Shoe rack

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door-mounted storage racks fail to securely hold shoes and other items, leading to them falling due to gaps between cross-bars and shifting when doors are moved.

Innovation Solution

A storage unit with a frame and liner portion, featuring vertically-oriented supports and angled shelving components that extend across the entire space between cross-bars, providing an enclosed rear portion to prevent items from falling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If horizontal cross-bars are spaced apart to form shelves, then storage capacity is improved, but shoes and items can fall through the void spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiditem retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shelving structure is segmented into multiple horizontal cross-bars spaced apart to create storage shelves, allowing storage capacity while maintaining structural integrity. Each cross-bar acts as an independent shelf element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds a vertical dimension to the shelving components by extending them downward from the horizontal cross-bars. This creates an enclosed rear portion that prevents items from falling through the void spaces between cross-bars while maintaining the spaced-apart configuration for storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the rack is mounted on a moving door, then space utilization is improved, but shoes shift and fall due to door movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidrack stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The shelving components are designed with flexibility to accommodate door movement. The components can flex and move with the door while maintaining their structural integrity and continuing to hold items securely in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If cross-bars are arranged with large spacing, then accessibility is improved, but items can fall from front, back or sides of the rack

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoiditem retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shelving components extend downward from the horizontal cross-bars, adding vertical coverage that encloses the rear portion and prevents items from falling through void spaces while maintaining accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The shelving components act as flexible barriers that can move with door motion while continuously preventing items from falling. The components provide a continuous protective barrier rather than relying on rigid fixed structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9756939B1Shoe rack

Publication Date: 2017.09.12 WHITMOR

AI summary

A storage unit for attachment to a door or similar structure is provided. The storage unit can be configured for holding shoes or any other suitably desired items. The storage unit can include a frame portion having two vertical supports and a plurality of horizontal cross supports extending perpendicularly from and between the two vertical supports. The storage unit can further include a liner portion constructed from fabric, plastic or other suitable material. The liner portion can be configured for connection to the frame portion and can include a plurality of shelving supports that can be attached to the plurality of horizontal cross supports in order to create a series of angled shelves along the height of the frame portion.