Storage Shelf Base with Tool-Free Assembly and Detachable Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage shelves are complex to assemble and clean, requiring disassembly for thorough cleaning and featuring pre-assembled components that increase manufacturing and transportation costs.

Innovation Solution

A storage shelf design with a stationary support plate and a shelf that can move in rotation and translation, featuring closed circumferential running grooves and rolling elements, allowing for tool-free assembly and easy detachment for cleaning, and eliminating the need for pre-assembly by using detachable fastening elements and a guide channel with a pin and undercut mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the shelf is designed as a pre-assembled unit with integrated components, then the structural integrity and reliability are improved, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf is divided into separate modular components: a support plate with integrated mounting areas, a shelf body with bearing surfaces, and detachable fastening elements. These segments can be manufactured independently and assembled easily by the user without complex pre-assembly, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining structural integrity through proper connection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening elements are extracted as separate detachable components rather than being permanently integrated into the shelf structure. This allows the shelf to be easily assembled and disassembled by users while still providing reliable structural connection when assembled, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the shelf is designed as a pre-assembled unit, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ease of manufacture and transportation are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the shelf into separate manufacturable components (support plate, shelf body, fastening elements), each part can be produced using standard manufacturing processes without requiring complex pre-assembly operations. This reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies transportation, while the assembled structure maintains structural integrity through the connection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the shelf is designed as a fixed assembled unit, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of cleaning is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening elements are designed as detachable components that can be easily removed by the user. This allows the shelf to be completely disassembled for thorough cleaning of all surfaces and crevices, while maintaining structural stability when assembled and in use. The detachment capability resolves the contradiction between stability and cleanability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The shelf transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic system that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The detachable fastening elements enable the shelf to change its state between assembled (stable) and disassembled (cleanable) configurations, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Length of stationary object

If running grooves are integrated into the bearing surfaces, then the overall height of the shelf is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall heightVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The running grooves are merged with the bearing surfaces and manufactured as integral features of the support plate and shelf body components. This integration eliminates the need for separate groove components, reducing the overall height of the shelf while actually simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of parts and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 shelf can be assembled and disassembled simply without tools, reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing costs, enabling easier cleaning and transportation, while ensuring secure attachment and easy removal from the support plate.

Implementation Method 1

The opposing bearing surfaces of the support plate and the shelf each have at least predominantly closed, circumferential grooves in which rolling elements are guided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP3817625B1Storage shelf base for a piece of furniture or household appliance
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3817625B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3817625B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3817625B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a storage shelf base (1) for an item of furniture (11) or household appliance (12), comprising a support plate (2) stationarily arranged on a body (13, 14) of the item of furniture (11) or household appliance (12), and a storage shelf (3) which is positively driven relative to the support plate (2) and can simultaneously be moved rotationally and translationally, wherein facing bearing surfaces (21, 33) of the support plate (2) and the storage shelf (3) have respective at least substantially closed circulating running grooves (22, 34), in which rolling elements (10) are guided, wherein the support plate (2) can be detachably secured to the body (13, 14) of the item of furniture (11) or household appliance (12). At least one securing region (25) for detachably securing the support plate (2) to the body (13, 14) of the item of furniture (11) or household appliance (12) is formed on the support plate (2) and the storage shelf (3) can be secured to the support plate (2) without the use of tools. The invention also relates to a piece of furniture (11) or household appliance (12). The invention further relates to a mounting the storage shelf base (1).