Geared Shelf Rack Assembly for Flexible Appliance Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oven and refrigerator appliances have limited vertical adjustability of racks and shelves, making it cumbersome for users to accommodate items of different sizes and types, and often struggle with weight capacity and the number of adjustable positions.
Innovation Solution
A geared rack assembly with a pair of meshing gears and a support link allows for selective vertical adjustment of shelves, enabling multiple positions and easy reconfiguration, enhancing user convenience and weight support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stamping metal sheets to form side walls with horizontal protrusions is used, then the appliance structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the number of vertical levels is limited to only four or five
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static, fixed-position protrusions with a dynamic rack and pinion gear system. The rack extends vertically along the side wall and engages with rotatable pinion gears, allowing the shelf to be positioned at any height along the rack's length by rotating the gears. This transforms the static structure into a dynamic, continuously adjustable system, resolving the contradiction between limited vertical levels and structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If racks are designed to slide into and out of the chamber on horizontal protrusions, then the racks can be removed and reinstalled at different vertical levels, but the removal and reinstallation process is cumbersome or difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional sliding mechanical system with a gear-based mechanical system. Instead of sliding the rack along horizontal protrusions, the invention uses pinion gears that rotate to move the rack vertically along the rack's length. This substitution changes the adjustment mechanism from a sliding motion to a rotational gear engagement, making the adjustment process easier and more precise while reducing the time and effort required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed number of relatively few locations for rack placement is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the vertical adjustability is limited and unsatisfactory to users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, discrete positioning system into a dynamic, continuous positioning system. The rack extends vertically along the entire side wall, and the rotatable pinion gears can engage with the rack at any position, allowing the shelf to be adjusted to any height within the rack's range rather than being restricted to predetermined fixed locations. This dynamic approach maximizes vertical adjustability while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides increased vertical adjustability, allowing users to position shelves at various heights with ease, accommodating diverse items and improving user satisfaction by expanding the number of usable positions and supporting capacity.
Implementation Method 1
A rack assembly for an appliance includes a geared rack and a pair of gears. The gears mesh with each other and the geared rack.
Implementation Method 2
The geared rack and pair of gears can assist with selectively adjusting a vertical height of the shelf
Data Source
AI summary
A rack assembly for an appliance includes a geared rack and a pair of gears. The gears of the pair of gears mesh with each other and the geared rack. The rack assembly also includes a shelf and a support link that couples that shelf to at least one of the pair of gears. The geared rack and pair of gears can assist with selectively adjusting a vertical height of the shelf.