Nested Wire Shelving Assembly for Compact Disassembled Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelving systems are bulky when disassembled, increasing storage and transportation costs, and their assembly process is complex and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A shelving system design featuring metal wire shelves and support elements with U-shaped coupling mechanisms that allow for compact disassembly, where shelves are stacked with base walls in contact, housing the support elements, reducing overall size by 30-40% and simplifying assembly by using frictional engagement of shelf ends with coupling elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If shelves are stacked with base walls in contact to house support elements, then the overall size when disassembled is reduced by 30-40%, but the assembly process requires precise alignment of coupling elements
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements are nested within the shelves by housing them in cavities formed by the base walls and side walls. When disassembled, the support elements fit inside the shelf structure like nested dolls, reducing the overall volume by 30-40% while maintaining a compact form factor for storage and transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelving system is divided into modular components: shelves with integrated coupling elements, support elements with corresponding engagement features, and connection elements. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled through simple frictional engagement, simplifying the assembly process despite the compact nesting design.
2Ease of operation
If U-shaped coupling mechanisms with frictional engagement are used, then assembly is simplified and accelerated, but the connection strength may be reduced compared to rigid fastening
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism transitions from static rigid fastening to dynamic frictional engagement. The U-shaped coupling elements with spaced portions allow the support elements to be inserted and held in place through friction, enabling easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining sufficient connection strength for the intended load-bearing application.
Solution Approach 2:
The frictional engagement of the support elements with the coupling elements creates a self-locking mechanism. Once inserted, the friction force automatically secures the connection without requiring additional fastening operations, simplifying the assembly process while providing adequate connection strength through the frictional interface.
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 system achieves a significant reduction in overall size during disassembly, facilitating easier storage and transportation, and accelerates the assembly process with stable and secure shelf connections.
Implementation Method 1
simplifying assembly by using frictional engagement of shelf ends with coupling elements
Data Source
AI summary
Shelving system has first and second lateral support elements for a plurality of shelves. The shelves formed from metal wire mesh structure and including a base wall and at least two mutually parallel side walls. The support elements and shelves including, respectively, elements and counter-elements for removably connecting shelves to support elements. The two side walls connected to the base wall and shaped for stacking one shelf on another with base walls of the shelves mutually superposed, one in contact with another, to reduce overall disassembled system size. Each shelf base wall lower face has at least one seat sunken with respect to side walls, to at least partly house at least a portion of one support element. The shelves shaped for housing, in the upper face of the base wall between the side walls, at least a portion of the other support element, to reduce overall disassembled system size.