Furniture Leg Locking Collar for Tool-Free Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly and disassembly of furniture components often require tools and skilled technicians, making it cumbersome and inefficient to connect or disconnect work surfaces and supports without causing damage.

Innovation Solution

A furniture leg attachment system with a float assembly and locking assembly that allows for easy assembly and disassembly by hand, using a floating ring, seal ring, locking collar, and base retainer, enabling load, lock, and release configurations without tools, and incorporating a height adjustable leg assembly and glide assembly for versatile use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional furniture assembly methods are used, then connection strength and stability are improved, but assembly complexity and skill requirement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is divided into separate functional components: a float assembly with a floating ring for insertion, a locking assembly with engagement members for securing, and a locking collar for final fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving strong connections through simple hand-operated assembly without requiring complex tools or skilled labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional furniture assembly methods are used, then connection stability is improved, but assembly time and labor skill requirement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The float assembly is designed with a floating ring that can be pre-inserted into the leg tube before the locking assembly is engaged. The engagement members are pre-configured to automatically engage with the floating ring when the locking collar is rotated. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for precise alignment during final assembly, reducing assembly time while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If traditional furniture disassembly methods are used, then connection strength is maintained, but disassembly difficulty and tool requirement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoiddisassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking collar is designed to rotate in two directions: clockwise to lock the engagement members onto the floating ring, and counterclockwise to release them. This dynamic reversible mechanism allows the same component to both secure and release the connection, maintaining connection strength when locked while enabling easy tool-free disassembly by simply rotating the collar in the opposite direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Strength

If traditional furniture connection systems are used, then structural integrity is improved, but reconfiguration flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidreconfiguration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is designed for periodic assembly and disassembly cycles. The locking collar can be repeatedly rotated to lock and unlock the connection, allowing furniture components to be reconfigured multiple times. Each cycle maintains structural integrity when locked while enabling flexible reconfiguration when unlocked, supporting both permanent and temporary assembly needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3272249B1Furniture leg attachment system
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 HERMAN MILLER INC
  • EP3272249B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3272249B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D
  • EP3272249B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

A furniture leg attachment system (400) comprises a plug member (410) comprising an opening (412) and an interior surface (414) comprising a threaded portion (416) and toothed portion (418). The furniture leg attachment system (400) further comprises a leg tube (440) comprising a circumferential shoulder (442). A first end of the leg tube (440) is disposed in the opening (412) of the plug member (410). The furniture leg attachment system (400) further comprises a collar (430) disposed around the leg tube (440) adjacent the circumferential shoulder (442). The collar (430) is axially slidable and rotationally fixed with respect to the leg tube (440). The collar comprises a threaded portion (434) configured to engage the threaded portion (416) of the plug member (410) and a ratchet mechanism configured to engage the toothed portion (418) of the plug member (410). The furniture leg attachment system (400) comprises a release mechanism configured to release the ratchet mechanism. The collar (430) further comprises a first collar (430). The release mechanism comprises a second collar (420) disposed adjacent the first collar (430), with the first collar (430) disposed between the second collar (420) and the circumferential shoulder (442).