Butt Connector Bracket Geometry for Low-Force Gap-Free Chipboard Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for butt-connecting components, such as chipboards, require high connecting forces and often do not ensure a gap-free connection due to the need for conical deformation, which is challenging especially with softer materials like chipboards.
Innovation Solution
The connector parts are designed with rear plug-in portions as partial lateral surfaces of a circular cylinder, eliminating the cone and incorporating radially outward supporting ribs and transverse ribs to reduce connecting forces, allowing for a gap-free connection with simpler compression and enhanced user-friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conical rear plug-in portions are used to enable compression into drill holes, then the connector can be inserted into chipboards, but the connecting forces become very high and gap-free connection is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the rear plug-in portion from conical to cylindrical, eliminating the taper angle. This parameter change allows the connector to be inserted into drill holes without requiring high compression forces, while still achieving secure fixation through the cylindrical interference fit.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a conical shape that compresses the material radially outward, the invention inverts the approach by using a cylindrical shape that maintains constant diameter, relying on friction and interference fit rather than radial compression to achieve fixation.
2Ease of operation
If high connecting forces are applied to push components together, then the connector can be assembled, but the components are not always fixed in a gap-free manner
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical geometry with constant diameter provides more uniform stress distribution during assembly, enabling gap-free connection at lower forces compared to the conical design which concentrates stress and requires higher forces to achieve the same fixation quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If chipboards are used as components, then the connector can join wooden parts, but the chipboards are too soft to bring about compression of the cone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameter from a conical shape requiring radial compression to a cylindrical shape requiring only axial insertion force. This allows soft materials like chipboards to successfully receive and retain the connector without needing to provide radial compression.
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
This design reduces connecting forces by up to 50%, eliminating the need for a blow to connect components, ensuring a secure, gap-free assembly with reduced force requirements and improved usability.
Implementation Method 1
such connectors consist of plastic which is deformable in a resilient elastic manner
Data Source
AI summary
A connector for butt-connecting two chipboard components having two connector parts, which, mutually rotated through 90°, can be pushed together, into one another, into a locked assembly position and are in the form of U-shaped brackets having two outer bracket arms, which respectively have a rear plug-in portion for insertion into a circular drill hole of one component and an expandable front plug-in portion, forming the free bracket end, for insertion into a circular drill hole of the other component. A middle bracket arm is for expansion of the two front plug-in portions of the respectively other bracket in the assembly position. At least one locking portion for the mutual locking of the two brackets in the assembly position is provided. The outer sides of the rear plug-in portions are each configured, at least approximately, as partial lateral surfaces of the same circular cylinder.