Cabinet Leg with Tool-Driven Adjustment for Rear-Access Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cabinet installation is inconvenient due to the difficulty in adjusting rear legs, especially for heavy cabinets, as it requires reaching under the cabinet to grip and rotate the foot, which is time-consuming and potentially unsafe, and may necessitate sawing the foot off to accommodate uneven floors.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable leg system with a first component attached to the cabinet base via lugs and a second component with a threaded engagement, allowing tool-driven rotation without manual gripping, and featuring a driving formation accessible through the cabinet base for easy adjustment, eliminating the need to reach under the cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the installer manually grips and rotates the foot of the leg to adjust the cabinet, then the leg can be adjusted for level, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and inconvenient especially for rear legs
Solution Approach 1:
A driving formation (such as a hexagonal recess or square recess) is provided on the foot of the leg, which serves as an intermediary interface for engaging a corresponding driving tool. This allows the installer to rotate the leg using a tool rather than manually gripping the foot, significantly reducing installation time and effort, especially when adjusting rear legs that are difficult to reach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the installer needs to shorten the leg to accommodate prominent floor parts, then the leg can fit the floor, but the foot must be sawn off making further adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The driving formation provided on the foot allows a driving tool to be engaged for rotation. Even if the foot needs to be shortened to accommodate prominent floor parts, the driving formation remains intact and accessible, enabling further adjustment of the leg length without requiring manual gripping, thus maintaining ease of operation after modification.
3Ease of operation
If the installer tries to adjust heavy cabinets by manually rotating the foot, then the leg can be adjusted, but the process becomes unsafe and inconvenient due to the weight
Solution Approach 1:
The driving formation on the foot provides a secure engagement point for a driving tool, allowing the installer to apply rotational force through the tool rather than directly gripping the foot. This mechanical advantage makes it safer and more reliable to adjust heavy cabinets, as the tool can handle the increased torque requirements without compromising the installer's safety.
4Ease of operation
If the foot is made large enough to be manually gripped, then the leg can be adjusted, but it becomes difficult to reach and adjust rear legs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the foot large for manual gripping, a driving formation (such as a hexagonal or square recess) is integrated into the foot structure. This allows a small, maneuverable driving tool to be used, which can easily reach rear legs that are difficult to access manually, while maintaining ease of operation through the tool interface.
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
Facilitates quicker and safer installation of cabinets on uneven floors by allowing tool-driven adjustment of legs without manual gripping, reducing installation time and eliminating the need to saw the foot, especially for heavy cabinets.
Implementation Method 1
a first threaded element integral with and extending from the attachment structure... a second threaded element threadedly engageable at one end of the second component with the first threaded element... when they are threadedly engaged the driving formation is accessible through the first threaded element
Data Source
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AI summary
A kit comprising a cabinet base (30), an adjustable leg for supporting a cabinet, the leg comprising: a first component (60) having an attachment structure for attachment to a cabinet and a first threaded element (63) integral with and extending from the attachment structure, the attachment structure comprising at least two lugs (65) projecting away from the first threaded element (63); and a second component (40) comprising a second threaded element (70) threadedly engageable at one end of the second component (40) with the first threaded element (63), a foot (72) located at the opposite end of the second component (40), and a driving formation (73) whereby the second component (40) can be engaged by a tool and driven to rotate, the driving formation (73) being located inboard of the thread of the second threaded element (63); the first and second components (40, 60) being configured so that when they are threadedly engaged the driving formation (73) is accessible through the first threaded element (63); the cabinet base defining a hole (38) therethrough and a first set of at least two sockets on its underside for receiving respective ones of the lugs (65), the sockets being positioned relative to the hole (38) such that when the leg is attached to the base (30) with the fixing lugs (65) located in the sockets the driving formation (73) is accessible through the hole (38).