Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body structure for a door or other furniture is provided. A skeletal framework is placed on an uncured artificial stone mix deposited on a release sheet placed on a surface. Liquid structural foam is introduced within the skeletal framework. The skeletal framework is wrapped with the release sheet comprising the uncured artificial stone mix such that the skeletal framework is completely covered with the uncured artificial stone mix. The wrapped skeletal framework is placed in a chamber of a defined volume. The uncured artificial stone mix is compressed by the expanding liquid structural foam and conforms to the internal shape of the chamber. The foaming action generates heat that accelerates curing of the uncured artificial stone mix to create an outer cured artificial stone skin of the body structure. After removal from the chamber, the release sheet is separated and the body structure is polished.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a furniture body is provided. A release sheet, for example, a silicone rubber sheet, deposited with an uncured artificial stone mix is placed on a surface. A central core comprising, for example, paper honeycomb, is placed on the release sheet deposited with uncured artificial stone mix. Decorative materials, for example, ornamental glass, semiprecious stones, etc. may be included on the release sheet. Pressure may be applied to compact the artificial stone mix deposited with a backing of glass fiber and resin. The central core is wrapped with the release sheet deposited with the uncured artificial stone mix. The release sheet is removed after the deposited artificial stone mix is partially or fully cured over the central core. The wrapping provides a continuous surface of the artificial stone mix over the sides, edges, corners, and curved surfaces of the central core, thereby eliminating joint lines.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a decorative surface of a furniture body or building structure comprises: manufacturing a layer of an art release sheet, depositing an uncured artificial stone mix on the art release sheet, compacting, and wrapping the art release sheet around a central core. The uncured artificial stone mix is allowed to partially or fully cure, wherein the art units in the art release sheet are embedded in the artificial stone mix. The decorative surface may be manufactured by loading an art deposit frame with art particles of a predetermined quantity and size, placing and vibrating the loaded art deposit frame on a base layer to create an art unit, and depositing an uncured artificial stone mix on the base layer comprising the art unit. Pressure is applied on the uncured artificial stone mix to compact and allow the artificial stone mix to partially or fully cure.

Abstract: A body structure for a door and/or furniture is provided. The body structure comprises a first artificial stone skin backed with a first fiber layer, a second artificial stone skin backed with a second fiber layer, and a central composite core comprising porous ceramic blocks and porous ceramic pieces and structural foam or an artificial stone mix. A reinforcing grid is placed between the first artificial stone skin and the second artificial stone skin. The body structure for a door and/or furniture is manufactured by manufacturing artificial stone skins, manufacturing a central composite core comprising porous ceramic blocks and porous ceramic pieces between two of the artificial stone skins, and introducing a liquid mix of structural foam or an artificial stone mix between the artificial stone skins, whereby the structural foam or the artificial stone mix fills gaps between the porous ceramic blocks, sets to create the central composite core.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for providing illumination within a furniture module is provided. The lighting apparatus comprises a means of capturing kinetic energy of a moving part of the furniture module, a means for converting the kinetic energy into electric energy, and a means of converting the electric energy into light energy for lighting up the space within the furniture module. The lighting apparatus is attached to the furniture module. The means of converting kinetic energy into electric energy is, for example, a mechanical gear based assembly or a piezoelectric crystal based assembly. The light source is activated using a rechargeable battery or by using a continuously generated electric current in the short duration of the operation of the furniture module. The lighting apparatus is either directly attached to the furniture module or is an integral part of a furniture hinge.

Abstract: A surface material is provided for furniture and building structures. The surface material comprises a layer of artificial stone and a layer of fiber reinforced resin. The surface material may further comprise a separator material, for example, a metal strip, a fiber strip, etc. that defines partially or wholly a boundary edge of the layer of artificial stone. The layer of fiber reinforced resin partially or fully encompasses the artificial stone and/or the separator material on all sides and surfaces except exposed decorative surfaces. The surface material may further comprise a decorative material comprising, for example, ornamental glass, semiprecious stones, metal art, colored quartz, glass, stone jewelry, etc. embedded within the layer of artificial stone. The surface material is used to cover a central core for forming the furniture and the building structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a ceramic hinge to connect two ceramic bodies, comprising the steps of: shaping a separation insert in the form of a hinge, introducing the separation insert into a ceramic body, thereby separating the ceramic body into a first part and a second part; and heating the ceramic body and the separation insert of the ceramic body up to the sintering temperature of the ceramic body. The separation insert creates either a cavity in the case of a combustible insert or a soft pad in the case of a ceramic fiber based insert within the ceramic body. This cavity or soft pad allows a hinge or rotary movement between the first part and the second part of the ceramic body. The first part and the second part of the ceramic body can therefore freely rotate or hinge around one another.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for providing a consumer with information on lifecycle of a product at the point of sale. The product lifecycle information comprises lifecycle assessment data on the product with a specific focus on social, environmental, and energy impact attributes of the product. The product lifecycle comprises product creation, product usage, waste disposal, and product disposal. A lifecycle assessment entity is provided to deliver information on the product lifecycle. Information related to the lifecycle of the product is captured automatically and stored in a product information bank. The consumer requests for lifecycle information on a particular product and the requested lifecycle information pertaining to the product is retrieved from the product information bank and delivered to the consumer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for capturing desires and needs of a consumer. A toolbar application is provided to the consumer. The toolbar application accepts inputs from the consumer. The inputs are desires and needs of the consumer. The inputs of the consumer are transmitted to a central intelligence server. The central intelligence server analyzes the inputs and categorizes the inputs of the consumer into product and service categories. The categorized inputs of the consumer are then sold to the vendors of the related products and services. The toolbar application thereby enables the vendors to capture the desires and needs of the consumer.

Abstract: The method and system disclosed herein provide a means for developing product designs for a given product concept of a problem provider over a network. A problem provider inputs product design requirements of a product concept in a user interface. An environmental element module identifies environment elements for the product concept. A secondary perspective function module identifies secondary functions that can be added to the product concept from the perspective of the environmental elements. A components and applications selection module derives components for the product concept and secondary functions. A masking module masks the application of product concept. A vertical independent classification system (VICS) is provided that is a repository of functions with predetermined linkages, with solution provider classified under each function. Solution providers are selected from VICS for the masked product concept and secondary functions.

Abstract: The present invention illustrates a method and system of textual analysis for designing a new product for a required end application using textual analysis of information sources. A method and system of textual analysis is presented for designing a new product for an entirely new end application using one or more existing components. The method of designing a new product for a required end application comprises the steps of listing the existing components, identifying and extracting new components, creating new sets of components, generating specification parameters and ranking the new sets of components based on synergy and specification parameters. The method of designing a new product for an entirely new end application, comprises the steps of listing the existing components, searching the claims of patent documents and identifying preambles that represent new applications, replacing the means of achieving known functions under these preambles and ranking the new sets of components.

Abstract: This invention discloses a computer-based method for identifying components to build products and for identifying new applications of a component or product to enable cross-industry marketing of that component or product. The method comprises the following steps: implement product, component and application extraction logic functions to differentiate and classify the claims in patent documents into product claims and process claims; segment a product claim into a product, component and application sections and extract product, component and their application information and create a product application database; conduct a search in the product application database to determine a set of product records containing, product, component and application information; focus the search by input of available information on the product, application and component; and rank resulting records comprising the unmet products, components and applications.