Angleable Panel Locking Device for Tool-Free Furniture Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture assembly and disassembly methods require tools and are cumbersome, particularly for products like bookshelves, cupboards, and wardrobes, which lack efficient mechanisms for unlocking and reconfiguring panels without visible gaps or tools.
Innovation Solution
An angleable locking device with a flexible tongue and groove system that allows panels to be locked and unlocked through an angling motion, enabling disassembly without tools by increasing the angle between main planes and facilitating linear displacement, while maintaining a tight joint without visible gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a mechanical locking device with flexible tongue is used to lock panels perpendicular to each other, then the locking strength and joint stability are improved, but the difficulty of disassembly increases due to requiring tools and complex unlocking procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic unlocking state through angling motion. The flexible tongue is designed to deflect and move relative to the groove when an angling motion is applied, enabling the locked panels to be unlocked by changing the angle between panels rather than requiring tool-based manipulation. This dynamic behavior allows easy disassembly while maintaining strong locking when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism utilizes changes in the angular parameter between panels to control the locked/unlocked state. When panels are assembled perpendicular to each other, the locking tongue engages with the groove. When an angling motion increases the angle between main planes, the tongue moves out of the groove, unlocking the connection. This parameter-based control simplifies disassembly operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the locking device uses a flexible tongue in a groove for securing panels, then the joint stability is improved, but the complexity of the device structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device employs a flexible tongue element that can deflect and move within a groove. This flexible component provides the necessary stability for securing panels while allowing simple geometric engagement through the groove structure. The flexibility of the tongue reduces the need for complex locking mechanisms, achieving joint stability with a relatively simple device structure.
3Strength
If panels are locked together with a mechanical locking device, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ease of reconfiguration and disassembly worsens due to tool requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device enables self-service disassembly through angling motion. The flexible tongue automatically moves out of the groove when the angle between panels is increased, allowing users to disassemble and reconfigure furniture without requiring external tools. This self-service mechanism maintains structural integrity during normal use while enabling easy reconfiguration when needed.
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
Enables easy disassembly and assembly of furniture products by allowing panels to be unlocked and reconfigured through an angling motion, improving usability and aesthetics by eliminating the need for tools and ensuring a secure, gap-free joint.
Implementation Method 1
The angleable locking device is configured such that the flexible tongue moves out of the tongue groove by the angling motion
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3
AI summary
A set of panels, preferably for a furniture product, comprising a panel (6) with a first main plane and an adjacent panel (4) with a second main plane, wherein the panel and the adjacent panel are provided with an angleable locking device (60) for locking a first edge of the panel (6) to a second edge of the adjacent panel (4). The first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane. The angleable locking device comprises an edge groove (21) at the first edge and a tongue groove (10) at the second edge(22).The edge groove (21) comprises a flexible tongue (30) arranged in an insertion groove (20) at a first side of the edge groove (21). Said flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove (10) for locking together the first and the second edges in a first direction which is perpendicular to the first main plane. The angleable locking device further comprises contact surfaces (96, 95) between the edge groove (21) and the second edge(22)at the first side and at a second side, respectively, of the edge groove (21) for locking together the first and the second edges in a second direction which is parallel to the first main plane. The angleable locking device is configured to be unlocked by an angling motion (61) of the panel (6) relative the adjacent panel (4), such that an angle between the first and the second main plane increases.