Furniture Coupling Geometry for Toolless Square and Round Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ready-to-assemble furniture assembly is often complicated and requires tools, and manufacturing limitations restrict the production of shapes like squares and rounds due to laminate wrapping challenges.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design that allows furniture members to be quickly and toollessly joined, featuring a center and two portions with specific geometric configurations and surfaces, enabling the formation of square and round components by inserting into corresponding grooves, made from materials like wood, plastic, or metal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If common fasteners such as screws, bolts, dowel pins and cam and dowel assemblies are used to assemble RTA furniture, then the furniture members can be joined together, but the assembly process becomes complicated and requires the use of tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical fastening systems (screws, bolts, cam and dowel assemblies) with a groove-based coupling system that uses interlocking geometry and friction. The coupling features grooves that receive protrusions from furniture members, creating a toolless connection through simple insertion and rotational engagement, thereby eliminating the need for complex mechanical fasteners and assembly tools.
2Shape
If square components are manufactured with laminate wrapping on all four sides, then the components achieve desired shape, but manufacturing becomes difficult due to limits in wrapping laminate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the square component into two separate members, each wrapped on only three sides with a slight return wrap. These two members are then joined together using the coupling system to form the complete square component. This segmentation allows each member to be manufactured more easily with simpler laminate wrapping processes, while the final assembled structure achieves the desired square shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses two members that are joined together to form a complete square component, where each member is essentially a partial version of the final square shape. By nesting or joining these partial members together, the complete square component is formed, overcoming the manufacturing limitations of wrapping laminate on all four sides of a single component.
3Shape
If components that are round are manufactured, then various shapes can be created, but it is difficult to manufacture because there is no flat surface to reference for lamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the round component into two separate members, each with a flat surface suitable for laminate wrapping. These members are then joined together using the coupling system to form the complete round component. This segmentation allows each member to be manufactured with standard lamination processes on flat surfaces, while the assembled structure achieves the desired round shape.
4Strength
If furniture members are joined using traditional fasteners, then strong connections can be achieved, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service coupling system where the furniture members themselves provide the connection mechanism through their grooves and protrusions. The coupling is inserted into the grooves and secured through rotational engagement, creating a strong connection without requiring external fasteners or tools. This self-service approach eliminates the time-consuming processes of traditional fastener assembly while maintaining connection strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling for joining together furniture members that has a center portion including a center portion geometric configuration, a first portion including a first portion geometric configuration, a second portion including a second portion geometric configuration, a first end and a second end.