Rear Bracket Assembly for Wall-Mounted Appliance Shelf Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator appliance shelves, especially those configured to support bottles, often require additional bracket support to ensure stability and secure mounting, which existing solutions fail to address effectively.
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 for secure attachment, along with a cover to conceal the bracket for aesthetic purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shelf is configured to support bottles, then additional bracket support is needed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mounting functions into a single integrated rear bracket assembly. The bracket includes a central portion with receiving wells for shelf support, a first mounting portion for attaching to the rear wall, and a second mounting portion for attaching to the sidewall, all as one unified structure that provides both stability and bottle support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional single-plane mounting bracket to a three-dimensional L-shaped bracket that extends in multiple directions. The bracket has a central portion, a first mounting portion extending in one direction, and a second mounting portion extending perpendicular to the first, creating a multi-dimensional mounting structure that enhances stability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple mounting portions are added for secure attachment, then the shelf support stability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple mounting portions and receiving wells into a single bracket component that can be manufactured as one piece. This unified design allows the bracket to provide multi-point mounting stability while simplifying the manufacturing process compared to assembling multiple separate bracket components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bracket is designed with multiple functional portions, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal rear bracket assembly that can be mounted on rear walls and sidewalls of appliance cabinets, accommodating different installation configurations. The bracket includes receiving wells that can accommodate various shelf types and bottle rack configurations, providing multi-functionality without requiring multiple different bracket designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A rear bracket for a wall-mounted, appliance shelf assembly includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion extends parallel to the central portion and is configured to align with a first wall of an appliance cabinet. A second mounting portion extends perpendicular to the central portion and is configured to align with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second wall is positioned perpendicular to the first wall. A first fastener is configured to couple the first mounting portion with the first wall. A second fastener is configured to couple the second mounting portion with the second wall.