A track-shelving system and a kit for converting a frame into a track-shelving system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage systems are costly due to customization needs, require specialized tools and skills for installation, and have heavy, bulky components that are difficult to transport and handle, while also lacking flexibility and efficiency in product placement.
Innovation Solution
A track-shelving system with detachable and adjustable beam and rail hooks that can be easily customized and installed without specialized tools, featuring a click-and-clamp mechanism for secure attachment to existing frames, allowing for flexible placement and lightweight, easy-to-handle components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom made beams and hooks are applied on pre-existing storage system, then the storage system can be customized to specific needs, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal beam hooks and rail hooks that can be attached to various beam types and positions without custom fabrication. The hooks are designed with standardized attachment mechanisms that work across different frame configurations, eliminating the need for custom-made components while maintaining adaptability to specific storage needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is divided into modular components - frames, beams, hooks, and shelves - that can be independently selected and configured. This segmentation allows customers to customize their storage systems by selecting from standardized modules rather than commissioning custom-made components, reducing costs while maintaining flexibility.
2Reliability
If traditional storage systems are installed with specialized tools and skills, then the installation is secure and reliable, but the installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beam hooks and rail hooks are designed with self-aligning and self-latching features that allow users to install the system without specialized tools or skills. The hooks automatically engage with the beams and lock into place through simple manual operations, making the installation process accessible to ordinary users while maintaining secure and reliable connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces simple intermediary components such as clip-on attachments and snap-fit mechanisms that mediate between the user and the structural elements. These intermediaries enable secure installation through straightforward actions rather than requiring specialized installation procedures, reducing both time and skill requirements while maintaining reliability.
3Strength
If thick and firm material is used to provide solidity and safety, then the storage system is strong and safe, but the weight and proportions increase making transportation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes composite construction methods where multiple thinner components work together to achieve the strength of thick materials. The beam hooks and rail hooks are designed as composite assemblies that distribute loads across multiple contact points and structural elements, providing equivalent strength to solid thick components but with reduced weight and improved transportability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using single thick components, the system segments the structural support function across multiple lighter elements - frames, beams, hooks, and connection points - that collectively provide the necessary strength. This segmentation reduces the weight of individual components and their packaging requirements while maintaining overall structural integrity through distributed load-bearing.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a track-shelving system, comprising a frame (13) having a plurality of vertical posts (22) and a plurality of horizontal beams (21) supported by said vertical posts (22), and a track (35) and shelving (14) module connected to said frame, said modules comprise: • - a plurality of beam hooks (3), engaged with horizontal frame beams (21); • - a plurality of crossbeams (2), engaged with at least two beam hooks (3) via an opening in said beam hook; • - a plurality of rail hooks (5, 6), engaged to said crossbeams (2); • - a plurality of rail beams (4), supported by rail hooks (5, 6); • - a shelving assembly (28), movable between a paired set of rail beams (4), In a second aspect, the current invention relates to a kit for converting a frame into a track-shelving system.