Modular Kitchen Panel and Batten Coupling for Low-Cost Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular kitchen systems face limitations in flexibility and cost due to the need for extensive reconfiguration or replacement of entire modules for modifications, leading to inconvenience and high economic costs for both customers and manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising modular panels, battens, coupling assemblies, covering walls, sliding guide rails, angular supports, hinge assemblies, complementary slats, and corner connecting assemblies allows for easy modification and reconfiguration of kitchen modules without requiring changes to other components, using a reduced number of components and enabling versatile configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If entire modules are substituted to modify kitchen functionality, then the functional requirement is met, but the economic cost and inconvenience increase
Solution Approach 1:
The removable functional inserts (drawers, shelves, appliances) are extracted as separate, independently replaceable components from the main structural module. When modification is needed, only the specific insert requiring change is removed and replaced, rather than substituting the entire module, significantly reducing material waste, cost, and installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The old functional inserts can be easily removed and set aside (discarded from the installation) while the structural framework remains intact. The removed inserts may be recovered, refurbished, or reused in other locations, avoiding the need to discard entire modules and reducing both immediate modification costs and long-term material consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturers maintain dedicated component sets for each module configuration, then customer customization requirements are met, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal structural module design can serve multiple customer customization needs by accepting various standardized functional inserts. Instead of creating dedicated component sets for every possible configuration, manufacturers can maintain inventory of common inserts (drawers, shelves, appliance mounts) that can be combined with the universal framework to meet diverse customer requirements, dramatically reducing the number of unique product codes needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The product line is segmented into a standardized framework platform and a modular catalog of functional inserts. This segmentation allows manufacturers to manage a manageable core framework design while offering extensive customization through the combinatorial possibilities of different inserts, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
3Reliability
If single element damage requires module-level replacement, then structural integrity is maintained, but the loss of substance and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damaged functional insert (drawer, shelf, appliance mounting) is extracted and replaced individually while the rest of the structural module remains in service. This localized replacement approach maintains structural integrity by preserving the sound framework and undamaged components, while minimizing material waste by replacing only the specific damaged element rather than the entire module.
Data Source
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AI summary
A kit for providing modular kitchens, which comprises: a plurality of panels (2), each one defining two mutually opposite greater faces (2a) and four side faces (2b); a plurality of battens (3), each one defining four side surfaces (3a) which are interposed between respective base surfaces (3b); a plurality of coupling assemblies (4), each one adapted for coupling between any side face (2b) of any panel (2) and side surface (3a) of any batten (3), at least in order to provide a plurality of basic modular elements (5) with a box-like shape structure, each one having at least two side panels (2) and one lower panel (2); a plurality of covering walls (6, 6a), which can be stably applied on respective greater faces (2a) of panels (2); a plurality of sliding guide rails (7) for respective drawers (8), such rails (7) being stably anchorable in pairs to mutually opposite pairs of panels (2) and/or of covering walls (6); a plurality of angular supports (9), which are stably anchorable in pairs to mutually opposite pairs of panels (2) and/or of covering walls (6), for supporting electrical household appliances and the like; a plurality of hinge assemblies (10), for the hinging of closing door leaves (11) to respective panels (2) and/or corresponding covering walls (6, 6a).