Adjustable Furniture Wall Spacer for Accurate Fixing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of fitted furniture is challenging due to the need for accurate alignment and positioning before securing it to a wall, which requires multiple steps and can be time-consuming, especially when access to the rear of the unit is limited, leading to potential misalignment and deformation of the furniture unit.
Innovation Solution
A spacing device with a bore that allows for the extension along an axis to set a spacing between the furniture unit's fixing surface and the target surface, enabling simultaneous positioning, alignment, and securing of the furniture unit to the wall by passing a fixing means through the device and into the target surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the furniture unit is positioned and aligned before securing to the wall, then alignment accuracy is improved, but multiple positioning steps are required which increases installation time
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing device merges the alignment function and the securing function into a single integrated component. The device includes positioning features that align the furniture unit with the wall while simultaneously providing a pathway for fixings to secure the unit, eliminating the need for separate positioning and securing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing device acts as an intermediary component between the furniture unit and the wall. It provides a controlled spacing that maintains alignment while allowing fixings to pass through, thereby mediating the connection process and enabling simultaneous alignment and securing operations.
2Measurement precision
If fixing holes are drilled after the furniture unit is positioned, then alignment accuracy is maintained, but access to the rear of the unit is required which is difficult due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing device serves as an intermediary that creates a controlled access pathway through the spacing gap between the furniture unit and the wall. This intermediary structure allows fixing means to be inserted and operated from the front or side of the unit rather than requiring direct access to the rear, while still maintaining alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing device utilizes the third dimension (depth/spacing) to create an accessible pathway for fixings. By extending into the spacing gap, the device allows fixing operations to be performed from a more accessible dimension rather than requiring direct rear access, thereby solving the accessibility problem while maintaining alignment.
3Ease of operation
If the furniture unit is moved away from the wall to drill fixing holes, then access is improved, but the unit must be repositioned which reduces installation accuracy and increases time
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing device acts as a permanent intermediary structure that remains in place during the entire installation process. It provides continuous access for fixings without requiring the furniture unit to be moved, thereby eliminating the repositioning step and its associated accuracy losses while maintaining ease of operation for drilling and securing.
4Measurement precision
If multiple alignment steps are performed, then alignment accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the installation process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing device combines multiple functions (alignment reference, spacing maintenance, fixing pathway) into a single integrated component. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate alignment steps and operations required, thereby simplifying the installation process while maintaining or improving alignment accuracy through the device's built-in positioning features.
Data Source
AI summary
A spacing device for spacing a fixing surface of a furniture item from a target surface to which the furniture item is to be fixed is provided. The device comprises a first end for contacting one of the fixing surface and the target surface, a second end for contacting the other of the fixing surface and the target surface and a bore dimensioned to receive a fixing means for fixing the fixing surface and the target surface together. The device is extendable along an axis of the bore to set a spacing between the fixing surface and the target surface. The device can be used to form an adjustable brace between a target surface such as a wall and a fixing surface such as cross brace of a furniture unit allowing a fixing to secure the furniture unit to the wall without bowing the cross brace and deforming the unit.