Smart Furniture Drive System: Intelligent Mobility Tech

Publication ID: 24-11857070_0003_PTD

Published: November 07, 2025

Category:Synergistic Combinations

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Smart Furniture Drive System: Intelligent Mobility Tech,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857070_0003_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857070_0003_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,070.

Background and Problem Solved

The original drive device for moveable furniture parts, as described in the original patent, provides a basic mechanism for opening and closing furniture parts. However, it lacks the ability to intelligently manage and optimize furniture usage, leading to inefficiencies and wasted resources. The present invention addresses this limitation by integrating the drive device with advanced technologies to create a holistic furniture management system.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The invention's novelty lies in the synergistic combination of the drive device with advanced technologies, which creates a new and non-obvious system for intelligent furniture management and optimization. The inventive step is the integration of these distinct technologies to create a holistic system that addresses the limitations of the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention could include integrating the drive device with other technologies, such as augmented reality or robotics, to further enhance the furniture management and optimization system. Variations could include using different types of sensors, access control systems, or predictive maintenance modules to adapt the system to specific use cases or industries.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in various industries, including office furniture, hospitality, healthcare, and education. It can help organizations optimize furniture usage, reduce waste, and improve user experience, leading to cost savings, increased productivity, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Mechanical furniture design and automated furniture movement systems, with expertise in drive mechanisms for furniture components like drawers and movable parts

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer with 3-5 years experience in furniture design, familiar with drive mechanisms, actuators, and integration of electronic control systems with mechanical components

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's proposed variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core drive device technology by integrating known digital technologies with existing mechanical furniture movement systems. The proposed combinations leverage standard IoT, AI, and blockchain technologies to enhance the fundamental mechanical drive mechanism disclosed in the original patent. These integrations represent logical technological progressions that would be obvious to a skilled practitioner seeking to add intelligent features to furniture movement systems.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Drive device for moveable furniture part with ejection mechanism

PTD Variation

IoT-enabled furniture tracking system integrated with drive mechanism

Obviousness Reasoning

Adding sensor-based tracking to a mechanical drive system represents a predictable application of known IoT technologies to enhance monitoring and usage tracking of furniture components

Source Patent Element

Carrier extending in closing direction of furniture part

PTD Variation

AI-powered sensor detecting furniture part position and movement

Obviousness Reasoning

Incorporating position detection sensors into an existing mechanical drive system is a straightforward design enhancement using well-established sensing technologies

Source Patent Element

Ejection device for moving furniture part between closed and open positions

PTD Variation

Blockchain-based access control system for managing furniture component interactions

Obviousness Reasoning

Implementing digital access control for a mechanical movement system represents a predictable technological evolution using standard security technologies

Source Patent Element

Drive mechanism for furniture components

PTD Variation

Machine learning-based predictive maintenance module for monitoring drive device performance

Obviousness Reasoning

Applying predictive maintenance techniques to mechanical systems is a known approach for enhancing reliability and proactive maintenance of mechanical components

Source Patent Element

Furniture movement drive device

PTD Variation

3D printing system for generating customized furniture components

Obviousness Reasoning

Integrating custom fabrication technologies with existing mechanical design systems represents a logical extension of modern manufacturing and design approaches

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857070 and the disclosed technical variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed intelligent furniture management systems and methods to be obvious variations that do not represent a non-obvious inventive step beyond the existing prior art. The combinations of mechanical drive mechanisms with digital technologies represent predictable and routine engineering design choices that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner in the field of furniture design and automated systems.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,070
Title	Drive device for a moveable furniture part
Assignee(s)	JULIUS BLUM GMBH