Solid Base Holding Device Hygienic Load Securing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load securing rails in commercial vehicles are difficult to clean, making them unsuitable for hygienic applications due to dirt accumulation and penetration into the rail's interior, limiting their use for transporting food and other sensitive goods.

Innovation Solution

A holding device with spaced-apart receiving means and rails formed in an elongated base body made of solid material, featuring closed receiving spaces and openings for loading elements, which prevents dirt and liquid from entering and allows easy cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If load securing rails are made from folded sheet metal strips with contoured openings, then the rails can accommodate load securing elements and provide structural support, but the interior of the rails becomes difficult to access and clean, allowing dirt to penetrate and accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural support capabilityVSAvoidcleanability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating open-folded sheet metal structures that trap dirt, the invention inverts the approach by using solid material blocks with precisely formed receiving spaces. The receiving spaces have closed bottoms that prevent dirt penetration while still accommodating load-securing elements, effectively reversing the problem-solution relationship by making the interior inaccessible to dirt while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies a conceptual variation by using solid material blocks rather than thin folded sheets. The solid base body with closed receiving spaces acts as a protective shell that prevents dirt and liquid from entering the interior, while the opening in the rail allows load-securing elements to engage. This solid-structure approach eliminates the cleaning problems associated with thin-folded-sheet designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If receiving spaces are open to allow access for load-securing elements, then load-functional elements can be inserted and positioned, but dirt and liquid can penetrate into the holding device and accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-securing element accommodationVSAvoiddirt and liquid penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by providing different structural characteristics in different regions of the receiving space. The receiving space has a closed bottom that prevents dirt and liquid penetration, while the top remains open to accommodate load-securing elements. This localized differentiation allows the structure to simultaneously achieve both dirt protection and load-securing element accommodation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving space is segmented into functional zones: an open upper region for load-securing element engagement and a closed lower region for dirt and liquid prevention. The closed bottom acts as a separate protective barrier that segments the receiving space from the interior of the holding device, preventing harmful factors from entering while maintaining accessibility for load-securing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If folded sheet metal strips are used to form support sections, then the rails can be manufactured from standard materials, but cavities are created between the folded strips and the inner wall that trap dirt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing from standard materialsVSAvoiddirt accumulation in cavities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful cavities created by folded sheet metal structures. By using solid material blocks with precisely formed receiving spaces, the design removes the unnecessary voids and gaps that trap dirt. The solid base body construction takes out the problematic cavity structure while maintaining the essential support and load-securing functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4177106B1Holding device, system, assembly and method
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 KOEGEL TRAILER GMBH
  • EP4177106B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4177106B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4177106B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a holding device for attachment to the inner wall of a commercial vehicle body with several spaced-apart receiving means (11), each having a receiving space (12) for holding at least one load-function element (13a, 13b, 13c) in different positions, wherein the receiving means (11) form a first holding means and are arranged between two rails (14, 15) which form a second holding means and each have an opening (16) for the engagement of a further load-function element (13a, 13b, 13c), wherein the receiving means (11) and the rails (14, 15) are formed in an elongated base body (17) made of solid material and the receiving space (12) has a closed bottom (18).