Foldable Furniture Panel With Elastic Paint Hinge Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable panels in furniture kits face issues with ecological safety, fire protection, pollutant emissions, and unsuitable surface structures, particularly due to the use of PVC layers, which are also aesthetically impairing and require adhesives or tapes for hinge functionality.

Innovation Solution

A foldable panel design utilizing a permanently elastic paint layer as the hinge element, which provides durability, rigidity, and high ecological compatibility, eliminating the need for PVC or adhesives, and allowing for a high-quality visual and haptic surface that remains unaffected by fold edges, with optional reinforcement and decorative layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a PVC layer is used as the hinge element on the visible side, then the panel achieves hinge functionality and flexibility, but it causes ecological safety issues, fire protection problems, pollutant emissions, and unsuitable surface structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge functionalityVSAvoidecological safety and fire protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful PVC layer from the panel structure, replacing it with an adhesive layer applied to the rear side. This eliminates the source of ecological and fire safety problems while preserving the necessary hinge functionality through the adhesive's properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an adhesive layer as an intermediary element between the panel parts. This adhesive serves as a mediator that provides hinge functionality without the harmful properties of PVC, acting as a safe intermediate substance that connects the panels while allowing folding motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a PVC layer is used as the hinge element, then the panel achieves flexibility for folding, but the surface structure becomes unsuitable and impairs the visual and haptic impression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding flexibilityVSAvoidsurface structure quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying the hinge element (adhesive) on the visible side as with PVC, the invention inverts the approach by applying the adhesive on the rear side. This allows the visible surface to maintain its aesthetic quality while the rear adhesive layer provides the necessary folding flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If adhesive or adhesive tape is used on the visible side or back to take over the hinge function, then ecological safety is improved, but the fold edge remains visible when unfolded and impairs the optical impression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveecological safetyVSAvoidoptical impression
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies adhesive on the rear side rather than the visible side, inverting the conventional approach. This positioning of the hinge element on the back surface prevents the fold edge from being visible when the panel is unfolded, thereby maintaining optical quality while preserving ecological safety benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If the groove extends through the entire thickness of the base plate, then the hinge function is optimized and the layer can fully assume the folding role, but the structural integrity of the base plate is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge functionVSAvoidbase plate structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The groove is designed to extend partially through the base plate thickness rather than completely through. This partial penetration provides sufficient hinge functionality and flexibility while maintaining adequate structural integrity of the base plate, avoiding excessive removal of material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

The elastic paint layer ensures the panel's durability and rigidity, supports frequent folding, and maintains a high-quality appearance, while reducing production costs and environmental concerns, and can be designed to distribute mechanical stress and enhance stability.

Implementation Method 1

The layer consists of a layer of paint consisting of a permanently elastic paint means that the foldable panel has both great durability and rigidity as well as high ecological compatibility

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2177130B1Collapsible board
Publication Date: 2016.11.02 FRITZ EGGER GMBH & CO OG
  • EP2177130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2177130B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2177130B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The folding plate (2), has a visible face (4), a back side (6) and a base plate (8). A layer (10) forms a visible face and is arranged on the base plate in which a grove (12) is formed. The layer has a lacquer layer that is made up of permanent elastic lacquer. An independent claim is included for an arrangement for packing a piece of furniture kit.