Reinforcement Bracket Structure for Cut Melamine Inside Corners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wood and melamine materials used in cabinetry and storage solutions are prone to cracking or breaking at inside corners formed by cuts, creating structural weaknesses.

Innovation Solution

An attachment bracket or reinforcement plate is designed to be attached to the inside corner of cut melamine or wood products, providing a durable attachment location that maintains the structure and engages with a rail system for secure wall mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wood or melamine materials are used for cabinetry and storage solutions, then the materials are durable and widely available, but they are prone to cracking or breaking at inside corners formed by cuts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of inside cornersVSAvoidstrength at cut inside corners

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining metal reinforcement plates with wood or melamine materials. The reinforcement plate is attached to the inside corner of the cut material, creating a composite structure that leverages the strength of metal to prevent cracking and breaking while maintaining the aesthetic and functional properties of the original material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement plate is designed with segmentation features including a first portion and a second portion that can be attached to different surfaces of the inside corner. This segmentation allows the reinforcement to be distributed across multiple attachment points, enhancing the overall structural integrity without requiring a single large attachment that might compromise the material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If reinforcement plates are attached to inside corners to prevent cracking, then structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of inside cornersVSAvoidcomplexity of attachment bracket system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement plate is designed with multi-functionality to address various structural needs. It includes features for attachment to different surfaces, engagement with rail systems, and configuration for various cabinet styles. This universality allows a single component design to serve multiple functions, reducing the need for multiple specialized parts and thereby managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement plate acts as an intermediary component between the wood or melamine material and the rail system. It provides a standardized interface for attachment, simplifying the connection process and reducing the complexity of directly attaching rails to the cabinet material. The intermediary plate absorbs the structural stress and provides a reliable mounting surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10070723B1Attachment bracket

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 GREENBERG TROY

AI summary

An attachment bracket or reinforcement plate is provided. The bracket is attached to an area of the respective product and provides an attachment location which is durable and maintains the structure of an inside corner of a cut in a melamine or wood product. In certain examples described herein, these storage systems may be held on a wall using a rail system. That is, a rail is attached to the wall which has an outward extending rail arm and upward extending flange. The flange engages with a notch or slot in the attachment bracket, which is secured to the melamine or wood product.