Folded Metal Rack Blank With Load-Bearing Bending Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exhibition stands are difficult and time-consuming to unfold and fold, lack stability and collapse resistance, and are made from weak materials, leading to a short lifespan and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A blank for a rack with a permanently deformable material featuring bending regions and cantilevered shelves, where the plate's side elements extend along the bending regions, allowing for easy assembly and stability without additional joinings, using metal that can withstand significant loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cardboard is used for exhibition stands, then the stands can be folded and stored compactly, but the material is weak and not stable in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from cardboard to metal (permanently deformable material), which fundamentally alters the strength and stability characteristics while maintaining the foldable design through carefully engineered bending regions with segments and openings
Solution Approach 2:
The metal plate is segmented into multiple elements with bending regions containing segments and openings, allowing the structure to fold compactly for storage while maintaining strength during use through the permanent deformability of the metal material
2Shape
If traditional folding lines are used in the plate, then a three-dimensional structure can be formed, but the folding lines are not constructed to take up the load
Solution Approach 1:
The bending regions are designed with different local qualities - containing segments and openings in specific patterns that allow folding while the metal material's permanent deformability ensures the bending regions themselves are strong enough to carry the load, unlike traditional folding lines
3Strength
If the rack is made from permanently deformable material, then the bending regions can carry weight, but the material cannot be easily folded back
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is designed to be unfolded and assembled once from its flat state. The bending regions with segments and openings facilitate this initial unfolding action, and the permanent deformability of the metal material ensures the structure remains stable and does not require refolding
4Strength
If additional joinings and joining means are used, then the rack structure is strengthened, but production time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the plate, bending regions, and load-bearing elements into a single integrated metal plate structure. The bending regions with segments and openings serve both as folding joints and as load-bearing elements, eliminating the need for separate joinings and joining means
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 enables quick and easy assembly of a strong, stable, and long-lasting rack that is cost-effective, as the bending regions can carry weight and resist collapse, reducing production costs and extending the rack's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a starting plate of a permanently deformable material that the plate is formed with at least one bending region
Data Source
AI summary
A blank for a rack with at least one shelf designed as a starting plate with at least one bending region in the form a number of segments and openings. The starting plate includes a number of elements which each have a side extending along a bending region while the other sides of the element are free whereby the rack is quickly and easily formed by bending these elements about their bending regions.