Modular Counter Display Stand With Removable Facings for Easy Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current event furniture, such as counters and buffet tables, are heavy, difficult to transport, and require frequent re-coating, leading to high operational and carbon footprint costs, with existing solutions being impractical and costly due to their one-piece construction and lack of modularity.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional modular counter/display unit made of lightweight aluminum alloy frames with removable and interchangeable facings and trays, allowing easy assembly and disassembly, and featuring a mobile base with casters for reduced handling and transport burdens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If one-piece furniture made of chipboard with melamine coating is used, then the display surface is clean and easy to clean, but the furniture becomes heavy and difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture is divided into separate components: a metal frame structure and removable tabletop surfaces. This segmentation allows the heavy chipboard melamine furniture to be broken into lighter, more manageable pieces that can be easily assembled and disassembled, reducing handling difficulty while maintaining the clean, easy-to-clean surface quality of the tabletops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If one-piece furniture is continuously transported, then the furniture serves multiple event locations, but the melamine wood coating has a very short lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidcoating lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the tabletop surfaces from the support structure, the design allows selective replacement of worn surfaces while retaining the durable metal frame. This extends the overall furniture lifespan and enables the coating to be renewed without replacing the entire piece, maintaining adaptability for multiple locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable tabletop design allows worn melamine surfaces to be easily removed and replaced with fresh surfaces, while the metal frame is recovered and reused. This extends the functional lifespan of the furniture system while maintaining its transportability for multiple event locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Volume of moving object

If removable buffet counters with folding legs are used, then the furniture occupies much less space in transport vehicles, but the furniture becomes fragile and easily deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport volumeVSAvoidstructural reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The design combines a durable metal frame structure with removable tabletop surfaces, creating a composite furniture system that achieves both compact transportability and structural reliability. The metal frame provides strength and stability, while the removable surfaces can be protected during transport, overcoming the fragility issue of folding leg designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If custom-made furniture is assembled on site, then the furniture fits specific event requirements perfectly, but the manufacturing and assembly costs become very expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization fitVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The modular design with standardized metal frame components and interchangeable tabletop surfaces allows for easy customization at events without requiring expensive custom manufacturing. Different table configurations and surface types can be assembled from standard components, achieving event-specific fit at lower cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized modular components can be configured for various event types and requirements using the same basic building blocks. This universality eliminates the need for expensive custom-made furniture for each event while still achieving the required adaptability and fit for different purposes.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2661984B1Modular multifunction counter/display stand
Publication Date: 2014.12.24 CERGY LOCATION SERVICES C L S
  • EP2661984B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2661984B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2661984B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The stand has a metal framework (1) formed by a rectangular front metal frame (1a) and rectangular side metal frames (1b, 1c). Each metal frame is formed by aluminum alloy sections. A set of front facings (2a) and a set of side facings (2b, 2c) are fixed with the frontal frame and the side frames, respectively. A removable presentation plate (2d) is fixed at the metal framework to an upper part of each metal frame. The front and the side facings and the presentation plate are fixed at the metal frames through a non-permanent adhesive band.