Eccentric Connection Bolt for Gap-Free Furniture Panel Butt Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting bolts for furniture panels made of chipboard, MDF, or wood-like materials often result in gaps between parts due to misalignment, leading to instability and aesthetic issues, as the axis of rotation is not accurately positioned at the edge of the hole, causing gaps between the butt joint and bore wall.
Innovation Solution
A connecting bolt design with an axially offset bolt head and a barb-like clamping structure on the shank, featuring a radially projecting blade-shaped projection and a concave web to secure the bolt head into the bore, ensuring a gap-free and stable connection by defining the axis of rotation at the edge of the hole and preventing the bolt from being pulled out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the axis of rotation is positioned at the bore edge, then a gap-free connection is achieved, but the manufacturing precision is difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The axis of rotation is pre-positioned at the bore edge through the eccentric design of the bolt head relative to the bolt shaft. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the first part is inserted at an angle and pivoted, the rotation axis is already correctly located, eliminating the need for subsequent adjustment and ensuring gap-free connection without complicating the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt head is designed with an eccentric offset relative to the bolt shaft, creating an asymmetric structure. This asymmetry causes the axis of rotation to be naturally positioned at the bore edge during the pivoting motion, rather than requiring symmetric alignment. The asymmetric design simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving precise positioning
2Strength
If the projection is made sharp for penetrating the bore wall, then anchoring strength is improved, but the projection becomes susceptible to plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The web connecting the projection to the head section is designed with a concave outer contour that compresses the material in the second part during pivoting. This pre-compression creates a cushioning effect that supports the sharp projection, preventing it from undergoing plastic deformation while maintaining its ability to penetrate and anchor in the bore wall
Solution Approach 2:
The web acts as an intermediary structure between the projection and the head section. Its concave contour design allows it to compress the material in the second part, providing indirect support to the projection. This intermediary action protects the sharp projection from direct deformation forces while maintaining anchoring strength
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
In a connection bolt (1) for connecting two parts, more particularly furniture panels, having a cylindrical bolt shaft (2) for anchoring in a borehole of the one part and with a bolt head (3) for anchoring in a borehole of the other part, the bolt head (3) having a foot portion (4) adjoining the bolt shaft (2) and a hook-shaped head portion (5) with a blade-shaped projection (6) that projects radially outwards, the foot portion (4) is arranged with respect to the bolt shaft (2) eccentrically offset in the radial direction (7) in which the projection (6) projects radially outwards.