Transportation Box With Side Access And Locking Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crates for transporting goods, such as beverage bottles, are inconvenient and time-consuming to access due to their open-top design, requiring removal of stacked crates to access products in lower positions, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A crate design featuring a base and side walls with a lower removal height side wall allowing side access, a locking element for secure positioning, and interchangeable inserts to accommodate different products, along with foldable and adjustable features for enhanced accessibility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If crates are designed with open-top design for easy loading and unloading, then loading and unloading is simplified, but access to products in lower positions becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The crate is divided into multiple access points: a traditional open top for bulk loading/unloading and a side opening with removal height for selective product access. This segmentation allows each access method to serve its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces side access as a new dimensional approach to product retrieval, complementing the vertical (top-down) access method. By creating a side opening with controlled removal height, the system enables lateral access to products without requiring complete crate disassembly.
2Ease of operation
If crates are designed with side opening for easy product access, then product accessibility is improved, but crate stability and security during transport deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is designed with non-uniform height: the first side wall has a lower removal height to enable access, while adjacent side walls maintain full height for stability. This local differentiation allows the opening to be positioned where it provides access without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A locking element is pre-configured to automatically engage when the first side wall is in its open position, providing preliminary security reinforcement before transport begins. This prevents accidental opening or collapse during handling and transit.
3Reliability
If locking element is added to secure the side opening, then product security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed as a movable component that transitions between locked and unlocked states based on operational needs. It engages automatically when the side wall is closed and can be easily released when opening is required, providing dynamic security without permanent structural modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is configured to self-engage and self-latch when the first side wall is in its closed position, eliminating the need for manual locking operations. This automatic mechanism reduces operational complexity while maintaining secure product containment.
4Ease of operation
If first side wall has lower removal height for access, then product removal is facilitated, but crate structural integrity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The crate exhibits local quality variation in side wall heights, with the first side wall deliberately reduced to enable product access while adjacent walls maintain full structural height. This localized modification allows functional access without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The side walls are designed with asymmetric heights rather than uniform symmetry. The first side wall has a lower removal height creating an asymmetric profile that prioritizes access functionality, while the opposing side wall maintains full height for structural balance and stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a box comprising a base (12) and at least two pairs of opposing lateral walls (14a, 14b, 16a, 16b). A first of the lateral walls (16b) extends upwards from the base (12) in a vertical direction (18) at least partly only by a removal height (20) that is shorter than the height of one or more of the remaining lateral walls (14a, 14b, 16a) in order to define a lateral opening with dimensions that allow access to and removal of products contained in the box through the lateral opening. Furthermore, a blocking element (100) is provided which extends between the two opposing lateral walls (14a, 14b) that adjoin the first lateral wall (16b) and which can be moved between a first position and a second position. The blocking element is arranged between the opposing lateral walls (14a) and (14b) and at a distance from the first lateral wall (16b) in the first position and in an overlapping manner with the first lateral wall (16b) in the second position.