Interlocking Shoe Rack Shelves for Adjustable Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe racks are complex in construction, difficult to assemble, and do not offer adjustable height and length, nor are they stackable, limiting their space efficiency and versatility.
Innovation Solution
A rack structure featuring slidably interlocking shelves with C-shaped side portions and circular receiving ports for support legs, allowing for adjustable height and length, and enabling stackability, with additional legs for extended support between shelf corners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional rack structures are used, then structural strength is maintained, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is divided into separate modular components: shelves with integrated receiving ports and support legs with hole patterns. These segments can be independently manufactured and then easily assembled by inserting legs into ports, eliminating complex wire forms and configurations while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The shelves are designed with universal receiving ports that can accommodate multiple leg configurations and positions. The same shelf component can be used in different rack arrangements and adjusted to various heights by simply repositioning legs into different receiving ports, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed rack structures are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rack transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, adjustable system. Legs can be positioned at multiple heights on shelves by inserting them into different receiving ports, and shelves themselves can slide relative to each other. This dynamic capability allows the rack to adapt to various storage needs without requiring multiple different rack units
Solution Approach 2:
The shelves are designed to slide within each other in a nested arrangement, with the second shelf sliding along the first shelf. This nesting mechanism provides adjustability and compact storage when not in use, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that doesn't require complex mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-stackable rack structures are used, then structural stability is maintained, but space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rack design enables vertical stacking by incorporating receiving ports and support leg configurations that allow one rack unit to be placed directly on top of another. This utilizes the vertical dimension for storage expansion without requiring additional floor space, transforming the storage solution from two-dimensional to three-dimensional
Data Source
AI summary
A rack for supporting items and comprising a first shelf and a second shelf that slideably interlocks with the first shelf and a plurality of support legs including at least two support legs for each of the first shelf and second shelf. Each of the first and second shelves has one end that includes a pair of spaced apart receiving ports with each receiving port for accommodating a corresponding support leg. Each of the first and second shelves further has an opposite end with the opposite ends for respective sliding engagement therebetween in order to provide the slideable interlocking.