Connecting means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connecting means for components, such as furniture or machine parts, often fail to provide a reliable and stable connection due to unwanted deformation, which can lead to instability and misalignment.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a support element that supports the second holding contour, preventing its movement and ensuring compressive forces are absorbed, thereby stabilizing the connection between the first and second connecting elements, which are designed with specific contours and projections to facilitate secure engagement and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a connecting means is used to connect two components, then the components can be joined together, but unwanted deformation occurs leading to instability and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoiddeformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second connecting elements. This support element prevents unwanted deformation by providing structural reinforcement and maintaining proper alignment, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving connection stability and preventing deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support element is designed to preemptively counteract deformation forces before they can cause instability or misalignment. By providing预先 support and reinforcement, the system prevents harmful deformations from occurring during the connection process, ensuring reliable and stable joining of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If support elements are added to prevent deformation, then connection reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is integrated with either the first or second connecting element, merging multiple functions into a single component. This integration approach provides the necessary structural support while avoiding the complexity of entirely separate support structures, thus improving connection reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2992225B1Connecting means
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 LAMELLO AG
  • EP2992225B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2992225B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2992225B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture parts or machine parts, comprising a first connecting element arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components and a second connecting element arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components, wherein the first connecting element comprises a main body and a retaining element, which can be moved in relation to the main body of the first connecting element and which is designed to detachably connect the first connecting element to the second connecting element, wherein the movable retaining element has a first retaining contour, wherein the second connecting element has a second retaining contour, behind which the first retaining contour can engage, by means of which connecting means two components can be reliably and stably connected to each other. According to the invention the connecting means comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components.