Modular Furniture Frame Assembly for Rigid Interchangeable Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular furniture systems are limited in their ability to offer a wide range of interchangeable components and components that provide both structural rigidity and aesthetic appeal, particularly in work environments.
Innovation Solution
A modular furniture system featuring a base with a frame structure that supports a variety of components such as seating units, casegoods units, armrests, trays, and electronic devices, with a leg assembly and trim members that provide structural integrity and aesthetic appeal, allowing for flexible configuration and attachment of additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If modular furniture systems use a fixed construction with non-interchangeable components, then structural rigidity is maintained, but versatility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The furniture system is divided into separate modular components (seating units, casegoods units, armrests, trays, electronic devices) that can be independently assembled and disassembled on a base frame structure, enabling interchangeability while maintaining overall structural integrity through standardized connection points
Solution Approach 2:
The base frame structure serves as a universal platform that can support multiple different types of modular components through standardized attachment mechanisms, allowing the same base to accommodate various seating units, casegoods, and electronic devices interchangeably
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular furniture systems allow interchangeability of modules, then versatility is improved, but aesthetic consistency and structural rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different modular components are designed with specific local aesthetic qualities (trim members with internal cavities, varied seating unit designs, different casegoods configurations) that maintain visual interest and aesthetic consistency when assembled on the standardized base frame structure
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components feature asymmetric designs with varied shapes, sizes, and configurations (different armrest styles, console arrangements, tray orientations) that create aesthetically pleasing diverse configurations while maintaining structural coherence through the unified base frame
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular furniture systems use a base structure to support multiple components, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base frame structure incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements (supplemental frames, attachable leg assemblies, movable trim members) that allow the furniture configuration to be dynamically adapted to different needs while maintaining a relatively simple underlying structural framework
Solution Approach 2:
Supplemental frames and additional modular components can be nested or attached to the base frame structure in a hierarchical manner, allowing for expanded functionality and complexity only when needed, while the core base remains relatively simple and easy to assemble
Data Source
AI summary
An article of furniture is disclosed. The article of furniture comprises a base frame assembly configured to support an attached seating unit. Other modules or components may also be attached to the base frame assembly. The article of furniture may also comprise a supplemental frame assembly attached to the base frame assembly to extend the size of the article of furniture and to support an additional or larger module or component. The other modules or components may comprise one or more of a casegood unit, a backrest, an armrest, a privacy panel, a console, an outlet (for power and/or data), etc. Electronic devices may be incorporated. A set of articles of furniture is also disclosed; the articles of furniture have a modular construction and can be assembled on the base frame assembly by combinations of modules and components.