Extractable Wine Shelf Sidewall Adapter for Adjustable Angle Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shelving systems for refrigerating appliances, such as wine coolers, lack a flexible and adjustable mechanism for accommodating varying interior dimensions and angles, making it difficult to optimize storage configurations for wine bottles and other items.
Innovation Solution
The shelving system incorporates opposing sidewall adapters with vertically spaced ledges and a base plate that includes apertures for a glide assembly, along with adjustable fasteners, allowing shelves to be slidably mounted and adjusted for fore and aft movement, enabling customizable storage angles and accommodating different interior dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional shelving systems are used in refrigerating appliances, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the system lacks flexibility and cannot accommodate varying interior dimensions and angles
Solution Approach 1:
The shelving system is divided into separate modular components: sidewall adapters that attach to the cabinet liner, ledges with adjustable positions, base plates with apertures, and glide assemblies. This segmentation allows each component to be independently adjusted and configured to fit varying interior dimensions and angles while maintaining overall system flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates movable and adjustable elements including ledges that can be positioned at different heights, base plates that can be oriented at different angles, and glide assemblies that enable fore and aft shelf movement. These dynamic components allow the shelving system to adapt to different interior configurations without requiring a complete redesign.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed shelving positions are used, then the structure is stable and easy to manufacture, but the storage configuration cannot be optimized for different items
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall adapters serve multiple functions: they provide attachment points for the cabinet liner, support adjustable ledges, accommodate base plates at various orientations, and enable the glide assembly mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single component design to support diverse storage configurations without requiring multiple specialized parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs nested components where base plates are positioned within recesses of the ledges, glide assemblies are received within apertures of the base plates, and shelves are mounted on the glide assemblies. This nested arrangement allows for compact integration of multiple functional elements while maintaining adjustability and ease of assembly.
3Reliability
If shelves are fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but wine bottles cannot be stored at optimal angled positions for cork moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The base plates can be oriented at different angles relative to the cabinet liner, and the glide assemblies enable shelves to move fore and aft while maintaining stable support. This dynamic positioning capability allows wine bottles to be stored at optimal angles for cork moisture maintenance while providing reliable structural support through the interconnected adapter-ledge-base plate-glide system.
Data Source
AI summary
A shelving system for an appliance includes a cabinet liner that defines sidewalls and an interior. Opposing first and second sidewall adapters are coupled to the sidewalls of the cabinet liner. The first and second sidewall adapters each include a body that is operably coupled with each of the first and second sidewall adapters and that defines a plurality of vertically spaced ledges. A recess is defined partially within the body. A base plate is coupled to each of the vertically spaced ledges. The base plate is configured to attract a glide assembly. A shelf is coupled to the glide assembly such that the shelf is slidable fore and aft.