Fold-Down Shelf Assembly With Plug-In Fixing and Secure Object Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable shelves are either too expensive due to the need for strong materials, difficult to assemble, inefficient in space usage, and lack secure mechanisms to hold objects in place, making them unsuitable for easy setup and use by inexperienced individuals.
Innovation Solution
A foldable shelf design featuring a single or multiple shelf elements with a rear wall, side walls, and a partially perforated front wall, utilizing plug-in fixing means and material flexibility to allow easy assembly, space optimization, and secure object placement, made from lightweight materials like plastic or cardboard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If strong and expensive materials are used to construct shelves without front walls and supporting crosspieces, then the shelf structure gains sufficient strength and stability, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into multiple modular elements (side walls, rear walls, shelves, front walls) that can be independently manufactured from standard sheet material and assembled together. This segmentation allows use of inexpensive standard materials while achieving structural strength through the modular assembly configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple structural functions are combined into single components. The side walls serve both as structural supports and as mounting surfaces for shelves. The front wall integration provides both structural support and product display functionality, eliminating the need for separate supporting crosspieces.
2Reliability
If shelves are designed with fixed positions, then objects are held securely in predetermined sales positions, but the shelf structure becomes more complex and less adaptable
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system transitions from fixed to adjustable positioning. Shelves can be moved vertically along the side walls between defined stopping positions, allowing the structure to adapt to different product sizes and display requirements while maintaining secure positioning through defined stops and grooves.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf position parameter can be changed by moving shelves to different vertical locations on the side walls. The system provides discrete positioning options through grooves and stops, allowing parameter change while maintaining structural integrity and object security at each position.
3Ease of operation
If side walls are designed with triangular open sections for lateral access, then lateral access to shelves is provided, but the open sections prevent effective connection of adjacent shelf parts
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves from lateral access (horizontal dimension) to front access (vertical dimension). The perforated front wall provides access to shelves from the front, allowing adjacent shelf units to be connected side-by-side without interference, as the access openings are positioned on the front rather than the sides.
4Ease of operation
If a large number of individual parts and mechanical unfolding aids are used, then the shelf can be easily unfolded and assembled, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components are merged into fewer integrated parts. The side walls are designed as single-piece elements with integrated mounting features (grooves, stops, perforations) that combine multiple functions. This reduces the total number of parts while maintaining ease of assembly through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf elements are designed to be self-assembling through gravity-assisted folding and simple insertion movements. The modular design allows components to be connected without specialized tools or complex mechanical aids, enabling easy assembly by inexperienced persons.
5Weight of moving object
If lightweight materials like cardboard or plastic are used, then the shelf becomes easier to transport and assemble, but the structural strength and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is segmented into multiple components that distribute structural loads. The side walls, rear walls, and shelves work together as a truss-like structure, where each element contributes to overall strength. This allows use of lightweight materials while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed load-bearing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf utilizes composite construction techniques, combining different material properties in the assembly. The corrugated cardboard or plastic sheets provide both structural rigidity and lightweight characteristics. The layered and folded construction of the sheet material creates a composite structure with enhanced strength-to-weight ratio.
Data Source
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Figure 8
AI summary
The shelf has a fixing unit fixing a shelf bottom (40) at a front wall. The shelf bottom includes another fixing unit for connection with the former fixing unit. The shelf bottom rests at the rear wall in a folding arrangement. A wall shelf is connected with the former fixing unit and the front wall in a utilization arrangement, and encloses a space. The shelf bottom is tilted relative to the rear wall around an axis. A part of the shelf bottom is fabricated with two material layers. The front wall includes a cross web for supporting the shelf bottom. An independent claim is also included for a method for establishing a foldable shelf.