Stackable Filing Tray Structure With Side Labels and Support Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing office supplies such as ring binders and document trays lack efficient stacking and identification mechanisms, particularly for storing and classifying paper articles without perforations, and do not allow for easy stacking and labeling.
Innovation Solution
A stackable tray and folder design featuring an outer sheet with folding tabs, an inner sheet, and columns adhered with glue, allowing for stacking and lateral identification through side labels, with a cover for folders, using materials like cardboard or plastic for support and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If document trays are designed with fixed height divisions, then storage organization is simplified, but adaptability to different document sizes and stacking requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple functional components: an outer sheet forming the tray body, an inner sheet providing structural support, columns for stacking engagement, and folding tabs for assembly. This segmentation allows each component to serve specific functions while enabling adaptability in stacking configurations and document sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces vertical stacking capability through columns that extend upward from the tray base, adding a vertical dimension to organization. Multiple trays can be stacked vertically while maintaining lateral identification through side labels, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space for document storage.
2Productivity
If trays are designed without stacking mechanisms, then manufacturing is simpler, but space efficiency and organization capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking function is achieved through separate column components that attach to the tray base, rather than integrating stacking features directly into the tray body. This modular approach enables stacking capability while keeping individual tray components relatively simple and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
Trays are designed to nest vertically through the column structures, with each tray containing columns that fit within or engage with columns of adjacent trays. This nesting arrangement allows multiple trays to be stacked compactly while maintaining easy access to individual trays.
3Ease of operation
If identification labels are placed only on the front, then manufacturing is easier, but accessibility and identification efficiency when stacked are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Identification labels are positioned on the vertical side surfaces of the trays in addition to or instead of only the front surface. This lateral placement allows labels to be visible when trays are stacked vertically, enabling easy identification without requiring trays to be pulled forward or accessed from the front only.
Solution Approach 2:
Different labeling locations (front and/or side surfaces) provide different identification functions. Side labels specifically address the need for stacked tray identification, while front labels serve general identification purposes. This localized quality enhancement targets the specific problem of stacked tray accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a stackable tray comprising an outer sheet with foldable tabs that fold around an inner sheet, and columns glued to the inner sheet. The outer sheet is glued to the columns and the tabs are glued to the inner sheet. The folder is the same tray but with an added cover glued to the left side of the tray. The trays or folders can be stacked one on top of the other, the inner sheet being supported on the columns, the columns being supported one on top of the other. The trays have side labels that allow them to be identified from the side when they are stacked, and a front label that allows the cover to be identified in the case of a folder.