Stackable Tray With Segmented Side Walls and Vertical Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low depth trays for storing and transporting beverage containers are often heavy and lack stability, making them inefficient for stacking and handling.
Innovation Solution
A tray design featuring a base with multiple base walls connected by co-planar vertical ribs, opposed side walls with upper and lower portions, and interior and side columns with dividers that extend upward, creating a stable and lightweight structure for bottle storage and stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tray uses solid side walls and a solid base, then the tray has high strength and stability, but the tray becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are segmented into upper and lower portions with spaces between them, creating a modular structure that reduces material usage while maintaining structural integrity through the column support system
Solution Approach 2:
The tray structure transitions from a uniformly solid design to one with varying density - solid base and columns for support, spaced side walls for reduced weight, creating optimal local properties in different regions
2Weight of moving object
If the tray uses spaced-apart lower portions in side walls, then the tray weight is reduced, but the tray stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The base columns are positioned in advance at strategic locations to provide preemptive support where the spaced side walls create potential weak points, ensuring stability before the tray is stacked or handled
Solution Approach 2:
The tray combines different structural elements (solid base, spaced side walls, vertical columns, dividers) into a composite structure where each component contributes to both weight reduction and stability maintenance
3Strength
If the tray includes multiple base walls connected by vertical ribs, then the tray rigidity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple walls connected by vertical ribs, creating a modular foundation that enhances rigidity while allowing for standardized manufacturing of repeating components
Solution Approach 2:
The base walls and vertical ribs are merged into an integrated one-piece structure, combining multiple functional elements into a single manufactured component that reduces assembly steps
Data Source
AI summary
A tray includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls and a plurality of interior columns between the side walls. A plurality of dividers connect the interior columns to one another and to the side walls. Side columns project upward from the side walls. The side walls include an upper portion and a plurality of spaced-apart lower portions, thus reducing the weight of the tray while maintaining the stability of the tray. Optionally, the base could include a plurality of base walls connected by co-planar vertical ribs. The dividers include upper wall portions extending continuously between interior columns and/or an interior column and a side column and/or an interior column and an end column. The dividers include spaced apart lower wall portions each connected to one of the vertical ribs connected adjacent base walls.