Adjustable Bookcase Shelving With Sliding Upright-Shelf Brackets

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bookcase furniture units lack complete constructional flexibility for optimizing available space, as they either have limited adjustable shelf positions or complex mechanisms that increase production costs and assembly difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A bookcase furniture unit design that allows continuous adjustment of uprights and shelves using slidably engaged shelf support brackets with T-shaped grooves and runners, enabling flexible positioning without complex kinematic mechanisms, and incorporating easily assembled accessories for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If rack-type mechanisms or longitudinal channels with screw fixing means are provided to enable continuous adjustment of shelf height, then the positioning flexibility of shelves is improved, but the structural complexity and production costs increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibility of shelvesVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture unit is divided into modular components: uprights with transverse grooves, shelves with longitudinal grooves, and corner pieces with grooves. Each component can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing continuous adjustment of shelf positions without complex mechanisms. The grooves act as simple guiding tracks that enable flexible positioning while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing complex mechanisms on the shelves to adjust their position, the invention inverts the approach by providing simple grooves on the uprights and corner pieces that guide the shelves. The adjustment capability is achieved through the groove geometry rather than active mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining positioning flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex kinematic mechanisms are introduced to enable continuous adjustment of shelf positions, then the adaptability of the furniture unit is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased production costs and assembly difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous adjustment capabilityVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture unit is divided into modular components: uprights with transverse grooves, shelves with longitudinal grooves, and corner pieces with grooves. Each component can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing continuous adjustment of shelf positions without complex mechanisms. The grooves act as simple guiding tracks that enable flexible positioning while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grooves in the uprights and corner pieces automatically guide and constrain the shelves to appropriate positions without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms. The structure itself provides the adjustment capability through its geometric features, eliminating the need for complex kinematic mechanisms and simplifying both manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed shelf positions are provided on uprights to simplify structure, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability of the furniture unit deteriorates due to limited positioning options

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidpositioning flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture unit is divided into modular components: uprights with transverse grooves, shelves with longitudinal grooves, and corner pieces with grooves. Each component can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing continuous adjustment of shelf positions without complex mechanisms. The grooves act as simple guiding tracks that enable flexible positioning while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grooves in the uprights and corner pieces serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, guide the shelves to correct positions, and enable continuous adjustment of shelf heights. This multi-functional design achieves both structural simplicity and positioning flexibility without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2275003B1Furniture unit of the bookcase type with adjustable elements

Publication Date: 2011.12.28 EXTENDO

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AI summary

A furniture unit of the bookcase type comprises at least one upright (3), at least one shelf (5), at least one shelf support bracket (6) extending from the upright and capable of supporting the shelf, and also first and second fixing means (15; 38) for fixing the shelf support bracket respectively on the upright and on the shelf. The shelf support bracket is slidably secured to the upright via first connection means (11, 12) provided on the shelf support bracket and on the upright, and is slidably secured to the shelf via second connection means (31, 32) provided on the shelf support bracket and on the shelf, so as to permit both the adjustable, continuous displacement of the shelf in a first sliding direction (Y) defined by the upright, and the adjustable, continuous displacement of the upright in a second sliding direction (X) defined by the shelf.