Movable platform of a suspended storage apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspended storage devices are often inaccessible without climbing aids due to their fixed, high-mounted design, posing safety hazards and accessibility issues for users.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus with a moveable platform that can be lowered and raised, featuring a pulley and cable system, apertures for weight reduction and stress distribution, and adjustable supports to allow safe and easy access without the need for ladders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a suspended storage device is fixed to the ceiling at a high location, then it saves floor space and provides storage capacity, but it becomes inaccessible to users without requiring ladders or climbing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The storage apparatus employs a movable platform that can be lowered to ground level and raised back to the ceiling location. This dynamic capability allows users to access stored items at ground level without ladders, while maintaining the high-mounted storage configuration that saves floor space when the platform is raised.
2Ease of operation
If a latter is used to access items in a fixed suspended storage device, then items become accessible, but safety hazards and accidents increase due to climbing with heavy and awkward storage items
Solution Approach 1:
By making the platform movable rather than fixed, the system eliminates the need for users to climb ladders with heavy items. The platform can be lowered to ground level where users can safely load and unload items, then raised to the storage position, completely removing the climbing hazard.
3Strength
If the platform is made solid without apertures, then it provides stronger support for storage items, but it increases the lifting weight that the means for lowering and raising must handle
Solution Approach 1:
The platform incorporates apertures (holes) throughout its structure, creating a porous or perforated design. This reduces the platform's overall weight, making it easier for the lowering and raising mechanism to handle, while the apertures are positioned and sized to maintain adequate structural strength for supporting storage items.
4Weight of moving object
If the platform is made lighter by adding apertures, then the lowering and raising mechanism can be smaller, but the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The platform uses a perforated design with apertures strategically positioned to reduce weight while preserving structural strength. The pattern, size, and distribution of apertures are designed to maintain load-bearing capacity adequate for supporting storage items while significantly reducing overall platform weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform likely has varying aperture patterns in different regions - with stronger, denser structures in load-bearing areas and more open patterns in non-critical areas. This local quality variation optimizes the balance between weight reduction and structural integrity.
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
Enables users to access and store items at ground level, reducing the risk of accidents and allowing for heavier loads, while maintaining structural integrity and efficient use of space.
Implementation Method 1
The storage apparatus comprises a platform, wherein the platform can be lowered and raised. The platform comprises at least one support tray with apertures... This weight reduction allows the means for lowering and raising the platform to become smaller
Implementation Method 2
The platform comprises at least one support tray with apertures in at least one of the support trays or in each of the support trays or in any desired number of trays in order to reduce the lifting weight which the means for lowering and raising the platform has to lift
Data Source
AI summary
A storage apparatus includes a pully system, a moveable platform, X-bars, a lowering and lifting means and attachment elements. The platform includes at least one support tray and side and end platform supports. The pully system includes at least one pully, a lowering and raising mechanism and at least one rope or cable, where the rope or cable is attached to at least one pully support. The lowering and lifting means turns the lowering and raising mechanism such that the rope or cable moves over pullies in the pully system to raise and lower the platform of the storage apparatus.