Combination comprising a shelf-supporting device and a shelf for a piece of furniture with optimised load transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf-supporting devices face challenges in maintaining mechanical resistance while minimizing aesthetic impact and ensuring stable connection, particularly when miniaturized for use in furniture with reduced shelf thickness.
Innovation Solution
A shelf-supporting device with a main body having a solid front area and projecting elements that distribute load transfer to areas of maximum shelf thickness, avoiding contact with the shelf's reduced thickness sections, combined with a pin mechanism for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the shelf-supporting device is miniaturized to reduce aesthetic impact and fit thinner shelves, then the device dimensions and housing seat size are reduced, but the load-bearing capacity and mechanical resistance deteriorate due to decreased contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a differentiated contact surface geometry where the housing seat has a first contact surface at the front (maximum thickness area) and a second contact surface at the rear. This localized optimization ensures that loads are transferred specifically to the strongest portion of the shelf, compensating for the overall miniaturization of the device and maintaining high load-bearing capacity despite reduced dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the thickness dimension of the shelf by positioning the housing seat to engage at the maximum thickness area rather than uniformly distributing contact. This dimensional strategy allows the miniaturized device to leverage the full thickness potential of the shelf, achieving optimal strength-to-size ratio by transferring loads through the most structurally advantageous path in the thickness direction.
2Volume of moving object
If the device is miniaturized with reduced contact surfaces, then the aesthetic impact is minimized, but the load transfer concentration increases causing inadequate resistance to loads
Solution Approach 1:
The housing seat is designed with a specific geometric configuration that concentrates contact at the maximum shelf thickness area, creating a localized stress distribution pattern. This local quality approach ensures that while the overall device size is reduced, the contact surfaces are strategically positioned to maximize load distribution efficiency and minimize harmful stress concentrations in critical areas.
3Ease of operation
If the device is designed for easy assembly and disassembly, then the movable engagement means and pin mechanism are implemented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a main body forming the housing seat, a separate pin element for engagement, and movable engagement means that can independently translate. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity, enabling easy assembly through straightforward insertion and engagement motions without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement means are designed with translational mobility, allowing the pin to move between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic capability enables easy assembly and disassembly through simple linear motions rather than requiring complex fastening operations, while the mobility is constrained within compact dimensions to avoid excessive device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a shelf-supporting device (1,1',1") suitable for creating the reversible connection of a shelf (200) with the opposite shoulders (300) of a piece of furniture. According to the invention, the shelf bracket (1,1',1") comprises a main body (12,12',12") which has a solid section in correspondence with its front area (14), corresponding to the area from whose front surface (14a) the connection pin (11) protrudes, and a shaped profile so that at least a portion of the upper surface (12c,12c',12c") of the main body (12,12',12") does not come into contact with the upper internal wall (201') of the housing seat (201) of said main body (12,12',12") formed within said shelf (200) when the device is assembled to the shelf.