Furniture joints for increased stability in modular beds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Premanufactured furniture often suffers from instability due to loose joints, which can lead to wobbliness and compromised safety and user satisfaction, as fasteners tend to loosen over time.

Innovation Solution

A dovetail tenon and socket joint system is used to securely attach bed legs to rails, providing stability independent of fasteners, along with a modular bracket system for versatile bed configurations, allowing the bed to be used in various forms without requiring different hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If screws or cam lock fasteners are used to assemble furniture, then the furniture can be partially premanufactured and easily assembled, but the joints become unstable and wobbly over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidjoint stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The joint is divided into separate components: a recessed portion in one member and a protruding portion in the other member, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding portion is inserted into and nested within the recessed portion, creating an interlocking joint where one component fits inside another to provide stable connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If traditional fasteners are used in furniture joints, then assembly is simple, but the fasteners loosen over time compromising safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidfastener loosening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed and protruding portions are pre-formed during manufacturing, so that when assembled they automatically engage in a stable configuration without requiring additional fastening actions that could loosen over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The joint design allows the furniture pieces to self-align and self-secure through the recessed-protruding portion engagement, eliminating dependency on fasteners that require maintenance to prevent loosening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If premanufactured furniture with standard fasteners is used, then production is efficient, but the furniture lacks versatility for different configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed and protruding portion joint system can be used across multiple furniture pieces and configurations, allowing the same basic joint design to serve different functional needs and arrangements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240206629A1Furniture joints for increased stability in modular beds

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 DAVIS CLARK

AI summary

A modular bed allows users to reconfigure the bed to suit different room requirements and to suit different users. A bed leg may be attached to a bed rail with a dovetail tenon and socket to allow the bed leg to be removed if desired or to change length of style of the leg. The leg joint provides a highly stable and secure joint. A rail bracket may be used to attach bed rails to bed posts in different locations and in different configurations to allow the same bed components to form part of a floor bed, a conventional bed, a loft bed, or a bunk bed. The bed provides improved strength and stability.