Furniture Wall Recess Design for Flush-Mounted Fitting Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture side walls struggle to accommodate larger door and flap fittings with deeper installation requirements while maintaining a uniform surface finish and being compatible with conventional woodworking machines, as existing solutions either limit the size of fittings or result in visible transitions and non-matching surface finishes.

Innovation Solution

A composite wall structure featuring a plate-shaped core with a recess milled from one side face, allowing for the integration of fittings with a lever mechanism that retracts fully into the wall, and covered by continuous lateral layers to ensure a uniform surface and accommodate fittings of varying depths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fittings with larger installation depth are used, then the functionality for guiding movable furniture parts is improved, but the wall thickness required increases beyond conventional limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting installation depthVSAvoidwall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The recess is milled laterally from the side face of the core rather than from the end face, utilizing the lateral dimension of the core to accommodate the fitting depth. This allows the fitting to be embedded within the existing wall thickness without requiring additional thickness, as the recess extends sideways into the core structure.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting is nested within the recess of the core, with the cover layer subsequently applied over both the core and fitting. This nesting arrangement allows the fitting to be housed within the wall structure, maintaining a compact overall dimensions while accommodating larger fittings with greater installation depths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If fittings are mounted on the inside of the side wall, then the guidance function is achieved, but the usable storage space and interior structuring are reduced

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

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting is extracted from the interior mounting position and repositioned to be mounted on the end face of the core, outside the furniture body interior. This extraction removes the fitting from the storage space, thereby restoring the usable volume and interior structuring while maintaining the fitting's guidance function through its lateral recess mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a housing is added to accommodate larger fittings, then the installation depth requirement is met, but the surface uniformity and visual appearance are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting accommodation capacityVSAvoidsurface uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The cover layer is applied continuously over both the core and the fitting, merging their appearances into a single uniform surface. This eliminates the visual transition between separate housing and wall components, creating a homogeneous surface finish that maintains aesthetic appearance while accommodating larger fittings within the recess.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If the recess is milled from the end face of the core, then the fitting can be inserted, but the core wall thickness must be sufficiently large which limits design flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting insertion capabilityVSAvoidcore design flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The milling direction is changed from the end face (longitudinal dimension) to the side face (lateral dimension) of the core. This dimensional change allows the recess to be created without requiring excessive core thickness, enabling the use of conventional thinner core materials and providing greater design flexibility for the furniture body while still accommodating the fitting.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3589164B1Wall of a furniture body, method for producing such a wall, and furniture body or furniture comprising such a wall
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 AMBIGENCE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3589164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3589164B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3589164B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a wall for a furniture carcass (10), having a panel-type core (41) which is arranged between two laterally positioned cover layers (43a, 43b). The core (41) has a cut-out (42) which extends at least along one section of an end face (413) of the wall and is used to receive a fitting (30) that guides a movable furniture part. The wall is characterized in that the fitting (30) rests at least against one of the cover layers (43a, 43b). The invention additionally relates to a method for producing such a wall and to a furniture carcass (10) or furniture comprising such a wall.