Plastic Modular Wardrobe Assembly Without Screws or Tools

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Solution Overview

Problem

Furniture designs often fail to meet the growing demand for versatility, affordability, and ease of configuration to adapt to changing spaces and needs without requiring specialized labor or significant modifications.

Innovation Solution

A modular apparatus composed of plastic modules with integrated coupling and stopping mechanisms, allowing users to easily combine and configure wardrobes with varying heights and shelf configurations, using self-bearing frameworks without external connections like screws, enabling rapid and safe assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional furniture assembly methods using screws, plugs, and external connection means are used, then structural strength and stability are improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates coupling means directly into the modular components themselves, merging the connection function with the structural elements. The coupling means are formed as integral parts of the modules during molding, eliminating the need for separate external connection hardware and simplifying the overall assembly system while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The modular components are designed with self-coupling capabilities where the coupling means are built-in and automatically engage with corresponding features on other modules. This self-service mechanism allows components to connect to each other without requiring external tools, specialized labor, or complex assembly procedures, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If furniture is designed for easy configuration and rapid reassembly by users, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of stable coupling may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of configurationVSAvoidcoupling stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture system is divided into discrete modular components, each with integrated coupling means that are simple in design but reliable in function. The segmentation allows users to easily assemble and reconfigure modules without complex procedures, while the coupling means ensure stable connections through their inherent mechanical design that does not require specialized knowledge or tools for proper engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2741632B1A modular apparatus for realization of wardrobes provided with plastic structure
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 TONTARELLI SERGIO
  • EP2741632B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2741632B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2741632B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a modular apparatus composed of a plurality of modules obtained from molding plastic materials and adapted to be combined at the user's discretion in order to obtain pieces of furniture with different shapes and dimensions, preferably wardrobes.