Modular Garage Shelf Brace Segmentation for Adaptable Depth
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single piece triangularly shaped braces for shelves are inflexible and poorly suited to diverse garage spaces, with fixed shelf depths and bulky packaging, leading to inefficiencies in storage and installation.
Innovation Solution
A modular wall hanging shelf and rack storage system comprising interchangeable components such as shelf members, channels, supports, and fasteners, allowing for customizable configurations to fit various garage dimensions and avoid obstacles, reducing packaging requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional single piece triangularly shaped braces are used, then the shelf structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the shelf depth is fixed and cannot adapt to diverse garage spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The single piece triangular brace is divided into multiple separate components: a vertical support member, a horizontal shelf member, and connection elements. This segmentation allows the shelf depth to be adjusted by reconfiguring the components while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace structure transitions from a fixed, static configuration to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. The separate components can be assembled and disassembled to create different shelf depths, enabling the structure to adapt to various garage spaces while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized connection mechanisms.
2Area of stationary object
If small sized braces are used, then the shelf fits in smaller garages, but the storage space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reconfigurable brace system allows the shelf depth to be dynamically adjusted. In smaller garages, the shelf can be configured with a smaller depth to fit the available space, while in larger garages, the same components can be arranged to create a deeper shelf with increased storage capacity, resolving the contradiction between space utilization and storage capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If large sized braces are used, then the storage space is increased, but the shelf extends into walkways and cannot be positioned in tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the brace into separate, reconfigurable components, the system can be assembled in different configurations. This allows the shelf to achieve large storage capacity when space permits, while also enabling compact arrangements when positioning flexibility is needed, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and positioning flexibility.
4Reliability
If separate braces are used for small and large shelves, then each shelf can be optimized for its size, but unusable gaps are created between adjacent shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The reconfigurable brace components serve multiple functions and can be used to create shelves of various sizes. When multiple shelves are installed, the same universal components can be arranged to eliminate gaps between shelves, creating continuous storage space while maintaining optimized individual shelf configurations, resolving the contradiction between shelf optimization and continuous storage space.
5Ease of manufacture
If conventional single piece braces are used, then manufacturing is simple, but packaging requirements are bulky and require large storage space
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the single piece brace into multiple smaller components reduces the volume required for packaging. The separate components can be efficiently packed in compact arrangements, significantly reducing packaging volume and storage space requirements compared to shipping large single-piece braces, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized production of individual components.
Data Source
AI summary
A kit that includes rod supports, three shelf bases, and first and second shelf supports. The first and second shelf supports are each separate from the three shelf bases. Each of the three shelf bases has first and second legs. The first leg is directly positionable against a wall and couplable thereto. The second leg supports at least a portion of the rod supports. The first shelf support is couplable to the second leg of the first shelf base to form a first brace. The first shelf support includes a first wall mount bracket that is directly positionable against the wall and is couplable thereto. The second shelf support is couplable to the second leg of the third shelf base to form a second brace. The second shelf support includes a second wall mount bracket that is directly positionable against the wall and is couplable thereto.