Specifications
Shelving System
EZ Shelving
Specifications
Version 1
Author: Rino Reusser
Zurich, 02nd December 2011
Contractual parties
Customer
(named EZShelving)
EZShelving
Zackary Engel
PO BOX 2614
NY NY 10017, USA
Email: zack@ezshelving.com
Contractor
(named awtec)
awtec AG
Leutschenbachstr. 48
CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Tel. +41 44 307 40 60
Fax +41 44 307 40 61
Email: info@awtec.ch
Author
Rino Reusser
Copy to
EZShelving
Ms Barbara Litschi
Co-Referee
Marco Siegrist, PhD
16 August 2011
Version Date
01
Description
Signature
EZ Shelving
Signature
awtec
06.12.2011 Version 1
Rino Reusser (RR), 09.02.2016 / P-11-41-Specifications
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 2/13
Table of Contents
1.
2.
Product Idea .......................................................................................... 4
1.1.
Description ............................................................................... 4
1.2.
USPs........................................................................................ 4
1.3.
Market ...................................................................................... 5
Product Specification ........................................................................... 6
2.1.
Initial target markets ................................................................ 6
2.2.
Standard Cabinet-Dimensions US-Market .............................. 7
2.3.
Components ............................................................................ 8
2.4.
Functionality ............................................................................ 8
2.5.
Working data ........................................................................... 8
2.6.
Production ............................................................................... 9
2.7.
Assembly ................................................................................. 9
2.8.
Packaging & Distribution ......................................................... 9
2.9.
Mechanical Interfaces.............................................................. 9
2.10. Electrical Interfaces ................................................................. 9
2.11. Standards ................................................................................ 9
2.12. Safety..................................................................................... 10
3.
Prototype Specifications .................................................................... 11
3.1.
Dimensions ............................................................................ 11
3.2.
Components .......................................................................... 11
3.3.
Finish ..................................................................................... 13
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 3/13
1. Product Idea
1.1. Description
The basic idea behind the new shelving system is to improve the accessibility to higher and lower positioned shelves.
Easy access to upper and
lower shelves
Since conventional shelving systems often are not very high, valuable space
up to the ceiling is not used. Thus, the upper shelves and especially their
rear positions are difficult to reach and often out of sight.
Therefore storing rooms such as cabinets or closets often require ladders or
stools to access the uppers shelves. This is not very convenient and may
also be dangerous, particularly when carrying heavy items.
With the new system it will be possible to switch the upper shelves with the
lower ones, allowing easy access to those which normally aren’t easy to
reach.
Figure 1: Patented Revolving Slide System
Additionally, the new shelving-system might also be useful to bring things up
from a lower, inconvenient position. Especially for older or handicapped
people such a solution could become a great help and the market-potential
might even be bigger.
1.2. USPs
The new shelving system shows several major USPs:

Usability of unused, valuable space

Easy accessiblity of inconvenient positions (either high or low)

No additional devices required
There are also similar, competing products such as paternosters or pivotdown systems on the market. Compared to those systems, the new shelving
system has:

quick and easy handling due to clever counter-balancing system

more usable space, since the mechanism is smaller
Competitive products
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 4/13

safer operation, since the vertical and the horizontal movement
aren’t done at the same time

