Stacking Tray With Movable Covers For Nested Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trays, made from materials like wood, metal, or plastic, are inefficient in terms of storage space when not in use, as they occupy large areas when stacked and cannot be easily nested for compact storage.
Innovation Solution
A tray design featuring tapered, hollow legs and moveable tabs that allow the trays to be stacked securely when needed and nested for space-efficient storage, with slideable covers that expose or conceal apertures to accommodate the legs of other trays, enabling efficient stacking and nesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trays are designed for stacking only, then stacking stability is improved, but storage space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tray design incorporates movable tabs that can be positioned in different states (engaged or disengaged) to dynamically change the tray's configuration. When tabs are engaged, the tray maintains a stable stacked configuration; when disengaged, the tray can be nested within another tray, reducing storage space. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between stacking stability and storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables trays to be nested within each other by providing hollow legs with apertures that receive the legs of nested trays, and movable tabs that can be disengaged to allow the nested configuration. This nesting capability dramatically reduces storage space requirements while maintaining stacking stability when the tabs are engaged in the stacked configuration.
2Volume of moving object
If trays are designed for nesting only, then storage space efficiency is improved, but stacking stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tabs serve as a dynamic switching mechanism between nested and stacked configurations. When the tabs are in the disengaged position, trays can be nested for compact storage; when engaged, the same tabs provide mechanical interlocking for stable stacking. This single dynamic element resolves the contradiction by allowing the tray to adapt its structural characteristics based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray design integrates multiple functions into a single structure: the hollow legs serve both as structural support elements and as receptacles for nested trays; the movable tabs serve both as positioning elements for stacking and as release mechanisms for nesting. This multi-functionality allows the tray to achieve both nesting capability and stacking stability without requiring separate designs.
3Volume of moving object
If movable tabs are added to enable nesting, then storage space efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray structure is segmented into distinct functional elements: the hollow legs, the deck, and the movable tabs. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall nesting capability. The tabs are simple discrete elements that can be easily manufactured and assembled, minimizing the increase in device complexity while enabling the nesting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The nesting mechanism itself simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for complex locking or fastening systems. The hollow legs with apertures naturally receive the legs of nested trays, and the simple movable tabs provide sufficient control to enable or disable nesting. This elegant nesting solution adds minimal complexity compared to more conventional approaches for achieving space-efficient storage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
A tray (1) includes a deck (2), a plurality of legs (10) projecting to one side of the deck, a plurality of apertures (20) formed in the other side of the deck and being arranged to allow passage of the legs of a second tray so that the second tray may be stacked in a nested fashion, and a plurality of movable covers associated with the respective apertures, said covers being slidable to selectively cover or open the apertures.