Electrical Shelving Bracket Geometry to Eliminate Fixation Rattle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support apparatuses face instability when the engagement hook is inserted into a slit due to a space between the upper surface of the slit and the engagement hook, leading to poor fixation of the bracket.
Innovation Solution
A support apparatus with a fixation member featuring sloped surfaces in its opening portions and a support member with corresponding sloped surfaces on its insertion portion, allowing for stable attachment and detachment without rattling, utilizing a combination of sloped angles and planar surfaces to ensure secure contact points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an engagement hook is inserted into a slit to support a bracket, then the bracket can be mounted, but a space remains between the upper surface of the slit and the engagement hook causing unstable fixation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved/sloped surfaces instead of flat surfaces in the opening portion. The first front surface portion and first rear surface portion are sloped, creating a curved contact path that guides the insertion portion into proper alignment and ensures full contact between the upper surfaces, eliminating the space gap that causes instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the opening portion by introducing specific slope angles for the front and rear surface portions. These parameter changes ensure that the insertion portion makes complete contact with the upper surfaces, transforming the unstable gap condition into a stable full-contact condition.
2Reliability
If sloped surfaces are designed with specific angle relationships, then stable fixation is achieved, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric sloped surfaces where the first front surface portion and first rear surface portion have different slope angles. This asymmetric design creates a one-way insertion mechanism that provides stable fixation while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing, as the asymmetry naturally guides the insertion portion into the correct position.
Data Source
AI summary
This support apparatus includes a fixation member and a support member attachable to and detachable from an opening portion of the fixation member. A first upper surface portion of the opening portion is formed of: a first front surface portion sloped in a downward direction; and a first rear surface portion formed continuously from the first front surface portion and sloped in an upward direction. A first lower surface portion is sloped in parallel with the first front surface portion. A second upper surface portion of the support member is formed of: a second front surface portion to contact the first front surface portion; and a second rear surface portion to contact the first rear surface portion. A second lower surface portion is sloped in a downward direction, at a slope angle, so as to contact with an opening-side end of the first lower surface portion.