Powered Carousel Shelf System for Wall Cabinet Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wall-mounted cabinets pose accessibility challenges, particularly for individuals of shorter stature or those with disabilities, as they require users to stand on objects or strain to reach items on higher shelves, increasing the risk of falls and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A powered revolving shelf system that allows users to easily bring desired shelves to the front of the cabinet using a control interface, featuring side plates with drive and guide tracks, drive chains, and a motor, enabling shelves to rotate and move forward or backward for convenient access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If shelves are mounted high on wall cabinets to maximize storage capacity, then storage efficiency is improved, but accessibility deteriorates requiring users to stand on objects or strain to reach items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming static shelves into movable shelves that can rotate along a circular track. The shelves transition from fixed positions to dynamic positions, allowing users to easily access items at any height without straining or standing on objects. The motorized rotation mechanism enables the shelves to move automatically to accessible positions while maintaining high storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements another dimension principle by adding rotational movement along a circular track, transforming the traditional linear vertical access into a multi-dimensional access system. Users can access shelves not only by reaching upward but also by rotating the shelves into accessible positions, effectively adding a rotational dimension to the access mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If shelves are positioned at the back of the cabinet to maximize forward storage space, then storage space utilization is improved, but accessibility deteriorates as items become difficult to reach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidreachability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling shelves to rotate from back positions to front positions along a circular track. Items stored at the back are no longer permanently inaccessible; instead, the shelves dynamically rotate to bring back-stored items to the front for easy access, maintaining both storage optimization and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a powered revolving mechanism is added to enable shelf movement, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases with motors, tracks, and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional integrated system where the motor, circular track, guide pins, and shelf structure work together as a unified mechanism. The single motor drives all shelves simultaneously along the circular track, and the guide pins automatically engage with the track geometry to ensure proper movement, reducing the need for separate complex control mechanisms for each shelf.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service through the automatic engagement of guide pins with the circular track geometry. The mechanical design of the track and guide pins ensures that shelves automatically follow the correct rotational path without requiring external guidance or complex control systems, allowing the system to self-regulate its movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If shelves are made movable to improve accessibility, then ease of access is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential misalignment or detachment during movement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidstability during movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing guide pins as mediating elements between the shelves and the circular track. The guide pins act as intermediaries that ensure proper alignment and engagement, preventing misalignment or detachment during movement. The mechanical interaction between guide pins and track geometry provides reliable guidance throughout the rotation path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning through the mechanical design of the guide pin and track engagement system. The guide pins are designed to automatically engage with the circular track before movement begins, and the track geometry itself provides mechanical constraints that prevent misalignment or detachment, cushioning against potential reliability issues before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enhances accessibility and usability by allowing users to retrieve items from any shelf without straining, reducing the risk of falls and improving usability for all users, including those with disabilities, while maintaining shelves in a horizontal plane during movement.

Implementation Method 1

a motor configured to transmit a driving power to each of the drive chains, wherein the shelf members are configured to move with a rotation motion of the drive chains

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a drive pin arranged on each of the first and second ends of the shelf members, and configured to extend respectively into each of the drive tracks, a plurality of guide pins arranged on each of the first and second ends of the shelf members, and configured to extend respectively into corresponding ones of the guide tracks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS11819124B2Powered carousel shelf system for cabinets
Publication Date: 2023.11.21 CORNELL RICHARD D
  • US11819124B2 patent drawing
  • US11819124B2 patent drawing
  • US11819124B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A revolving shelf system including first and second side plates configured to be mounted on opposite side walls of a cabinet, a drive track configured to extend from an inner front face to an outer back face of each of the first and second side plates, at least one shelf member having first and second ends connected to the drive track, and a drive mechanism located on the outer back face of at least one of the first and second side plates, the drive mechanism configured to move with a rotation motion the at least one shelf member about the drive track.