Cantilever Bracket Structure for Stronger Modular Furniture Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular furniture designs face issues with structural strength at interface points, difficulty in assembly, and a perceived inferior quality due to the use of modular interfaces, which compromise the overall performance and appearance of the product.
Innovation Solution
A bracket design featuring a main body with cantilevers of varying lengths, flanges, and concave portions that form channels for structural members, along with a method of securing these members using fasteners, which enhances strength and simplifies assembly by providing a secure and intuitive assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional modular interfaces are used to connect components, then the product can be assembled in various configurations and distributed in compact form, but the structural strength at the interface point is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is divided into multiple functional segments including a main body, first cantilever, second cantilever, flange, and concave portion. Each segment performs a specific function: the cantilevers provide structural support and positioning, the flange enables attachment, and the concave portion receives and secures the structural member. This segmentation allows the interface to maintain both configurability and structural strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional modular interfaces are used, then components can be manufactured separately and assembled by end-users, but the assembly process becomes difficult and requires extensive directions
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket design incorporates self-aligning features where the first and second cantilevers automatically position themselves relative to the structural member during insertion. The concave portion is shaped to guide the structural member into the correct orientation, and the flange naturally engages with the member's attachment surface. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures or extensive assembly instructions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If visible modular interfaces are used to connect components, then the product achieves modularity and compact distribution, but the perceived quality is reduced as the furniture appears inferior to custom crafted pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with aesthetically pleasing local features including smooth contours on the main body, elegantly curved cantilevers, and a refined flange design. The concave portion is shaped to create a clean, integrated appearance when the structural member is inserted. These local quality improvements make the visible interface elements contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal rather than detracting from it, allowing modular furniture to achieve both adaptability and perceived quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket for securing a structural member, which can be used in the assembly of modular furniture. The bracket includes a main bracket body and a first cantilever having a first length extending longitudinally from the main bracket body and a second cantilever having a second length that is shorter that the first length of the first cantilever, extending longitudinally from the main bracket body and substantially parallel to the first cantilever. The first cantilever is separated from the second cantilever to form a first channel for receiving a first structural member. In an alternative embodiment, a stabilizing member that is detached from the main bracket body may be substituted for the second cantilever to form the bracket.