Furniture accessory with annular control array
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for furniture accessories that integrate beverage holders with electrical features and control components to enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of smart home furniture, addressing the limitations of traditional furniture items.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional furniture accessory with a cylindrical body and inner receptacle that slides between retracted and extended positions, featuring a collar with control switches for controlling functions like lighting, heating, and cooling, and a USB port for power supply, integrated with a driving mechanism for adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional furniture items are used, then simplicity and ease of manufacture are maintained, but functionality and aesthetic appeal are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single furniture accessory unit: beverage holder, control component housing, and power supply integration. The outer body and inner receptacle are merged into a unified structure that accommodates both mechanical and electrical components, allowing the accessory to serve multiple purposes while maintaining a cohesive design.
Solution Approach 2:
The furniture accessory is designed as a universal component that can be integrated into various furniture pieces (chairs, sofas, tables). The standardized outer body and control component arrangement allow the same accessory design to be applied across different furniture types, enhancing adaptability while managing complexity through design standardization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control components are integrated into the furniture accessory, then functionality is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control component is segmented into a separate, self-contained unit housed within the outer body. This segmentation allows the control component to be independently designed, tested, and replaced without affecting the entire furniture accessory structure. The electrical features are compartmentalized within the outer body, managing complexity through modular separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control component is nested within the outer body structure, with the inner receptacle positioned to accommodate both mechanical and electrical components. This nesting arrangement allows the control functionality to be integrated into the existing furniture accessory framework, enhancing functionality while utilizing the available space efficiently to minimize overall structural complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the inner receptacle is made extendable, then beverage accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner receptacle is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to slide between retracted and extended positions along the central passage. This dynamic feature enables the receptacle to adapt to different usage scenarios: retracted for compact storage and extended for easy beverage access. The sliding mechanism is guided by the outer body structure, managing complexity through constrained linear motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer body acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates the extension and retraction of the inner receptacle. The central passage within the outer body serves as a guided track, allowing the inner receptacle to move smoothly between positions without requiring complex external mechanisms. This intermediary structure simplifies the extension mechanism by providing built-in guidance and support.
4Ease of operation
If the top end of the inner receptacle is spaced above the outer body, then beverage removal is facilitated, but volume utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The axial spacing between the inner receptacle top end and outer body top end is applied locally at the opening area to facilitate beverage removal. This localized spacing creates a clearance zone that allows easy access to beverages without requiring the entire structure to be larger. The spacing is concentrated where it is most functional (at the opening) rather than distributed throughout the entire volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The design accepts a trade-off in the vertical dimension (axial spacing) to improve operational ease. By creating spacing in the vertical direction at the opening, the design facilitates beverage removal without necessarily increasing the horizontal footprint or overall volume of the accessory. This dimensional approach allows easy access while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture accessory may include an outer body configured to connect to a furniture item, and a receptacle slidably supported in the outer body. The receptacle may be configured to receive a beverage container therein. The top end of the inner receptacle is axially spaced from and above the top end of the outer body when the inner receptacle is in each of a retracted and extended position.