Modular table and assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass furniture, such as tables, face challenges in packaging and transportation due to fragility and size, leading to potential damage and high logistics costs, while existing designs often lack modular and compact disassembly options.
Innovation Solution
A modular table design featuring edge modules with receiving sections for the top surface and legs, a stabilizing frame, and suction cups for secure assembly and disassembly, allowing for compact storage and transportation, and using tempered glass for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass furniture is packaged and transported as a complete unit, then the product arrives intact and ready for use, but the packaging size and logistics costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The table is divided into separate modular components (top surface, legs, edge modules, frame) that can be disassembled and packaged individually in a compact configuration, reducing overall packaging volume while maintaining product integrity through protected storage positions for each component
2Volume of moving object
If glass furniture is designed as a modular assembly, then packaging size is reduced for efficient transportation, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The furniture is segmented into standardized modules with receiving sections that simplify the assembly process despite the modular design, allowing components to be easily connected through predefined interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
Edge modules serve as intermediary components that connect the top surface to the legs and frame, providing standardized receiving sections that facilitate easy assembly while maintaining structural integrity
3Shape
If glass components are used for aesthetic appeal, then the furniture is visually pleasing, but the fragility increases leading to potential damage during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates protected storage positions within the frame structure where glass components can be securely held during transport, providing beforehand protection against damage while maintaining aesthetic appearance in the assembled state
Solution Approach 2:
Glass components are nested within the frame structure in a compact configuration during storage and transport, with the top surface and legs fitting into protected positions within the frame, reducing exposure to damage while maintaining aesthetic appeal when assembled
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular design reduces packaging size, minimizes damage during transport, lowers logistics costs, and maintains aesthetic and safety features, enabling efficient assembly and disassembly for convenient use.
Implementation Method 1
The rest surface of the horizontal component may include a suction cup having an anchor connected to the rest surface and a suction area for releasably connecting to a first or second end of the top surface
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture item comprises first and second edge modules, each edge module having a substantially horizontal component with a receiving section and a substantially vertical component with a receiving section. The first and second edge modules are spaced and arranged with respect to each other so that the respective receiving section of the horizontal components face each other. A top surface is provided and has first and second ends. The first end is supported by the receiving section of the horizontal component of one first edge module and the second end is supported by the receiving section of the horizontal component of the second edge module. Further, there is a first leg having an upper section accommodated by the receiving section of the vertical component of the first edge module and a second leg having an upper section accommodated by the receiving section of the vertical component of the second edge module.