Ultra-Thin Shelf Sandwich Structure for Shear-Resistant Displaying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelving devices require thick metal plates to withstand heavy loads and shear stress, leading to high raw material costs and inconvenient manufacturing processes like punching and welding, which can damage the metal.
Innovation Solution
A shelving device with an ultra-thin upper metal sheet and a sandwiched bearing member, fixed using adhesive layers and spacers, allowing for assembly without mechanical stress and reducing material thickness while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick metal plates are used for shelves, then the shelves can withstand heavy loads and shear stress, but the raw material cost increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into multiple thin metal plates (first and second metal plates) separated by a bearing member, rather than using a single thick plate. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with simpler processes while collectively providing the required strength through the sandwich structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining multiple thin metal plates with a bearing member (which may be rigid or semi-rigid material) in between. This composite construction achieves the mechanical strength of thick plates while using thinner, easier-to-manufacture components bonded by adhesive layers.
2Strength
If thick metal plates are used for shelves, then the shelves can withstand heavy loads and shear stress, but the raw material volume and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shelf into multiple thin plates with spacing elements, the design uses less total metal material while maintaining structural integrity. The bearing member fills the gap between thin plates, providing reinforcement without requiring excessive metal volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of thin metal plates combined with bearing members creates a high strength-to-weight ratio construction. This allows achieving the same load-bearing capacity with significantly reduced metal material volume compared to solid thick plates.
3Ease of manufacture
If punching or welding processes are used to assemble shelves, then the metal plates can be connected, but the metal sheets are deteriorated by mechanical stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical connection methods (punching, welding) with adhesive bonding. The adhesive layers join the metal plates and bearing member without applying concentrated mechanical stresses that would damage the metal sheets, thereby maintaining sheet integrity while achieving assembly.
4Quantity of substance
If thin metal sheets are used for shelves, then the raw material cost decreases, but the shelves cannot withstand heavy loads and shear stress
Solution Approach 1:
The sandwich structure combining thin metal plates with a bearing member creates a composite system where the thin plates provide surface integrity and the bearing member provides structural reinforcement. This composite construction enables thin sheets to withstand heavy loads and shear stress that would be impossible for the thin sheets alone.
Solution Approach 2:
Segmenting the shelf into multiple thin plates with spaced bearing members creates a structurally efficient design. The segmentation allows each thin plate to be optimized for its specific function while the overall assembly achieves the required load-bearing capacity through the distributed structure.
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 results in a simple, compact, and economical shelving device with high mechanical features, including resistance to shear stresses, without the need for thick metal plates or invasive manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
said upper metal sheet and said bearing member are fixed together by at least one first adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
a bearing member sandwiched between an upper metal sheet and a lower panel, said bearing member being configured to reinforce said upper metal sheet
Implementation Method 3
The shelf...allowing to be loaded with many articles...high mechanical features, in particular regarding the shear stresses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention provides a shelf for displaying articles, configured to be mounted on a shelving device, wherein said shelf (5) comprises an upper metal sheet (30), a bearing member (33) facing to at least a major portion of said upper metal sheet (30), said bearing member (33) being configured to reinforce said upper metal sheet (30) and at least one first adhesive layer disposed between said upper metal sheet (30) and said bearing member (33), so that said bearing member (33) and said upper metal sheet (30) are fixed together by said at least one first adhesive layer.