Mechanical locking system for building panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for furniture components require precise alignment and insertion of a rod-shaped stick to disassemble, making disassembly difficult and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking system with a flexible tongue and guiding protrusion that allows for easy disassembly by guiding a rod-shaped tool into the tongue groove, eliminating the need for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rod-shaped stick is used to disassemble the locking system, then the locking connection can be released, but the disassembly process requires precise alignment and insertion which makes it difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
A guide element is introduced as an intermediary component between the rod-shaped disassembly tool and the locking system. This guide element features a guide opening that receives the rod-shaped tool and guides it along a predetermined path to the tongue groove, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide opening is pre-configured in the locking system to anticipate the insertion path of the rod-shaped tool. By preparing this guiding structure in advance, the system automatically directs the tool to the correct position (tongue groove) without requiring the user to perform precise alignment actions.
2Ease of operation
If the rod-shaped stick is inserted into the insertion groove, then the locking system cannot be disassembled, but allowing free insertion creates potential for user error
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element acts as a mediator that selectively directs the rod-shaped tool. It has a guide opening that accepts the tool and channels it toward the tongue groove, preventing erroneous insertion into the insertion groove while maintaining easy accessibility for proper insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide opening is asymmetrically positioned and shaped to accommodate the rod-shaped tool only in the correct orientation and path. This asymmetric design naturally prevents incorrect insertion into the insertion groove by making the wrong path physically inaccessible or misaligned.
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 simple and efficient disassembly of locked panels by allowing the rod-shaped tool to be inserted sideways and guided into the groove, reducing assembly errors and improving disassembly ease.
Implementation Method 1
The separate and flexible tongue is displaceable inwardly towards a bottom of the insertion grove and outwardly into the tongue groove during a locking of the first and second panel
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
There is disclosed a set of panels comprising a first (1) and a second panel (2), wherein a panel edge of the second panel (2) is insertable into a core groove (6) of the first panel (1) to obtain a mechanical connection between the first and the second panel. The panel edge comprises a separate and flexible tongue (3) and the core groove comprises a tongue groove (5) or the panel edge comprises a tongue groove and the core groove comprises a separate and flexible tongue. The separate and flexible tongue (3) is insertable into the tongue groove (5) for connecting the panels to each other in a first direction, and the panel edge is configured to cooperate with the core groove (6) for connecting the panels to each other in a second direction. The separate and flexible tongue (3) comprises a guiding protrusion (10) at a short edge of the separate and flexible tongue, wherein the guiding protrusion is configured such that its shape changes during the locking and/or unlocking of the first and second panel.