System and method for a voxel based furniture system

Abstract

A cellular furniture construction system that includes: a set of voxels, that form a lattice providing the shape and structure of the furniture construction, wherein regions of the furniture construction comprise distinct three-dimensional lattice arrangements of different types of voxels, providing distinct stress/strain properties to the regions; wherein each voxel comprises: a voxel type, defined by the stress and strain property of the voxel, and a discrete cellular three-dimensional structure, enabled to connect with other voxels along any one of the voxel interface surfaces. The system functions as a lightweight, modular, furniture construction system, wherein the system leverages arrangements of different voxel types to construct a furniture structure with desired stress/strain properties to regions of the structure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for a cellular furniture construction, comprising:
 a set of voxels, that form a lattice, providing the shape of the furniture construction, 
 wherein regions of the furniture construction comprise distinct three-dimensional arrangements of different voxel types providing distinct stress/strain properties to the regions; and 
   wherein each voxel comprises 
 a voxel type, defined by a stress and strain properties of the voxel and 
 a cellular three dimensional volume enabled to connect with other voxels along any one of the voxel interface surfaces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of voxels includes:
 a hyperelastic voxel type, wherein each hyperelastic voxel has at least four operating states in response to a compressive stress comprising: 
 a linear elastic state which will have strains from approximately 0 to 5% in response to an initial level of stress of approximately 0 to 5 kPa; 
 a non-linear transition to a high strain elastic buckling state with strains from approximately 5 to 10% in response to a low stress of approximately 5-10 kPa; 
 a second non-linear transition to a high strain collapsing state with strains from approximately 10% to 50%, with relatively little change in stress; and 
 a densification state with strains from approximately 50 to 75%, in response to a high level of stress of approximately 10-25 kPa. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of voxels includes a hyperelastic voxel type, wherein each hyperelastic voxel comprises a Kelvin lattice that has been modified to fit in the cuboctahedron grid, providing intersecting planes of low-connectivity mechanisms that resolve external loading in internal beam bending. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the set of voxels includes a rigid voxel type and a compliant voxel type, wherein
 each rigid voxel a stiffness regime of 10-1000 MPa, and   each compliant voxel has a stiffness regime of 1-100 MPa.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the set of voxels includes a rigid voxel type and a compliant voxel type, wherein:
 each rigid voxel comprises rigid beams and has a triangulated lattice geometry with a high stiffness to weight ratio; and   each compliant voxel comprises corrugated flexure beams.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system includes regions of compliance comprising combinations of voxel types. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the regions of compliance include rigid zones, comprising only rigid voxels. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the regions of compliance include medium zones, comprising a combination of compliant voxels and rigid voxels. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the regions of compliance includes soft zones, comprising a combination of hyperelastic voxels, compliant voxels, and rigid voxels. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the specific arrangement of the set of voxels provides different furniture implementations. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein for a mattress implementation, the system comprises a rigid zone along the exterior perimeter of the mattress construct, followed by a medium zone directly inside the rigid zone, wherein the medium zone encircles a sleeping region covering the majority interior surface of the mattress construct. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeping region comprises a soft zone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeping region of the mattress is subdivided into body regions, rectangular regions crossing the lateral axis of the mattress, comprising:
 two upper/lower-regions, a region situated approximately where a person would rest the majority of their shoulder and a region situated approximately where a person would rest the majority of their legs;   and a mid-region, a region situated approximately where a person would rest their midbody.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper/lower-regions comprise soft zones, and the mid-region comprises five lateral striations, three soft zones striations with two medium zone striations in between. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 medium zones can be made softer by the replacement of rigid voxels with compliant voxels and made harder by the replacement of compliant voxels with rigid voxels; and   soft zones can be made softer by the replacement of compliant voxels with hyperelastic voxels and made harder by the replacement of hyperelastic voxels with compliant voxels.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 each upper/lower-region comprises an soft zone along the perimeter of the region and a softer soft zone in the interior of each upper/lower region; and   the mid-region comprises seven lateral striations, four soft zone striations with three softer, soft zone striations in between.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeping region is ergonomically customized with varying levels of soft zones and medium zones such that a person laying on their side on the sleeping zone, maintains a straight spinal cord. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeping region is ergonomically customized with varying levels of soft zones and medium zones such that a person laying down on their back on the sleeping zone, maintains a straight spinal cord. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeping region is divided into a right side and a left side, and wherein each sleeping region is customized for a different person. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further includes: a fabric cover, a fire retardant layer, and a soft foam layer.