Rear Bracket Multi-Wall Mounting for Concealed Shelf Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator appliance shelves, especially those configured to support bottles, often require additional bracket support to securely mount and organize items, but existing solutions do not adequately address the need for a robust and aesthetically pleasing mounting system that conceals the brackets.
Innovation Solution
A rear bracket for a wall-mounted shelf assembly featuring a central portion with receiving wells, a first mounting portion aligned parallel to the appliance cabinet's rear wall, and a second mounting portion aligned perpendicular to the sidewall, coupled with fasteners to securely attach the bracket to the cabinet, along with a cover to conceal the bracket for a clean appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional bracket support is added to securely mount shelves and bottle racks, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the visual appearance deteriorates due to exposed brackets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mounting function from the visible bracket structure by using separate mounting portions that extend perpendicular to the shelf support surface. These mounting portions attach to the rear wall and side walls of the cabinet, allowing the main bracket body to be minimized or concealed while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane bracket design to a three-dimensional mounting system with mounting portions extending in multiple directions (perpendicular to the rear wall and perpendicular to the side walls). This multi-dimensional approach distributes mounting points across different planes, providing secure attachment while allowing the bracket to be less obtrusive from the front viewing angle.
2Reliability
If a robust mounting system with multiple mounting portions is used to securely attach the bracket, then the reliability of shelf support is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bracket into distinct functional segments: a shelf support portion that contacts the shelf or bottle rack, and separate mounting portions that attach to different walls of the cabinet. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall design by eliminating the need for a complex single-structure solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design incorporates multiple mounting portions that can attach to different walls (rear wall and side walls), providing universal mounting capability. This multi-functional approach allows the same bracket design to be reliably installed in various cabinet configurations without requiring different bracket types, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A rear bracket (10) for a wall-mounted, appliance shelf assembly (12) includes a central portion (16) that defines a plurality of receiving wells (18). A first mounting portion (20) extends parallel to the central portion (16) and is configured to align with a first wall (22) of an appliance cabinet (24). A second mounting portion (26) extends perpendicular to the central portion (16) and is configured to align with a second wall (28A, 28B) of the appliance cabinet (24). The second wall (28A, 28B) is positioned perpendicular to the first wall (22). A first fastener (30) is configured to couple the first mounting portion (20) with the first wall (22). A second fastener (32) is configured to couple the second mounting portion (26) with the second wall (28A, 28B).