Shelf assembly with specific carrier frame as well as household cooling appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf assemblies for household cooling appliances face mechanical stability issues due to exposed holding brackets and protruding shelves, leading to jamming and reduced movability, which compromises the overall stability and operability of the carrier frame.
Innovation Solution
A shelf assembly design featuring a U-shaped carrier frame with integrated side bars and a connecting bar, where the second shelf is fixedly attached and the first shelf is movable, utilizing a guiding system with strip-shaped guiding lay-ons and ramps to facilitate smooth shifting and reduce jamming, while the holding brackets are circumferentially protected within the frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front plate protrudes forwards beyond the side bars to provide accessible shelf surface, then the shelf usability is improved, but the mechanical connection is severely loaded with large leverage forces reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
The holding brackets are nested within the carrier frame structure, with the front plate inserted into the brackets that are themselves attached to the side bars. This nesting arrangement allows the front plate to protrude for accessibility while the brackets provide mechanical support within the frame, reducing leverage forces on the connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding brackets act as intermediary elements between the front plate and the side bars. Instead of the front plate directly loading the side bars, the brackets mediate the connection, distributing forces and reducing the mechanical stress on the primary frame structure while maintaining shelf accessibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If holding brackets are arranged exposed to facilitate attachment, then the mounting process is simplified, but functional impairments occur and mechanical stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holding brackets are positioned within the carrier frame structure rather than exposed externally. They are accessible for attachment during manufacturing through openings in the side bars, but once assembled, they are protected within the frame structure, preventing functional impairments while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding brackets are attached to the side bars before the front plate is installed. This preliminary attachment allows for controlled mounting during manufacturing, and once in place, the brackets provide stable support that prevents reliability issues during use, while the front plate is subsequently inserted into the pre-positioned brackets.
3Strength
If pins are formed at both front and rear areas of the movable shelf for coupling, then the shelf is securely attached, but jamming or strutting results upon shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding pins are extracted from the front area of the movable shelf and repositioned to engage with the guiding formed at the carrier frame. This extraction eliminates the strutting problem caused by front pins, while rear pins maintain attachment strength, allowing smooth shifting without jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding formed at the carrier frame acts as an intermediary element between the shelf pins and the frame structure. Instead of direct pin-to-frame contact that causes jamming, the guiding mediates the interaction, allowing smooth movement while maintaining secure attachment through the pin-guider engagement.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An aspect relates to shelf assembly for installation in a household cooling appliance, comprising: a first shelf, a second shelf, which is separate from the first shelf, a carrier frame, at which the first shelf and the second shelf are arranged, wherein the carrier frame comprises a guiding, and at least one of the shelves can be shifted relative to the carrier frame and to the other shelf by the guiding, wherein the carrier frame comprises a first side bar, wherein the first side bar comprises a holding bracket for holding the shelf assembly at a household cooling appliance component and the first side bar comprises a channel-like housing, into which the holding bracket is introduced.