Point of sale display incorporating non-sliding, stackable and unstackable product transport boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for cost-effective, efficient, and effective flat pack boxes that are stackable and interconnected to form a free standing display unit for point-of-sale displays, particularly to elevate products off the floor and prevent sliding.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates stackable product transport boxes with planar bottoms and tops, featuring locking tabs with hinges and receiving openings that interconnect to prevent sliding, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly by pivoting the tabs through the openings, and can be made from materials like cardboard for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If flat pack boxes are made stackable and interconnected to form free standing display units, then product elevation off the floor and display stability are improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is divided into separate stackable box modules that can be independently assembled and configured. Each box unit functions as an independent component with standardized connection interfaces, allowing the overall display structure to be built from simple modular units rather than requiring complex integrated construction.
Solution Approach 2:
Boxes are designed to nest within each other through stackable configurations, with upper boxes positioned within or alongside lower boxes. This nesting arrangement creates stable free-standing display structures while maintaining simple individual box designs that are easy to manufacture and assemble.
2Reliability
If locking tabs with hinges and receiving openings are added to prevent sliding between stacked boxes, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tabs are designed with hinges that enable them to automatically engage with receiving openings on adjacent boxes during the stacking process. The mechanism self-activates through the natural motion of placing boxes together, eliminating the need for additional fastening operations or complex assembly tools while ensuring reliable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical fastening methods such as screws, clips, or adhesives are replaced with a hinge-based tab mechanism that uses the natural pivot motion of the hinge to drive the locking tab through the receiving opening. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process by using fewer parts and eliminating complex assembly steps while maintaining strong connections.
3Ease of operation
If boxes are designed for easy disassembly by pulling up on upper boxes, then ease of operation and restocking efficiency are improved, but connection strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tab mechanism transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic reversible connection. The hinge allows the tab to be easily pulled back through the receiving opening by vertical lifting motion during disassembly, while during normal operation the tab remains engaged to provide stable connection. This dynamic design enables both strong connection during use and easy disassembly when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A point of sale display includes at least two stacked product transport boxes each having a planar bottom and planar top; a pair of locking tabs on one of the planar bottom or planar top of each box, each locking tab having a hinge and sides extending therefrom; a pair of receiving openings on one of the planar bottom or planar top of each box, wherein the pair of receiving opening on one of the stacked boxes align with the pair of locking tabs on the other such that the locking tabs on the stacked boxes are selectively pivoted through the openings of the adjacent box to interconnect the boxes and prevent relative sliding, and wherein the pair of locking tabs has one of straight sides or an inwardly tapered trapezoidal shape extending from the hinge to allow the boxes to be separated.