Furniture Rail Fastening for Rapid Perpendicular Workspace Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture systems lack a versatile and efficient mechanism for quickly interconnecting different furniture components to facilitate the rapid assembly and reconfiguration of office spaces, limiting design flexibility and installation speed.
Innovation Solution
A fastening apparatus comprising a body with a channel and connector assembly that allows for the horizontal positioning of elongated rails to support work surfaces, enabling perpendicular attachment of additional furniture components, and includes clamping members and jaw connectors for secure engagement, allowing for various connection configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional screws or bolts are used to attach furniture components directly, then the connection is strong and reliable, but the assembly process is time-consuming and requires carpentry skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fastening device as an intermediary component between furniture components. This fastening device includes a body with a channel that receives an elongated rail, and a connector assembly with elements that attach to second furniture components. This intermediary mechanism enables quick connection without requiring traditional carpentry skills or multiple fasteners, directly resolving the contradiction between assembly speed and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device is segmented into distinct functional components: a body portion with a channel for receiving elongated rails, and a connector assembly with attachment elements for connecting to furniture components. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling rapid assembly while maintaining connection reliability.
2Productivity
If a specialized groove profile system is used for fastening devices, then quick connection is enabled, but design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device is designed with universal applicability through its body channel that can receive various elongated rail configurations and its connector assembly that can attach to different furniture components. The device serves multiple functions: supporting work surfaces horizontally, enabling perpendicular attachments, and accommodating various furniture component configurations. This multi-functionality maintains design flexibility while enabling quick installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities through its channel design that allows elongated rails to be positioned in horizontal orientations, and connector elements that enable furniture components to extend in perpendicular directions. This dynamic adaptability allows the same fastening device to accommodate various design configurations without limiting creativity.
3Reliability
If multiple fasteners are used to secure furniture components, then the connection is secure and stable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fastening functions into a single integrated fastening device. The body with its channel and the connector assembly with its attachment elements work together as one unified mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple separate fasteners. This consolidation maintains connection stability while significantly reducing device complexity and the number of components required.
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture system, method of assembling furniture for a work space, and a fastening apparatus for interconnecting furniture components include one or more fastening devices. Each fastening device includes a body that has a channel sized and configured to receive a first rail. Each fastening device also includes at least one of a connector assembly and an opening formed in the body for attaching the fastening device to at least one other furniture component. The connector assembly and the opening in the body are sized and configured so that the other furniture components are positioned such that at least one of their height and length extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the first rail, such as a direction that is mostly perpendicular to the length of the first rail. Other embodiments of the fastening device may include variations in configurations to the connector assembly or body.