Furniture Tabletop With Underside Inductive Charging Recess
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Solution Overview
Problem
Furniture panels with integrated electrical charging capabilities restrict the usable surface area due to the presence of sockets and cables, limiting mobility and flexibility in charging electrical devices.
Innovation Solution
A furniture panel with an inductive charging system, where an electronic component with a coil is embedded in the panel's underside, allowing wireless energy transfer to devices placed on the surface, eliminating the need for sockets and cables, and optionally enabling data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a socket is integrated into the furniture panel for charging electrical devices, then electrical devices can be charged on the furniture panel, but the usable surface area of the furniture panel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging function from the surface of the furniture panel by integrating a socket into a recess on the underside of the panel. This allows the top surface to remain completely clear and usable, while the charging functionality is provided through the recessed socket on the bottom side, eliminating the trade-off between charging capability and usable surface area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a charging cable is used to connect the electrical device to the socket, then the electrical device can be charged, but the cable lies on the worktop and restricts the available area and creates safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the charging cable from the work surface by integrating the socket into the furniture panel itself. The electrical device can be charged by placing it directly on the panel surface near the recess, eliminating the need for external cables to lie across the worktop, thus removing the obstruction and safety hazards while maintaining charging capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a socket is provided on the furniture panel, then charging is enabled, but corresponding chargers and cables must be carried along which limits mobility and flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging functionality directly into the furniture panel by providing a recess with an integrated socket on the underside. This combination allows the furniture panel itself to serve as the charging station, eliminating the need to carry separate chargers and cables, thereby enhancing mobility and flexibility while maintaining charging capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a more efficient use of the surface area, enhances mobility by eliminating cables, and simplifies handling while ensuring secure energy transfer and data exchange without visual obstructions.
Implementation Method 1
the electronic component being designed to feed electrical energy inductively on the upper side of the furniture panel relative to the electronic component can be arranged electrical device
Data Source
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AI summary
The furniture panel has recess (20) formed on panel underside to hold electronic component that is configured to wirelessly transmit electrical power to electrical device (50) such as smart phone arranged on upper side (11) of panel relative to electronic component, so as to charge energy storage device of electric device. The electronic component is arranged in housing (60) which is provided in form-fitting and force-locking manner in recess. The electronic component has coil (31) arranged within housing in a state facing stable, non-metallic material made housing top portion (61). The panel is made of wood, synthetic material, glass, and composite material such as wood composite, laminate of wood fiber material, and polymethyl methacrylate and ceramic. The coil is embedded in a solid material such as thermosetting resin, an epoxy resin or a glass fiber reinforced plastic.