Reinforced Shelf Beam Aperture for Protected Wiring Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrified shelving solutions for point-of-sale displays face issues with wiring damage during transport, inefficiency in assembly, risk of wiring entanglement, and difficulty in retrofitting due to aperture designs that either protrude wiring or require disassembly for assembly.

Innovation Solution

A full aperture in the beam, positioned to minimize stress, combined with snap-fit elastic clips that securely anchor and stretch wiring, allowing for efficient assembly both in the factory and at the point-of-sale without disassembling the shelf, and enabling wiring insertion from above or below.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If apertures are provided in the beam for wiring passage, then wiring can be anchored in the shelf, but wiring protrudes under the shelf and could be damaged during transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring assemblyVSAvoidwiring protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wiring is nested within a raceway that is integrated into the shelf structure. The raceway contains the wiring and protects it from damage during transport and use, while still allowing the wiring to pass through the aperture and be anchored in the shelf.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The raceway is pre-installed in the shelf during factory production, before the wiring is inserted. This preliminary preparation allows for efficient factory assembly while protecting the wiring from damage during subsequent handling and transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If wiring passes along the lower part of the shelf, then wiring can be anchored, but wiring may get caught during cleaning or goods collection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring accessibilityVSAvoidwiring entanglement risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wiring is nested within the raceway structure that is integrated into the shelf. This containment prevents the wiring from protruding or dangling where it could be caught by cleaning equipment or goods, eliminating the entanglement hazard while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If aperture is open on the side, then wiring can be anchored in intermediate part, but wiring assembly cannot be performed on assembled shelf

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring anchoring positionVSAvoidretrofit assembly capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The raceway is pre-installed in the shelf during factory production, creating a prepared pathway for wiring. This preliminary preparation enables both efficient factory assembly and flexible retrofitting at the point-of-sale, as the wiring can be simply inserted through the existing raceway aperture without disassembling the shelf.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3153068B1Reinforced shelves for metal shelving units having apertures for the passage and the support of electric wiring

Publication Date: 2018.04.18 CEFLA SOC COOP

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AI summary

Reinforced shelf (2) for metal shelving (1) comprising at least a lower beam (9) provided with an aperture for the passage and the support of a supply electric wiring (20), characterized in that it comprises at least an aperture (7) obtained in the anterior vertical wall (11), in the horizontal wall (12) and in the posterior vertical wall (13) of beam (9) for the passage of said wiring (20) and in that said wiring (20) is supported through a U-shaped clip (14, 15, 16).