Stackable Cart Spacer Structure for Secure Nesting of Electronic Carts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shopping carts with integrated electronic data processing apparatuses face breakage risks when stacked due to insufficient spacing, leading to weakened coupling and unintended separation during movement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spacer with a regulating portion and coupling portions that increase the distance between stacked carts while maintaining a secure coupling, preventing electronic apparatuses from colliding and ensuring stable stacking and movement as a collective unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a regulating portion is provided to maintain a fixed minimum distance between stacked carts, then the electronic apparatus is protected from collision and breakage, but the coupling between stacked carts becomes weaker and they may unintentionally separate during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating portion is divided into multiple functional segments: a first regulating portion (stopper) that maintains minimum distance to protect electronic apparatus, and a second regulating portion (coupling member) that provides coupling force to prevent separation. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in one function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member acts as an intermediary element between stacked carts, providing both the necessary spacing to protect electronic apparatus and the coupling force to maintain stability during movement. It mediates between the conflicting requirements of distance maintenance and coupling strength.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the minimum distance between carts is increased to prevent collision, then electronic apparatus safety is improved, but the coupling strength decreases making it harder to move nested carts as a group
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating portion is segmented into a first regulating portion for collision prevention and a second regulating portion for coupling. This allows the system to maintain larger minimum distance for protection while the coupling member ensures easy movement by providing sufficient coupling force.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member's parameters (size, shape, material properties) are optimized to provide adequate coupling force despite the increased minimum distance. The coupling member can be designed with increased surface area or improved friction characteristics to maintain ease of operation.
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 solution effectively prevents breakage of electronic apparatuses and ensures easier movement of stacked carts by maintaining a predetermined distance and frictional coupling, enhancing operational convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining a predetermined distance and frictional coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A cart has a wheeled base unit with a first frame portion on one side and a second frame portion on another. The frame portions are coupled by a frontend part. A handle unit connects the frame portions at a backside of the cart and also connects the base unit to a basket. An inner frame portion is between the frame portions and extends to the frontend part of the base unit. The inner frame portion includes a front contact portion and a stopper portion. A spacer portion is attached to the inner frame portion closer to the backside of the base unit than the stopper portion. The spacer portion is positioned to contact a front contact portion of another cart when carts are nested. A coupling portion is sandwiched between the inner frame portion and a frontend part of another cart when carts are nested.