Ventilated locker with equipment rack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern lockers in athletic and sporting facilities face challenges in effectively storing and drying heavy, cumbersome equipment such as football, lacrosse, and hockey helmets and pads, requiring improved storage solutions that also address ventilation and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a movable equipment rack with a ventilated helmet support system and a plenum connected to the HVAC system for air circulation, along with a drying fixture that utilizes fans for efficient air circulation and deodorization, and a sliding, tilting tray with roller assemblies for easy access and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional solid storage shelves are used for equipment, then structural strength is sufficient, but ventilation and drying capability are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is designed with a porous or perforated structure that allows air circulation through the storage surface. This enables moisture to evaporate and air to flow through the equipment stored on the shelf, providing ventilation and drying capability while maintaining structural strength through the engineered pore distribution and material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for equipment weight, enables ventilation through its porous structure, and facilitates drying of equipment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ventilation systems while addressing moisture and odor concerns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed equipment racks are installed, then storage capacity is maximized, but ease of access and adjustability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The equipment rack system incorporates movable and adjustable components that allow users to reconfigure shelf positions and access equipment easily. The rack can be adjusted to different heights and configurations depending on the equipment being stored, providing both adaptability and ease of operation through its dynamic, reconfigurable design.
3Area of stationary object
If heavy equipment is stored on high shelves, then storage space utilization is improved, but ease of retrieval and placement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple adjustable segments or sections that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows equipment of different weights and sizes to be stored at optimal heights, with heavier equipment placed on lower segments and lighter equipment on higher segments, maintaining both space utilization and ease of operation.
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
This solution provides a practical and efficient method for storing and drying equipment, ensuring effective ventilation and ease of use, enhancing the functionality and comfort of locker rooms.
Implementation Method 1
a plenum connected to the HVAC system for air circulation
Implementation Method 2
a drying fixture that utilizes fans for efficient air circulation and deodorization
Data Source
AI summary
A locker includes a pair of spaced-apart upstanding sidewalls and at least one shelf extending between the sidewalls, the shelf and sidewalls defining a compartment. A tray is carried on the shelf in the compartment and supported by a pair of rollers and coupled to a pair of rails mounted on the sidewalls above the shelf, wherein the tray slides forward and backward relative to the shelf and rotates about the rollers.