Storage Shelf Base with Closing-Support Device for Reliable Retraction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage shelf bases for furniture and household appliances often fail to reliably reach their initial position, leading to malfunctions and potential damage when trying to close doors, especially when moving from an intermediate to an initial position during loading or unloading.

Innovation Solution

A storage shelf base with a support plate and a storage shelf that can move in rotation and translation, featuring closed circumferential grooves for rolling elements and a closing-support device, such as a wedge-shaped web or rib structure, to ensure the shelf reaches its defined initial position smoothly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the storage shelf is moved from initial position to intermediate position for loading or unloading, then accessibility to storage surfaces is improved, but the storage shelf may fail to return to its initial position, causing door closure problems and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to storage surfacesVSAvoidreturn to initial position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closing support device is pre-configured with an inclined support surface that automatically engages when the storage shelf moves toward the initial position. This preliminary arrangement of the support structure ensures that the shelf is guided back to the correct position without requiring user intervention, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The closing support device acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the storage shelf and the support plate. It provides the necessary support force during the closing movement, ensuring the shelf returns to its initial position reliably. The device mediates the transition from intermediate to initial position, preventing malfunctions and door closure problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a closing-support device is added to ensure reliable return to initial position, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereturn to initial positionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closing support device is merged with the existing support plate structure. The inclined support surface is integrated into the support plate itself, and the device shares structural elements with the base plate and support plate assembly. This merging approach provides the necessary closing support function while minimizing additional complexity in the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the support plate is inclined to facilitate closing movement, then ease of operation is improved, but the overall height of the storage shelf base increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosing movementVSAvoidoverall height

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The inclination is applied locally only to the support plate surface in the area where the closing movement occurs. The base plate remains horizontal, and only the relevant portion of the support plate is inclined. This localized application of inclination facilitates closing movement while minimizing the impact on the overall height of the storage shelf base.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution allows for reliable retraction of the storage shelf into its initial position without user intervention, preventing door malfunctions and damage, while maintaining a low overall height and preventing object slipping.

Implementation Method 1

the bearing surfaces of the support plate and the storage shelf facing each other have at least predominantly closed circumferential grooves in which rolling elements are guided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

the closing-support device is formed by a wedge-shaped web or by a ribbed structure between the base plate and the support plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11000124B2Storage shelf base and item of furniture or household appliance

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A storage shelf base for an item of furniture or household appliance, includes a base plate stationarily secured to a body of the item of furniture or household appliance, a support plate arranged on the base plate, and a storage shelf, which is positively driven relative to the support plate and can simultaneously be moved rotationally and translationally. Facing bearing surfaces of the support plate and the storage shelf have respective at least substantially closed circulating running grooves, in which rolling elements are guided. The storage shelf is movable relative to the support plate, out of an initial position into an intermediate position, in an opening movement, in which the storage shelf is rotated relative to the support plate in a rotational direction and shifted in a predetermined direction and can be moved out of the intermediate position back into the initial position in a closing movement. The support plate has a closing-support device supporting the closing movement of the storage shelf.