Expandable Shelf Assembly With Grooved Posts and Spacers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shelves are inconvenient to use and limit the ability to add more shelf boards without additional supporting posts, as the connecting tubes must firmly couple with locating members at a specific height, restricting flexibility and ease of assembly.

Innovation Solution

A shelf structure featuring vertical posts with peripheral grooves, spacers formed from arc pieces, and connecting tubes that fit together in a tapered-drum shape, allowing for horizontal assembly of shelf boards between posts, enabling quick addition of new boards and reducing assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If connecting tubes are firmly coupled with locating members at a specific height, then the shelf board is securely supported, but the locating members cannot be moved freely and additional shelf boards cannot be added

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of shelf boardVSAvoidflexibility to add shelf boards

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The locating member is designed with a movable structure that can transition between a first position (engaging with the connecting tube to secure the shelf board) and a second position (disengaged to allow adding more shelf boards). This dynamic positioning capability resolves the contradiction by making the coupling mechanism adjustable rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locating member is divided into multiple functional segments including a moving component and a fixed component, allowing independent movement of the engaging portion while maintaining the overall structure's stability. This segmentation enables the coupling mechanism to be both secure and adaptable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If connecting tubes are firmly coupled with locating members, then the shelf board is securely supported, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of shelf boardVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locating member incorporates a self-moving mechanism that automatically transitions between engaged and disengaged positions without requiring additional tools or complex assembly steps. The user simply needs to push the locating member to switch positions, greatly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining secure support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The locating member acts as an intermediary between the connecting tube and the shelf board, providing a simple push-to-engage mechanism that mediates the connection without requiring complex fastening operations. This intermediary structure reduces assembly complexity while ensuring stable support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple supporting posts are used to add shelf boards, then the shelf structure can be expanded, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpandability of shelfVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The locating member is designed to perform multiple functions: it can engage with connecting tubes at different heights, it can be moved between engaged and disengaged states, and it enables both secure mounting and easy addition of shelf boards using the same existing supporting posts. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional supporting posts while maintaining expandability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10058174B1Shelf structure

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 PROMAL

AI summary

A shelf structure may comprise four vertical posts, a plurality of spacers, a plurality of connecting tubes and at least two shelf boards. Each of the vertical posts has a plurality of peripheral grooves separated with the same interval and sequentially formed on a surface thereof, and each of spacers comprises two arc pieces which are configured to fit together to secure the spacer on the vertical post. When an additional shelf board is needed, a user can directly mount the spacers and connecting tubes respectively on the four vertical posts to enable the additional shelf board to be assembled between the vertical posts, thereby achieving the quick-assembly effect. Moreover, the connecting tube has two engaging slots which enables an additional shelf board to be directly assembled and extended from a side of the shelf when cooperating with additional vertical posts.