Suspended Book Display Using Adjustable Tendon Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bookshelf designs restrict the aesthetic arrangement of books, as they must be placed vertically on horizontal surfaces, limiting creative display options and visual appeal.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus where books are suspended from the bottom of a shelf, with each book secured by a thin string inserted between its pages, terminated by a stop that rests on the book's lower side, ensuring the book's upper side remains in contact with the shelf.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If books are suspended from the bottom of the shelf using rubber bands, then books can be displayed hanging below the shelf, but the books hang in disarray with varying distances from the shelf plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay arrangementVSAvoidposition uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A tendon (string) is introduced as an intermediary element between the shelf and the book. The tendon is inserted between the pages of the book and terminated by a stop that rests on the lower side of the book, providing a precise mechanical connection that controls the book's position relative to the shelf plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The length of the tendon is precisely adjusted to match the height of the book, ensuring that the distance between the stop and the lower surface of the shelf plate equals the book height. This parameter adjustment ensures uniform positioning of all books regardless of their weight or size variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If books are placed vertically on horizontal surfaces, then books are stable and easy to store, but aesthetic arrangement and creative display options are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebook storage simplicityVSAvoiddisplay creativity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of suspending books from above (conventional method), the invention suspends books from the bottom of the shelf. The tendon is attached to the lower side of the book, and the book hangs inverted relative to traditional shelving, creating a visually striking display while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from traditional horizontal shelf surfaces to vertical suspension below the shelf. Books are arranged in a vertical dimension hanging from the bottom plate, transforming the display from a horizontal plane to a vertical arrangement that defies conventional gravity-based storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the tendon length is fixed, then the positioning mechanism is simple, but the shelf cannot accommodate books of different heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning mechanism simplicityVSAvoidbook size accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tendon length is made adjustable rather than fixed. Each tendon can be individually lengthened or shortened to match the height of the specific book being displayed, allowing the system to adapt to books of varying sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning system is divided into individual independent tendon units, each capable of being adjusted separately. This segmentation allows each tendon to be customized for its specific book without affecting other books on the shelf, providing flexibility while keeping the overall system simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution creates an aesthetically pleasing visual effect where books appear to defy gravity, as they are evenly spaced and in contact with the shelf, enhancing the shelf's visual appeal and offering a unique display option.

Implementation Method 1

The tendon tensioning mechanism of each winch is its respective tension spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Each upper end of each tendon is wound onto a winch shaft, individual for each tendon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 3

a stop on which the book, which is seated on the string, rests with its lower side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4537704A1Method for stacking books on a book shelf and a shelf for stacking books
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 MAJEWSKI ARKADIUSZ
  • EP4537704A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4537704A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4537704A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The object of the invention is a method for stacking books on a book shelf, and a shelf for stacking books, designed to be fixed on a vertical wall. A method for stacking books on a book shelf, wherein the books are suspended from the bottom of the shelf in such a way that the upper sides of the books are under the lower surface of the bottom panel of the shelf, consists in the fact that each book is fixed by inserting a thin tendon between the pages of the book, which is terminated at the bottom by a stop on which the book seated on the tendon rests with its lower side. The length of the tendon is selected so that the distance between the stop and the lower surface of the lower shelf plate is equal to the height of the book to be fixed and the book with its upper side is in contact with the lower surface of the lower shelf plate. The book stacking shelf according to the invention has at the bottom along the entire length of the lower shelf plate 3 of the shelf 1 a number of tendons 7 of fixed or adjustable length, each tendon 7 at the bottom having an attached stop 8 determining its length. Preferably, each tendon 7 most often has an adjustable length, in which case each upper end of each tendon 7 is wound onto a shaft 4 of a winch, individual for each tendon 7. The winches are attached to the lower plate 3 or upper plate 2 of the shelf 1, advantageously in the interior of the shelf 1 between its upper plate 2 and lower plate 3. The mechanism for tensioning the tendon 7 in each winch is its respective tension spring 9. The winches are fixed in a row in the interior of the shelf 1 and under each of them in the lower plate 3 of the shelf 1 there are holes 6 through which the tendons 7 are threaded with stops 8 at the lower end.