Adjustable Backing Wall Shelving for Fully Stocked Retail Display

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shelving assemblies for displaying retail products in refrigerated cases require different sizes to maintain a 'fully stocked' appearance, which is not adaptable to varying consumer traffic levels, leading to inefficiencies in inventory management and display aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A modular rack system with adjustable shelves and backing walls that allow for customizable spacing and orientation, enabling the creation of a 'fully stocked' display with varying product quantities by adjusting the position and angle of the backing walls and dividers, accommodating different consumer traffic levels without the need for multiple shelving units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If different sized shelving units are purchased to provide the desired fully stocked presentation, then the appearance to the consumer is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefully stocked presentationVSAvoiddifferent sized shelving units
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backing wall is made adjustable in position along the shelf, allowing it to be moved to different locations to create the appearance of a fully stocked display. This dynamic adjustment capability eliminates the need for multiple fixed-size shelving units, as a single shelving unit can be configured to match various inventory levels and consumer traffic demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shelving system is divided into modular components including adjustable shelves and a segmented backing wall with multiple positioning options. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component to achieve the desired display configuration, resolving the contradiction by enabling one shelving unit to serve multiple display needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable backing walls are implemented, then adaptability to varying consumer traffic levels is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsumer traffic levelsVSAvoidadjustable backing wall mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backing wall incorporates adjustable elements that can be repositioned along the shelf to adapt to different consumer traffic levels and inventory quantities. This dynamic adjustment provides versatility without requiring complex mechanical systems, as the adjustability is achieved through simple positioning mechanisms integrated into the shelving structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable backing wall serves multiple functions: it creates the appearance of a fully stocked display, adapts to varying inventory levels, and accommodates different consumer traffic demands. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling a single component to address multiple display requirements without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a single shelving unit is used for different retail establishments, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to maintain consistent fully stocked appearance is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelving unit configurationVSAvoidfully stocked appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shelving unit incorporates dynamically adjustable components including movable backing walls and repositionable shelves that enable a single unit to maintain a consistent fully stocked appearance across different retail establishments. The adjustability allows the same basic unit to be configured for various display requirements without requiring multiple specialized unit types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shelving system allows changes in key parameters such as backing wall position, shelf spacing, and display zone configuration to maintain the fully stocked appearance. By enabling these parameter adjustments, a single shelving unit design can be adapted to different retail contexts while preserving the desired visual presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3854257B1Shelving system and methods
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 FASTENERS FOR RETAIL INC
  • EP3854257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3854257B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3854257B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A racking system (100) and methods of assembling a racking system is provided. The racking system (100) includes one or more adjustably positionable backing walls (120) that may be positioned at different distances from a front end of a corresponding shelf (104, 106, 108, 110). Dividers (202) may be provided to be positioned adjacent the one or more backing walls (120) to divide a product display zone (128) into separate zones.