Bolted Support Structure Assembly for Compact Goods Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing support structures for stacking goods are inefficient in space utilization during storage and transportation, limiting the number of nestable structures and incurring high transportation costs.

Innovation Solution

A support structure assembly composed of four frames (first and second side frames, back frame, and top frame) connected by bolts, allowing easy disassembly and assembly, with features like mounting plates and U-profiles for stability and nesting, ensuring force transfer without bending moments or shear forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If support structures are designed to be nestable for space saving, then storage space utilization is improved, but the number of structures that can be nested is limited and the nested stack still occupies considerable space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidnesting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into four separate frames (first side frame, second side frame, back frame, and top frame) that can be independently handled and assembled. This segmentation allows the structure to be completely disassembled for compact storage and transportation, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity and achieving compact nesting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The four frames are designed to nest within each other when disassembled, with each frame fitting inside the previous one. This nesting arrangement maximizes space utilization during storage and transportation while maintaining the ability to reconstruct the complete support structure when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If support structures are made firm and stable for load bearing, then structural strength is improved, but the structure becomes more difficult to disassemble and assemble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural firmnessVSAvoidassembly and disassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the support structure into four separate frames connected by simple bolted joints, the design achieves both structural firmness when assembled and ease of disassembly. Each frame maintains its structural integrity independently, while the connection points allow for straightforward assembly and disassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bolted connections between frames provide a dynamic system that can transition between assembled (firm and stable) and disassembled (easy to handle) states. The connections maintain structural strength during use but allow for easy separation when needed, resolving the contradiction between firmness and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If support structures are designed as single integrated units for stability, then structural reliability is improved, but transportation space and costs increase due to inability to disassemble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural reliabilityVSAvoidtransportation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into four reliable frames that maintain structural integrity when assembled but can be separated for compact transportation. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the structure to be both reliable during use and space-efficient during transport through complete disassembly and nesting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The four frames nest within each other during transportation, minimizing the volume occupied while maintaining the ability to reconstruct the reliable, full-size support structure when needed. This nesting capability directly addresses the transportation space issue while preserving structural reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4610188A1Support structure assembly
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 ERFO
  • EP4610188A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4610188A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4610188A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The invention relates to a support structure assembly (1) for supporting goods over other goods, which support structure assembly comprises: - a first side frame (2) and a second side frame (7), each having a lower beam (3, 8) and two uprights (4, 5, 9, 10) forming a U-shaped frame, and bracing rods (6, 11) extending diagonally between the two uprights; - a back frame (12) having a lower beam (13) and two uprights (14, 15) forming a U-shaped frame, and bracing rods (16) extending diagonally between the two uprights; - a top frame (17) having a substantially rectangular support surface; wherein each of the first side frame, second side frame and back frame are bolted with the free ends of the uprights to the top frame along a side thereof; and wherein one of the uprights of the back frame is bolted to an upright of the first side frame and wherein the other of the uprights of the back frame is bolted to an upright of the second side frame, such that the support structure assembly has a box shape with an open bottom and one open side.