Furniture Fitting Insert Assembly for Thin-Panel Hidden Fastening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Furniture fittings that are hidden from view after assembly are challenging to design, especially in thin-walled constructions where stability and visual appeal are compromised due to insufficient support for fasteners, leading to potential instability and unsightly manufacturing flaws.

Innovation Solution

A compact design is achieved by arranging the insert element transversely to the furniture fitting with a fastening element and counter-retaining element, using a plate-like insert element that fits into a recess on the front panel, allowing for thin-walled panels and a visually appealing connection with a shadow gap to compensate for tolerance deviations and conceal manufacturing imperfections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a very thin-walled construction of side frames and front panel is desired, then the visual appeal and space utilization are improved, but the furniture fittings or fasteners no longer have enough support in the base material and the stability is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewall thicknessVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insert element is arranged essentially transversely to the furniture fitting, creating a cross connection that distributes loads across multiple dimensions. This transverse arrangement allows the fastening element to engage with the insert element rather than directly with the thin-walled front panel, effectively adding a structural dimension that compensates for the reduced wall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert element serves as an intermediary component between the furniture fitting and the thin-walled front panel. By inserting the insert element into the recess in the front panel and connecting it to the furniture fitting via the fastening element, the system achieves stable fastening without requiring thick panel material, as the insert element provides the necessary structural interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If the furniture fitting should remain hidden inside the side frame or front fitting, then the visual appeal is improved, but the assembly and fastening become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of connecting meansVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting means is segmented into multiple components: the insert element that is partially visible in the recess, the furniture fitting that remains hidden, and the fastening element that secures them together. This segmentation allows the visible insert element to provide structural function while the hidden furniture fitting maintains aesthetic appeal, and the modular design simplifies assembly compared to fully concealed traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the insert element and furniture fitting are arranged essentially transversely to one another, then a compact design is achieved, but the assembly precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompactnessVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The insert element is inserted into a recess provided in the front panel, creating a nested arrangement where the insert element fits within the designated space. This nesting approach achieves compactness by utilizing the available space efficiently while the form-fitting connection between the insert element and recess provides inherent alignment that reduces assembly precision requirements despite the transverse arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3070344B1Assembly comprising furniture fitting, fastening element and insert element
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 VAN HOECKE NV
  • EP3070344B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3070344B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4b
  • EP3070344B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

Arrangement of a furniture fitting (8) for detachably connecting a first furniture part (1) to a second furniture part (2), in particular a front panel to a side wall of a drawer or a drawer insert, at least one fastening element (7) for fastening the furniture fitting (8). the first furniture part (1) and at least one insert element (4), which has an insertion section (12) that can be lowered into a recess (5) of a first furniture part (1) and on which at least one counter-holding element (11) for holding the at least one fastening element ( 7), wherein the insert element (4) and the furniture fitting (8) are arranged essentially transversely to one another in the assembly position and hold each other via the at least one fastening element (7) and the at least one counter-retaining element (11).