Hanger-Bracket Connection Device for Tool-Free Shelving Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelving units are unstable, difficult to reconfigure, and inefficient in terms of power supply, making them unsuitable for professional use in retail or trade fair settings.
Innovation Solution
A connection device comprising a hanger component and a bracket that allows for the secure attachment of shelves to vertical supports with perforations, enabling flexible assembly and reconfiguration of shelving units without the need for additional struts, while also providing a reliable power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If vertical supports are connected only via shelves placed thereon, then the construction effort is low and assembly is simple, but the stability and load-bearing capacity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the connection function and power supply function into a single integrated connection device. The connection device includes clamping arms that engage with the vertical support and electrical contacts that provide power, merging structural support and electrical supply into one component that simplifies assembly while ensuring stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical connection between shelves and vertical supports, ensures structural stability through clamping arms, and delivers electrical power through integrated contacts. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate connection and power supply systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If struts are added to connect vertical supports, then the stability and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the construction effort and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential stabilization function from the complex strut system and integrates it into the connection device itself. The clamping arms of the connection device provide direct stabilization to the vertical support without requiring separate strut components, thereby achieving stability while reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shelving unit is reconfigured frequently, then the adaptability to changing needs is improved, but the power supply must be relocated which is expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device provides universal electrical connection capabilities that work with any shelf configuration. The electrical contacts are integrated into the connection device itself, allowing power to be automatically provided wherever shelves are installed without requiring separate power routing planning or relocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic power supply through the connection device itself. When a shelf is installed on a vertical support, the connection device automatically establishes both mechanical connection and electrical power supply without requiring external power routing interventions.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional shelving units are used, then the initial construction is simple, but safety risks increase when assembly or disassembly is performed improperly
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of connection and power supply functions in a single device ensures that both mechanical and electrical connections are established simultaneously through one standardized operation. This reduces the risk of improper assembly since there is only one connection procedure to follow, rather than separate mechanical and electrical assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection device is disclosed for installing a shelf or a shelf frame on a vertical support to construct a shelving unit The connection device includes a hanger component and a bracket. The hanger component is equipped with a main body designed to be suspended from the vertical support such that an engagement portion engages behind a perforation of the vertical support and a support portion is arranged outside of the perforation. The bracket includes a housing portion designed to rest against the vertical support and a cavity shaped to receive the support portion of the main body of the hanger component. The bracket includes a clamping mechanism for clamping the housing portion of the bracket together with the vertical support when the cavity of the housing portion receives the support portion, and the main body of the hanger component is suspended from the perforation of the vertical support.