Self-supporting spatial structure, particularly for furniture construction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional furniture construction methods face limitations such as difficulty in achieving thick walls without increasing mass, inability to create butt joints with different boards, and the need for separate production processes for rounded corners, which restrict design flexibility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A self-supporting spatial structure is created by folding a cut-out sheet with symmetrical trapeziums and rectangular holes, using laminated composite materials like AL/LDPE/AL laminate, which can be folded to form various geometric shapes and stiffened with internal elements, allowing for flexible design and decoration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional furniture construction uses horizontal and vertical board components with metal connectors and pins, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single connector element that integrates both joining and stiffening capabilities. The connector features a body with a joining portion that connects two board components and a stiffening portion that reinforces the joint, eliminating the need for separate metal connectors and pins while maintaining structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs joining, stiffening, and positioning functions. The connector can be used with various board thicknesses and configurations, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If furniture structures use thick walls to avoid significant increase in mass, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into distinct functional portions: a joining portion for connecting board components and a stiffening portion for reinforcing the joint. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while being manufactured as a single integrated component, simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector can be manufactured from composite materials or laminated structures that provide high strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the creation of stiffening features without significantly increasing the overall mass of the furniture structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional furniture construction uses separate production processes for rounded corners and edging, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates edging and corner rounding operations into the primary board component manufacturing process. The board components are designed with integrated edging features and rounded corners that are formed during the same manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate production steps and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If furniture construction uses multiple hardware components for joining, then joint strength is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint strengthVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple joining functions into a single connector component that integrates the capabilities of metal connectors, pins, and stiffeners. This single component can be easily manufactured and installed, replacing multiple separate hardware components while maintaining or improving joint strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3378355B1Self-supporting spatial structure, particularly for furniture construction

Publication Date: 2022.05.04 PIOTR BABEL

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AI summary

A self-supporting spatial structure, particularly for furniture construction, comprising connectors and walls, characterised in that the structure is created by folding a cut-out sheet along the incisions, creating at least two parallel rows of rectangles (1) or squares (1) separated by symmetrical placed triangles (2), whose apexes coincide with the line of incision of the first row, and the angle between them is the condition for the angle between the blocks after folding by complementing the angle to obtain 180° and the trapeziums (1) joining these parallel rows of rectangles (1) or squares (1) and which are provided with foldable triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular overlaps (5), wherein in the second row of the rectangles (1) or squares (1) the rectangles or squares are separated by symmetrical trapeziums (6) touching each other along shorter bases, wherein the bases are located in the line of incisions of the first row of the rectangles (1) or squares (1), and a rhombic pass-through cut-out (7) is created between symmetrically-placed triangles and symmetrical trapeziums.