Furniture Spacer Insert With Releasable Locking Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional furniture spacer devices are complex to construct and use, and they do not allow for easy detachment of connected furniture elements, leading to potential mechanical damage and reduced usability.
Innovation Solution
A furniture spacer device with a platelet-shaped body and a connecting piece that uses a recess or opening to secure the spacer between furniture elements, allowing for simple alignment and fixation without additional fasteners, and features a locking mechanism for easy detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional furniture spacer devices are used, then furniture elements can be connected and spaced, but the construction and use become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spacer function and connecting piece function into a single integrated device. The connecting piece serves dual purposes: it connects the two furniture elements together while simultaneously serving as the spacer that maintains the required distance. This eliminates the need for separate spacer components and fasteners, resolving the technical contradiction by reducing device complexity while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting piece is designed with multi-functionality, performing both the connection task and the spacing task. By incorporating recesses or openings directly in the connecting piece, it can simultaneously secure furniture elements together and maintain the required gap, making the device universal for both connection and spacing purposes, thus simplifying the overall construction.
2Reliability
If conventional furniture spacer devices are used, then furniture elements remain spaced, but detachment becomes difficult and mechanical damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece incorporates dynamic locking and unlocking mechanisms through its recesses or openings. These features allow the connection to be securely maintained during normal use (maintaining spacing reliability) while enabling easy detachment when needed by simply pulling the furniture elements apart. The design transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic one that allows controlled detachment without mechanical damage.
3Reliability
If additional fasteners are used to secure the spacer, then the spacer is firmly fixed, but the construction becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spacer body and fastening features into a single integrated connecting piece. The recesses or openings are directly formed in the connecting piece itself, eliminating the need for separate fasteners. The connecting piece is firmly fixed by the furniture elements inserting into its recesses/openings, achieving reliable spacer fixation without additional fastener components.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~2f
Figure 3
AI summary
The device for providing spacing between two interconnectable furniture elements has a distance piece (2) which has a plate-form body (4) for positioning between the two furniture elements in such a way that one element lies upon one side of the plate-form body and the other element lies upon the opposite side. The plate-form body has at least one cut-out or opening (6,8,10) to accommodate at least one connecting piece which interconnects the two furniture elements.