Vent-Flue Kitchen Rack for Reconfigurable Appliance Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional kitchen installation methods, such as bolting shelves and appliances to the floor or walls, are cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly to reconfigure, often causing damage and inconvenience when changing the layout.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a vent flue with a cavity and a rack with inverted U-shaped brackets that can be inserted into the flue, allowing the rack to be moved laterally without removing the vent cap, enabling flexible repositioning of kitchen features like shelves and cooking appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If shelves and appliances are bolted to the floor or walls for stable installation, then installation stability is improved, but reconfiguration becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the kitchen support structure into modular segments: a fixed vent flue base and movable rack units. The rack can be segmented into different configurations (shelves, appliances, storage units) that can be independently repositioned along the vent flue, enabling stable installation that is easy to reconfigure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack design incorporates dynamic positioning capability along the vent flue through the bracket insertion mechanism. The rack can be moved to different locations and heights by adjusting the bracket positions in the vent flue cavity, providing both stability when positioned and flexibility for reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If shelves and appliances are bolted to walls or floors for secure installation, then installation reliability is improved, but damage to structures occurs during installation and reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the support function from traditional wall/floor bolting and relocates it to the vent flue structure. The brackets insert into the vent flue cavity and engage with the front wall, transferring the load path away from walls and floors, thereby eliminating drilling damage while maintaining installation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent flue acts as an intermediary support structure between the rack and the building structure. Instead of directly bolting to walls or floors, the rack connects to the vent flue, which in turn is anchored to the building structure, reducing direct structural damage.
3Strength
If traditional bolting methods are used for kitchen installation, then structural support is adequate, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent flue structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the rack, acts as an anchoring point, and enables easy repositioning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate support structures and complex bolting operations, reducing installation cost while maintaining structural support strength.
4Stability of the object's composition
If fixed installation methods are used for kitchen features, then position stability is improved, but design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system incorporates dynamic positioning capability along the vent flue through the bracket insertion mechanism. The rack can be moved to different locations and heights by adjusting the bracket positions in the vent flue cavity, providing both stability when positioned and flexibility for reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a rack includes a pair of spaced apart inverted U shaped brackets. Each bracket has a top portion coupled in-between a rear leg and a front leg and forming a gap in-between the rear leg and the front leg. The top portion, the rear leg, and front leg of each bracket are disposed in a first plane. The rack further includes one or more horizontal coupling members coupled in-between the pair of brackets. The horizontal coupling members and the front leg of each bracket are disposed in a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The rack also includes one or more first horizontal supporting members coupled to and extending outward from a first bracket of the pair of brackets. The first horizontal supporting members are disposed in a third plane that is orthogonal to the first and second planes.