Compartment division device for furniture parts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compartment dividing devices for furniture parts, such as drawers and pull-outs, often result in reduced storage space due to the need for additional spacers and anti-slip mats, which can cause profile elements to shift and objects to slide, while also not allowing for customizable sub-areas.

Innovation Solution

The use of flat insert elements, made from materials like plastic, wood, linoleum, cork, or metal, which serve as spacers and lie on the bottom of sub-areas to keep profile elements in place, preventing slipping and allowing for customizable compartment shapes without reducing storage space, and can be adapted to specific objects using magnets or other designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional spacers and anti-slip mats are used to prevent profile elements from shifting, then the profile elements are held in place, but the storage space is reduced due to the additional components occupying space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile element stabilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the spacer function and anti-slip mat function into a single integrated flat insert element. This element simultaneously maintains the distance between profile elements and prevents objects from sliding, eliminating the need for separate spacer and anti-slip mat components, thereby maximizing storage space while ensuring profile element stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flat insert element serves multiple functions: it acts as a spacer to maintain profile element positioning, provides an anti-slip surface for stored objects, and can be customized with magnets or other features for specific storage needs. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating multiple space-consuming components into one efficient element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If profile elements are tightly fixed to prevent slipping, then stability is improved, but the ability to customize and adjust sub-areas is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile element fixationVSAvoidsub-area customization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flat insert elements can be easily removed, added, or repositioned to dynamically adjust the compartment configuration. This allows the system to maintain stable profile element fixation when needed while providing flexibility for customization and adaptation to different storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The use of individual flat insert elements rather than a fixed continuous structure allows for segmented customization. Users can selectively place inserts in different locations to create personalized sub-areas while maintaining the stability provided by the profile elements where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional spacers and anti-slip mats are added to the compartment structure, then slipping is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslipping preventionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the spacer and anti-slip mat into a single flat insert element, the patent reduces the number of components from multiple separate pieces to one integrated element. This simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining both the positioning function and the anti-slip function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flat insert element's multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate spacer and anti-slip mat components. This single element performs both functions simultaneously, thereby reducing device complexity while effectively preventing slipping and maintaining profile element positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution ensures that profile elements remain fixed, prevents slipping, and allows for precise adjustment and customization of sub-areas, optimizing storage space and providing a design function while maintaining anti-slip and cushioning properties.

Implementation Method 1

In another insert element, the flat insert element has magnets and is formed, for example, from a flexible magnet mat, so that ferromagnetic objects, such as meat, shashlik or roulade skewers, for example, are fixed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

Particularly in the case of elastomeric materials, the insert elements also have a dampening effect and have an anti-slip function for the object lying on them.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDampening effect: Damping

Implementation Method 3

In particular, in the case of insert elements made of plastic and possibly linoleum or cork, these can have a certain oversize before insertion, so that they are slightly compressed after insertion and have an even greater holding function for the profile elements.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

The profile elements and the insert elements lie against one another laterally, so that neither the profile elements nor the insert elements can migrate in the inner compartment of the furniture part.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3033969B1Compartment division device for furniture parts
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3033969B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3033969B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3033969B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In a compartment dividing device for furniture parts (10) with inner compartments, for example drawers or the like (12), with a plurality of profile elements (14, 20, 26, 32, 40, 44, 62, 64, 72, 74, 92) which together form a dividing structure form with several compartments, flat insert elements (96) can be inserted or inserted between adjacent profile elements as spacers for the profile elements.