or balancing, leading to spills and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The colander is merged with the sink wall through an attachment mechanism, combining two separate functions (colander operation and sink wall utilization) into a unified system. This eliminates the need for manual holding and provides stable positioning during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The sink wall attachment system serves multiple functions: it anchors the colander during use, provides support during collapsing, and enables storage. This multi-functional design resolves the handling difficulty by making the wall structure serve the colander's operational needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional colander is used, then it can be used for rinsing foods, but it consumes large amounts of space and is inconvenient to store when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The colander transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with movable walls that can change configuration. The front wall can be moved to collapse the colander, and the side walls can be folded, allowing the same object to occupy different volumes based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible structure allows the colander to nest into a compact form factor when not in use. The walls fold inward and the structure compresses, enabling space-efficient storage while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
3Ease of operation
If a collapsible colander with movable walls is used, then storage space is optimized and handling is improved, but the structural complexity increases with multiple hinges and folding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The colander structure is segmented into distinct walls (front, back, sides, bottom) that can move independently. This segmentation allows each component to be simplified in design while collectively providing the complex collapsing functionality through coordinated movement of simpler individual parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible colander having a back wall, a front wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls. The back wall is positioned adjacent to a sink wall and is configured to attach to the sink wall. The front wall opposes the back wall and is moveable between a first position that is parallel to the back wall and a second position. The bottom wall has a number of apertures formed therethrough and has at least a first position that is substantially perpendicular to the back wall. The pair of side walls each have a first edge connected to the front wall and a second edge connected to the back wall. Additionally, the pair of side walls each have two or more hinges operable to move the front wall between at least the first position and the second position.