a lower price compared to competitive products
1.3. Market
Following markets may be interesting for the new shelving system and have
therefore been further analyzed:
-
Private kitchen
-
Walk-in closet, wall-unit
-
Garage, basement
-
Gastronomy
-
Office
-
Warehousing
-
Industrial storage
-
Schools, libraries
-
Hospitals, nursing
Different market opportunities
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 5/13
2. Product Specification
2.1. Initial target markets
Three target markets have been identified. These markets are “Private
Kitchen”, “Walk-in Closet & Wall-Unit” and “Office”. Besides the commercial
factors such as potential market-size and pricing, they all have similar requirements, which allow a consistent design.
„Private Kitchen“, „Walkin Closet & Wall-Unit“ and
„Office“ as initial markets
Private Kitchen
With more or less 112 million households, “Private Kitchen” has a huge
market-potential.
Since the new shelving-system is supposed to be significantly cheaper than
similar products, such as the pivot-down system, the market for the new
system is not only for premium-apartments, but also for many others. Due to
limited space in cities, the demand for such a system will be bigger than on
the country side.
Particularly for elderly people and families, the new system could be a great
help.
Marketing tags: City, families, elder people, robust, safe and easy handling,
convenient, affordable
Walk-in Closet / Wall-Unit
For walk-in closets and wall-units we see a similar market-potential as for
private kitchens.
Since you don’t have to climb ladders or stools, the new shelving system
could be a way to increase safety when storing items, especially when they
are heavy.
When pulling down from higher shelves, clothing may get damaged. Particularly when the shelf has sharp edges or when screws aren’t applied properly. With the better accessibility and view, the new system also provides better care for clothes.
Marketing tags: City, robust, safe and easy handling, convenient, smooth,
affordable
Office
With a total of about 27 million companies, the office-market is rather big as
well.
For companies, economic factors are even more important. Accessibility of
space, which could not have been used so far, means savings in floor-space
and a plus in convenience, hence a higher productivity of the employees.
Wall-units and also stand-alone systems could be interesting opportunities.
Marketing tags : Economic, robust, safe and easy handling, increased
productivity
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 6/13
2.2. Standard Cabinet-Dimensions US-Market
The storage system shall fit in standard cabinets (dimensions are shown
below), standard pantries and standard closets.
For standard cabinet
dimensions
The vertical position relative to the ceiling and the floor and to each other
must be adjustable. The change from one width to another requires different
shelf-sizes. The use of the same mechanical supports is a wish.
Base cabinets
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total width
9“, 12“, 15“, 18“, 21“, 24“, 27“, 30“,
33“, 36“, 39“, 42“, 45“, 48“
M
Total hight
34 ½“
M
Max. depth
24“
M
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total width
9“, 12“, 15“, 18“, 21“, 24“, 27“, 30“,
33“, 36“, 39“, 42“, 45“, 48“
W
Total hight
12“, 15“, 18“, 30“, 36“, 42“
M
Max. depth
12“, 24“
M
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total width
9“, 12“, 15“, 18“, 21“, 24“, 27“, 30“,
33“, 36“, 39“, 42“, 45“, 48“
W
Total hight
69“, 70“, 71“
M
Max. depth
24 ½“, 26 ½“, 28 ½“, 30“
M
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total width
24“
W
Total hight
Not relevant / 34 ½“
M
Max. depth
Not relevant / 24“
M
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total width
12“, 15“, 18“, 21“, 24“, 27“, 30“, 33“,
36“
W
Total hight
84“, 90“, 96“
M
Max. depth
12“, 15“, 18“, 21“, 24“, 27“
M
Upper cabinets
Refrigurators
Dishwashers
Ovens
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 7/13
2.3. Components
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Shelf unit
Not specified yet
-
Mechanism
Not specified yet
-
Frame
Not specified yet
-
2.4. Functionality
Whether the new system is working on a switching- or on a revolvingtechnology, has not been specified yet. Both opportunities are covered with
the patent.
2.5. Working data
Private Kitchen / Walk-in Closet & Wall-Unit / Office
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Minimum cycles / year
500
M
Max. Load on shelf-unit
1.5kg per 3”, evenly spread
M
Max. Load on board
1.5kg per 3”, evenly spread
M
Max. Load at the edge
???
M
Safety factor
2
M
Live cycle
20 years
M
Max. load to move
2kg
M
Time to switch shelves
Not specified
-
Figure 2: Evenly spread load vs. load at the edge
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 8/13
2.6. Production
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Methods
Industrial
M
Production costs
< 300 USD
M
2.7. Assembly
The system shall be installed by the end user himself or a contractor. This
may require pre-installed subassemblies.
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Pre-assembly
Not specified yet
-
Final-assembly
By end user or contractor
-
Fittings
Standard fittings
M
Assembling tools (final
assembly)
Standard tools
M
Assembly by end user or
contractor
2.8. Packaging & Distribution
The shelving system will either be delivered or can be picked up at the retailor.
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total package size
Not specified yet
-
Distribution
Via retailor, shipping
-
2.9. Mechanical Interfaces
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Surrounding cabinets
See “total width”
M
Surrounding walls
(floor, wall, ceiling)
Not specified
-
2.10. Electrical Interfaces
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Lights
Not specified
-
Motor
Not specified
-
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Special furniture standards
No standards known
-
2.11. Standards
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 9/13
2.12. Safety
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Fail safe, brake
-
…
-
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 10/13
3. Prototype Specifications
Items which differ from the standard product specifications in chapter 2 are
specified below.
3.1. Dimensions
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Total width
24“
M
Total hight
42“
M
Max. depth
12“
M
Inner dimensions
Not specified yet
-
Requirement
Value/Classification
Typ (M/W)
Shelf unit
2 Shelf-units, each containing 2
boards, Backwall, L-Shape
M
Mechanism
Displacement in hight, Displacement M
in hight, extraction
Frame
Fully framed prototype, Backwall
3.2. Components
M
Figure 3: Fully framed prototype
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 11/13
Figure 4: Shelf spacing 1
Figure 5: Shelf spacing 2
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 12/13
3.3. Finish
In order to present the prototype to potential distributors, the prototype shall
be of final-product quality, especially when it comes to functionality and design. However, the making can be different to the one used to produce serial
products.
www.awtec.ch / Specificaitons EZShelving / 13/13