Furniture Supply Unit Modular Electrical Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of electrical consumers, such as lighting units, in furniture is complex due to the need for electrical connections, which are typically made after the furniture is in place, making it difficult to connect multiple furniture bodies electrically.

Innovation Solution

A furniture supply unit with a housing, input and output interfaces, and a control device that regulates energy and data, allowing for easy electrical connection of multiple furniture bodies and consumers, using standardized cables and potentially wireless communication for simplified installation and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an opening is provided in the furniture side wall to guide the supply cable into the furniture interior, then the electrical consumer can be connected to the power source, but the installation process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of electrical connectionVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture supply unit is pre-assembled with the supply cable already connected to the electrical consumer inside the furniture. This preliminary preparation allows the entire unit to be installed as a single module by simply connecting the output interface to the furniture's input interface, eliminating the need for complex in-situ cable routing and electrical connections after furniture installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple furniture bodies are to be electrically connected, then comprehensive electrical coverage is achieved, but the complexity of electrical contacting increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of electrical contacting
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection system is segmented into modular furniture supply units, each with standardized input and output interfaces. Each unit can be independently installed on any furniture body, and multiple units can be connected in series through simple interface connections, transforming a complex multi-point electrical installation into a series of simple modular connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The furniture supply unit employs standardized input and output interfaces that can be universally connected to any furniture body. This universal interface design allows the same supply unit to be used across different furniture pieces, enabling flexible electrical networking of multiple furniture bodies without requiring custom connection solutions for each configuration.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3879943A1Furniture supply unit for arrangement on a furniture body of a piece of furniture
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3879943A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3879943A1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3879943A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Furniture supply unit for mounting on the carcass of a piece of furniture, wherein the furniture supply unit comprises a housing configured to be mounted on the carcass, wherein the furniture supply unit includes an input interface and a first output interface, the input interface configured to be connected to a first power and/or data cable, and the output interface configured to be connected to a second power and/or data cable. The furniture supply unit is characterized by the fact that it includes a control device, the control device configured to regulate power and/or data so that power and/or data supplied at the input interface are transferred in a controlled manner to an output interface.