Collapsible Shoe Rack Structure With Pivoting Nested Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collapsible shoe racks remain bulky and inefficient for storage and transport due to their design, which does not effectively minimize space when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible shoe rack design featuring reverse U-shaped shoe retaining members and U-shaped connecting members that pivotally connect, allowing the structure to be significantly reduced in size by stacking, with a locking mechanism to prevent collapse when extended.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional foldable shoe racks are designed with hinged arms and crossbars, then the rack can be folded to some extent, but the folded rack remains bulky and occupies substantial space for storage and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe rack is divided into multiple detachable components including side rails, arms, crossbars, and connecting members with standardized connectors. This segmentation allows the rack to be completely disassembled into small manageable parts that can be easily stored in a compact bag or container, eliminating the bulk problem of conventional foldable racks.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable components of the shoe rack are designed to nest within each other when disassembled. The arms fit inside the side rails, crossbars nest within the arms or side rails, creating a compact nested configuration that minimizes storage volume and makes transport convenient.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shoe rack uses fixed crossbars for structural support, then the rack maintains stability during use, but the crossbars interfere with storage of taller items such as boots
Solution Approach 1:
The crossbars are designed as detachable components rather than fixed structures. They can be removed entirely when storing tall items like boots, or repositioned at different heights by reconnecting them to different pairs of side rails. This dynamic reconfigurability maintains structural stability when needed while providing versatility for different storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting members with standardized connectors allow the same crossbar component to serve multiple functions: providing structural support at different heights, being completely removed for tall item storage, or reconfigured to create different rack configurations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If modular connectors are added to enable disassembly of the shoe rack, then the rack becomes easier to store and transport, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
All connecting points in the shoe rack use the same standardized male/female connector design. This homogeneity means that despite having multiple detachable joints, the assembly and disassembly process remains simple and intuitive throughout the entire structure. Users only need to learn one connector type, reducing the perceived complexity despite the modular design.
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
Enables convenient storage and transport by minimizing occupied space when collapsed and easy extension for use, addressing the inefficiencies of existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of connecting members (120) to pivotally connect to different portions of the shoe retaining members (110)
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible shoe rack may include a plurality of shoe retaining members with two parallel side arms integrated with a horizontal arm as a single piece, and a plurality of connecting members with two parallel side arms and a horizontal arm. In one embodiment, the shoe retaining members are arranged in a reverse U-shaped manner in the shoe rack, and each of the shoe retaining members is connected with the connecting member. A locking member is disposed at the base of the shoe rack and pivotally connected to the base at one end, and the connecting member at the other end. The locking unit is configured to lock the entire structure of shoe rack to prevent it from collapsing.