Polygon Bench Planter Kit for Deck-Matched Composite Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor furniture kits for benches with planters do not closely match decks in terms of color or texture when using dyed composite materials, making it difficult to create cohesive outdoor spaces.
Innovation Solution
A kit for a bench and planter combination that includes specific brackets and support components allowing for the assembly of a polygon-shaped planter body from the same decking boards, ensuring color and texture consistency with the deck, featuring bottom and top corner brackets, corner beads, spacer runners, and a planter tub, which can be customized for various geometric shapes and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pre-fabricated benches and planters are purchased as integral units or separate components, then assembly is simplified, but color and texture matching with the deck deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bench and planter are divided into separate modular components: a bench frame kit and planter kits, each containing pre-fabricated structural elements (corner brackets, support brackets, runners) that can be independently assembled and attached to deck boards. This segmentation allows each component to be separately optimized for both ease of assembly and visual matching with the deck.
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses homogeneous materials throughout - all components are constructed from or attached to composite deck boards of the same material, color, and texture. The frame brackets and support structures are configured to be covered or integrated with deck boards, creating a visually uniform appearance that matches the existing deck surface.
2Shape
If benches and planters are made from the same composite deck boards as the deck, then color and texture matching is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame components (corner brackets, support brackets, runners) are pre-fabricated and pre-configured before final assembly. Corner brackets have pre-formed channels and attachment points; support brackets have pre-positioned holes for board attachment. This preliminary preparation of structural elements significantly reduces the complexity and time required for on-site assembly while maintaining visual matching with the deck.
Solution Approach 2:
Metal frame brackets and support structures serve as intermediary components that simplify the assembly process. These brackets provide standardized attachment points and structural support, making it easier to assemble benches and planters from composite boards while maintaining consistent spacing, alignment, and overall construction quality that matches the deck's appearance.
3Shape
If multiple lots of composite material are used to match deck color, then visual consistency is improved, but material cost and selection complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame bracket designs are universal and can be used with any composite deck board regardless of the specific lot or batch. The standardized bracket configurations (corner brackets, support brackets, runners) work with various board dimensions and are designed to be covered by decking material, making the system universally applicable across different composite material lots while maintaining consistent visual appearance.
Data Source
AI summary
A kit for a planter is disclosed that has a polygon shape and has a selected number of sides and a same selected number of corners. The kit includes a selected number of bottom corner brackets, a selected number of corner beads, a selected number of top corner brackets, a selected number of top frame corner brackets, and a selected number of pairs of spacer runners that each correspond to the selected number of corners. The kit also includes a planter tub sized to fit within a planter body. The brackets and spacer runners are configured to be connected together to form a skeleton to which boards can be attached to form the planter body.