Modular Seating Assembly with Upright Leg-Flange Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional modular seating assemblies are cumbersome and costly due to their bulky nature, requiring complex assembly processes that involve aligning multiple connectors and often necessitate flipping the furniture to attach legs, leading to inefficiencies in transportation and storage.
Innovation Solution
A modular seating assembly method utilizing leg modules with flanges that have coupling and support sections, allowing for upright assembly and support without requiring the leg modules to be coupled to the seat or backrest modules, thereby simplifying the assembly process and reducing the need for flipping the furniture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional modular furniture are assembled as individual chairs and secured to adjacent chairs in a piecemeal fashion, then the furniture can be transported and stored in smaller spaces, but the assembly process becomes complex requiring simultaneous alignment of multiple connectors and often necessitates flipping the furniture to attach legs
Solution Approach 1:
The furniture is divided into modular components (seat modules, backrest modules, leg modules) that can be transported separately in compact configurations. Each module is independently assembleable, allowing for space-efficient transportation and storage while maintaining the ability to form complete furniture pieces through simple connector alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
Leg modules are pre-assembled with seat and backrest modules before final assembly. The connectors are pre-positioned on the modules, eliminating the need for complex simultaneous alignment during final assembly. This preliminary preparation of components simplifies the final assembly process significantly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the last module to be attached is the legs or feet to an underside of the assembled piece of furniture, then the furniture structure is completed, but the entire piece of furniture must be flipped on its side or back to attach the legs to both adjacent modules
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attaching legs to the underside of an already-assembled furniture piece (which requires flipping), the invention inverts the sequence by pre-attaching legs to individual modules. The modules with pre-attached legs are then connected to each other in an upright position, eliminating the need to flip the furniture during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are preliminarily attached to the seat and backrest modules before the final assembly of the complete furniture piece. This preliminary action allows the legs to be positioned correctly without requiring the furniture to be flipped, making the assembly process easier and more efficient.
3Stability of the object's composition
If connectors on multiple modules are simultaneously aligned to form an individual chair, then the chair structure is formed, but the process becomes difficult when connectors are on multiple modules
Solution Approach 1:
The chair assembly is segmented into individual modules (seat module, backrest module) that each have their connectors pre-positioned. This segmentation allows for simpler, sequential assembly rather than requiring simultaneous alignment of multiple connectors across the entire chair structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Connectors are preliminarily positioned on each module during manufacturing, ensuring correct alignment is built into the modules themselves. This eliminates the difficulty of simultaneous connector alignment during assembly, as the connectors are already in their proper positions on each module.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular seating assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of modules comprising at least one seat module, wherein the plurality of modules includes a first module and a last module, and at least two leg modules comprising a leg portion and a flange mounted to the leg portion, wherein the flange has a top surface comprising a coupling section and a support section, wherein the coupling section is configured to couple to a coupling side of each of the plurality of modules except for the last module and the support section is configured to support each of the plurality of modules except for the first module on an opposing side or an adjacent side to the coupling side of the plurality of modules, and wherein the support section is uncoupled from the opposing side or the adjacent side of the plurality of modules.