Modular Recessed Housing for Width Adaptability and Assembly Ease

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing installation structures for furniture in sanitary rooms are difficult to produce and lack modularity, making them inefficient for varying widths and storage optimization.

Innovation Solution

A modular installation housing with a rear wall structure and side parts that can be easily assembled, featuring fastening interfaces and adjustable modules to accommodate different widths, ensuring easy production and versatile use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional built-in housing structure is used, then the housing can be manufactured, but the manufacturing process is complex and difficult to produce

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The built-in housing is divided into separate modular components: side panels with mounting interfaces, back wall structures, and end panels. These modules can be manufactured independently and assembled together, simplifying the manufacturing process while reducing structural complexity. The segmentation allows each component to be produced using standard fabrication methods and then connected through the mounting interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-width housing design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying widths for different furniture structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidth adaptabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure incorporates adjustable mounting interfaces on the side panels that allow the width to be dynamically adjusted. The mounting interfaces include positioning elements that can be configured at different locations along the side panels, enabling the housing to adapt to various furniture widths while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The back wall structure is divided into modular sections that can be selectively assembled to achieve different widths. This segmentation allows the housing to be customized for various furniture dimensions without requiring a completely different structure for each width, thus providing adaptability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple housing widths are manufactured separately, then each width is optimized, but component inventory and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidth variation capabilityVSAvoidcomponent inventory
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The side panels are designed with universal mounting interfaces that can accommodate multiple width configurations. Each side panel contains mounting interfaces with positioning elements that can be used across different housing widths, allowing a single type of side panel to serve multiple functions. This universality reduces the number of unique components that need to be manufactured and stored.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The back wall structure is segmented into standardized modules that can be combined in different quantities to create various widths. By using a small set of standardized back wall modules, the system can generate multiple width configurations without requiring a large inventory of different components. The same modular elements are reused across different housing sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the housing structure is made modular for easy assembly, then assembly is simplified, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting interface is merged into the side panel structure itself, rather than being a separate component. The positioning elements and mounting features are integrated directly into the side panels, reducing the total number of discrete parts while maintaining the modular assembly advantage. This merging simplifies the overall component count while preserving ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3918952B1Recessed housing
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3918952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3918952B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3918952B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

A built-in housing (1) for connection with a mounting structure of a sanitary room comprises a back wall structure (2) with a back wall (3), an upper side wall (4) and a lower side wall (5), a first side panel (6) extending on a first side (7) of the back wall (3) between the upper side wall (4) and the lower side wall (5), and a second side panel (8) extending on a second side (9) of the back wall (3) opposite the first side (7) between the upper side wall (4) and the lower side wall (5), wherein the first side panel (6), the second side panel (8) and the back wall structure (2) are assemblable such that the back wall (3), the upper side wall (4), the lower side wall (5), the first side panel (6) and the second side panel (7) define a housing space (17) in which a furniture structure can be inserted.and wherein the first side panel (6) and the second side panel (8) each have a fastening interface (10) on the outside of the housing space (17) for fastening the installation housing (1) to the mounting structure.