Furniture Fitting Segmented Mounting and Locking Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for mounting movable furniture parts on furniture bodies are labor-intensive and require precise alignment, leading to increased time and manual effort due to the weight of the furniture parts and the need for exact matching of recesses in the furniture panel.

Innovation Solution

A furniture fitting system where the first fitting part is divided into two components: a mounting part and a coupling part, with the coupling part being releasably connected using a locking device actuated by a force accumulator, allowing for independent assembly and automatic locking, enabling the mounting part to be fully inserted into a recess in the furniture panel, and the coupling part to be securely attached to the movable furniture part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the first hardware component is inserted into the recess in the furniture panel, then the movable furniture part can be mounted to the furniture body, but the process is time-consuming and manually strenuous due to the weight of the furniture part and the need for precise alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The first fitting part is divided into two separate components: a mounting part that is attached to the furniture panel and a coupling part that is attached to the movable furniture part. This segmentation allows the mounting part to be pre-installed in the recess without requiring precise alignment with the heavy movable part, thereby reducing assembly time and manual effort while maintaining mounting reliability through the subsequent coupling of the two parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting part is pre-assembled and attached to the furniture panel in advance, before the movable furniture part is brought into position. This preliminary action allows the recess to be prepared and the mounting part to be securely fixed without the need for simultaneous precise alignment with the heavy movable part, significantly reducing the time and effort required during the final assembly step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the first fitting part is divided into mounting part and coupling part, then the assembly process is simplified and manual effort is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidfitting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first fitting part is segmented into a mounting part and a coupling part that can be independently assembled and then connected through a locking device. This segmentation simplifies the assembly process by allowing the mounting part to be installed first in the recess without handling the heavy movable furniture part, and the coupling part to be attached to the movable part separately. The two parts are then easily connected through the locking device, reducing manual effort while the modular design manages the increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling part is designed to be received within the housing of the mounting part when connected, creating a nested arrangement where the coupling part fits into the mounting part's housing. This nesting approach allows the two separate components to be securely connected in a compact manner, simplifying the overall assembly while managing the complexity of the multi-part structure through efficient spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Shape

If the coupling part is received within the housing of the mounting part, then a compact and visually appealing arrangement is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompact arrangementVSAvoidhousing-coupling part fit precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling part is designed to be received within the housing of the mounting part, creating a nested arrangement that achieves a compact and visually appealing appearance. The housing of the mounting part is shaped to accommodate the coupling part, with the coupling part fitting into the housing space. This nesting design provides a compact overall structure while the modular nature of the separate components allows for standardized manufacturing that manages precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the precise connection between the mounting part and coupling part. The locking device includes locking elements that engage with corresponding features on the mounting part and coupling part, ensuring accurate alignment and secure connection. This intermediary locking mechanism manages the manufacturing precision requirements by providing a standardized interface that guides the coupling part into the correct position within the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution simplifies the assembly process by allowing the mounting part to be easily inserted into the furniture panel and securely locked, reducing manual effort and time, while providing a compact and visually appealing arrangement, and enabling adjustable and damping mechanisms for smooth operation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one locking device (20) having at least one movably mounted locking element (25a, 25b) actuated by at least one force accumulator (21a, 21b) for detachably locking the coupling part (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce accumulator: Mechanical Accumulator

Data Source

PatentEP3818224B1Furniture fitting
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3818224B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3818224B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP3818224B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to furniture fitting (4) for the movable mounting of a furniture part (3) movably mounted relative to a furniture body (2), comprising: a first fitting part (5), which is designed to be fixed to a preferably substantially horizontally aligned furniture panel (2b) of the furniture body (2), a second fitting part (6) to be fixed to a movably mounted furniture part (3), wherein the second fixing part (6) is pivotably connected to the first fitting part (5), wherein the first fitting part (5) has a mounting part (8) having at least one fixing device (16), by means of which the mounting part (8) can be mounted on the furniture panel (2a), and wherein the first fitting part (5) has at least one coupling part (9) connected to the second fitting part (6) in an articulated manner, which coupling part is detachably connectable to the mounting part (8), wherein the mounting part (8) of the first fitting part (5) has a preferably pocket-shaped housing (8a), wherein the coupling part (9), when connected to the mounting part (8), is predominantly accommodated within the housing (8a) of the mounting part (8), wherein the coupling part (9) is detachably connectable to the mounting part (8) by at least one locking device (20), wherein the at least one locking device (20) has at least one movably mounted locking element (25a, 25b) acted on by at least one force store (21a, 21b) for the releasable locking of the coupling part (9).