Furniture component and method for producing same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture designs, particularly wall cabinets, face challenges in providing complete access to the interior while maintaining a uniform surface and structural integrity, as conventional fittings protrude into the cabinet space, limiting access and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A furniture component with a wall featuring opening sections on two end faces, allowing the fitting device to move between closed and open positions, enabling pivoting and sliding movements without protruding into the cabinet, thus providing full access and a uniform surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fittings are mounted on the inside of the side panel, then the fitting device can guide the movable furniture part, but the fittings protrude into the interior of the furniture body, reducing usable storage space and impairing the interior structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding functionVSAvoidusable storage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting device is extracted from the interior mounting location and repositioned to mount on the exterior surface of the side panel. This extraction removes the protruding fittings from the interior space, eliminating the conflict between guiding function and storage space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting location is shifted from the interior dimension to the exterior surface dimension of the side panel. By moving the fitting device to another spatial dimension (exterior surface), the patent resolves the space conflict while maintaining the guiding function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If fittings are mounted on the inside of the side panel, then the fitting device can guide the movable furniture part, but cleaning the interior becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding functionVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting device is extracted from the interior mounting location and repositioned to mount on the exterior surface of the side panel. This removal from the interior eliminates obstacles to cleaning access, allowing the interior surface to be cleaned without obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of mounting fittings on the interior side of the panel (conventional approach), the patent inverts the mounting orientation by attaching fittings to the exterior surface, thereby solving the cleaning accessibility problem.

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

3Ease of operation

If door hinges are mounted on the inside of the side panel, then the fitting device can guide the movable furniture part, but the interior structure is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding functionVSAvoidinterior structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting device is extracted from the interior mounting location and repositioned to mount on the exterior surface of the side panel. This extraction preserves the interior structural integrity by removing the need to attach fittings to the interior surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by attaching fittings to the exterior surface rather than the interior surface, thereby preserving the interior structure while maintaining the guiding function.

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

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional milling is used to create a pocket for the fitting device, then the fitting can be installed, but the wall thickness is limited to around 16-20 mm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation methodVSAvoidwall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting device is extracted from the interior pocket mounting concept and repositioned to mount on the exterior surface. This eliminates the need for deep interior milling, allowing thinner walls to be used while still accommodating the fitting device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting approach shifts from interior pocket integration to exterior surface mounting. This dimensional change allows the fitting device to be installed without consuming interior wall thickness, enabling the use of thinner side panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

5Volume of stationary object

If the fitting device moves in opening sections on two end faces, then nearly 100% interior space becomes accessible, but the wall structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessible interior spaceVSAvoidwall structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wall structure is segmented by creating opening sections on the end faces through which the fitting device moves. This segmentation allows the fitting components to traverse through defined openings, enabling complete interior access while maintaining a structured approach to the wall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3840609B1Furniture component and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 AMBIGENCE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3840609B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3b
  • EP3840609B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3840609B1 patent drawingFigure 7a~8b

AI summary

The invention relates to a furniture component (1) and to a method for producing same, wherein the furniture component comprises a wall (2) with at least two opposing side faces (3, 4) and a plurality of end faces (5-8). A receiving chamber (9) is formed in the wall (2) between the side faces (3, 4), in which receiving chamber a fitting (10) for guiding a movable furniture part (35) is received. The fitting (10) comprises a plurality of fitting components (21, 22) and can be transferred into at least two positions (11, 12). The receiving chamber (9) has opening sections (15, 16) on at least two end faces (5, 6) of the wall (2), at which opening sections the receiving chamber (9) is open to the outside. The fitting (10) is designed and configured such that the fitting (10) moves at least in the two opening sections (15, 16) on the at least two end faces (5, 6) when the fitting (10) is transferred from the first position (11) into the second position (12).