Partitioning storage rack and building

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing partitioning storage racks allow for unwanted visibility between partitioned rooms, making it difficult for individuals to concentrate on tasks while still being able to check on each other's situations.

Innovation Solution

A partitioning storage rack with alternating first and second type storage portions, where the first type allows visibility and the second type does not, positioned at varying heights to enhance privacy and interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a partitioning storage rack with uniform transparent storage portions is used, then visibility between rooms is maintained, but privacy and concentration for tasks are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility between roomsVSAvoiddistraction from tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The storage rack is segmented into multiple storage portions with different transparency characteristics. Specifically, it includes transparent storage portions (allowing visibility) and opaque storage portions (blocking visibility), creating a segmented structure that provides both visibility and privacy zones within the same partitioning system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the storage rack are assigned different local qualities in terms of transparency. The transparent portions maintain visual connection between rooms, while the opaque portions provide visual privacy, allowing each local area of the rack to serve its specific function for either visibility or concentration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a partitioning storage rack with opaque storage portions is used, then privacy and concentration are improved, but visibility and interaction between room occupants are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistraction from tasksVSAvoidvisibility between rooms

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The storage rack is divided into distinct transparent and opaque segments, allowing users to benefit from both visibility and privacy. The segmentation enables simultaneous achievement of visual connection in some areas and visual privacy in others, resolving the trade-off between interaction and concentration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves from a binary choice (fully transparent or fully opaque) to a multi-dimensional approach by incorporating both transparent and opaque portions vertically and horizontally arranged. This dimensional arrangement allows different viewing angles and heights to provide different levels of visibility, enabling users to concentrate while still having interaction opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If the partitioning storage rack is made fully transparent, then interaction between room occupants is enhanced, but privacy for concentration is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility between roomsVSAvoidconcentration on tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage rack implements local quality differentiation where specific portions are transparent for interaction and other portions are opaque for concentration. This allows users to choose which portions to utilize based on their current need for either social interaction or focused work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting the rack into transparent and opaque portions, the design enables users to maintain interaction through transparent sections while finding concentration opportunities behind opaque sections, thus improving ease of operation for both social and work-related activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the partitioning storage rack is made fully opaque, then privacy for concentration is improved, but interaction and visibility between room occupants is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration on tasksVSAvoidvisibility between rooms

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is segmented to include both opaque portions for concentration and transparent portions for interaction, allowing users to benefit from both privacy and visibility depending on their current activity needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different local portions of the rack have different transparency qualities, enabling users to concentrate behind opaque sections while maintaining interaction possibilities through transparent sections, thus improving overall ease of operation for diverse activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12467255B2Partitioning storage rack and building

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 SEKISUI HOUSE KK

AI summary

A partitioning storage rack includes a storage unit that that can store articles. The storage unit includes a plurality of first type storage units that are configured so that one side of the storage unit is visible from the other side, and a second type storage unit that is configured so that the one side of the storage unit is not visible from the other side. The plurality of first type storage units differ from each other in location in the height direction of the partitioning storage rack.