Shelf having a bi-directional slide and tilt mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shelving systems, especially upper shelves, face difficulties in bi-directional sliding and tilting, which can lead to accidents during loading and unloading, as they often rely on spacing and height for tilting, lacking a dedicated mechanism for enhanced access and safety.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional slide and tilt mechanism is integrated into the shelving system, featuring angled tracks and a switch member with magnets and cam surfaces, allowing the shelf to slide and tilt from both ends, with an activation system that shifts the switch member to connect different track sections, enabling secure and accessible product retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shelves are allowed to hang downward freely for loading and unloading, then access to upper shelves is improved, but the risk of shelf falling from cabinet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic multi-position system. The shelf can be pulled out horizontally on tracks and then tilted downward to a loading position, allowing it to adapt between storage stability and access convenience. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by providing both stable storage and easy loading/unloading through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components including horizontal tracks and tilt mechanisms that mediate between the shelf and cabinet structure. These intermediaries provide controlled movement paths, ensuring the shelf remains guided and stable during both horizontal extraction and vertical tilting, preventing uncontrolled falling while enabling access.
2Device complexity
If a single locking mechanism is used to prevent unauthorized withdrawal, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control bi-directional sliding is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to handle both ends of the shelf. A single locking system can engage with track features at both the front and rear of the shelf, providing secure positioning whether the shelf is pulled out from either end. This universal design maintains simplicity while enabling bi-directional operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system is segmented into multiple sections with distinct functional zones. The tracks include horizontal sections for sliding, angled sections for tilting, and positioned locking zones. This segmentation allows a single locking mechanism to interact with specific track segments to control different phases of movement (sliding vs. tilting) and bi-directional operation.
3Reliability
If shelves are designed to slide out a certain distance before tilting, then controlled tilting is achieved, but the mechanism complexity increases compared to simple downward hanging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two functions (horizontal sliding and vertical tilting) into a single integrated mechanism. The track system combines horizontal and angled sections, allowing the shelf to transition smoothly from horizontal extraction to vertical tilting without separate mechanisms. This merging reduces overall complexity compared to having independent sliding and tilting systems while maintaining controlled tilting.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system uses angled and curved sections to guide the shelf through its movement path. The transition from horizontal to vertical movement is achieved through angled track sections that naturally guide the shelf into the tilting position. This geometric design provides controlled tilting through the track geometry itself rather than requiring additional active control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mechanism enhances access to upper shelves by allowing safe and easy loading and unloading, preventing accidents by providing a controlled tilting and sliding mechanism that ensures the shelf remains stable and accessible from both ends.
Implementation Method 1
The switch member includes a magnet in communication with the cam member such that the magnet attracts the cam member to shift the switch member between a first configuration, in which the first track section is connected to the second track section, and a second configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A shelving system including a cabinet including a product receiving zone. The product receiving zone includes a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side. A shelf member is arranged between the first side and the second side. The shelf member includes a first side portion and a second side portion. One of the first side portion and the second side portion includes a first shelf support and a second shelf support. A bi-directional slide and tilt system is mounted to one of first side and the second side of the product receiving zone. The bi-directional slide and tilt system includes a first portion receptive of the first shelf support and a second portion receptive of the second shelf support. The first portion and the second portion facilitate sliding and tilting of the shelf relative to the product receiving zone.