Handle Mounting Jig Assembly for Accurate Cabinet Drilling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional methods for securing handles to kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts are labor-intensive and prone to manual errors, often requiring repeated measurement and marking operations, which can lead to wastage and increased time due to the lack of pre-drilled holes and the complexity of working at height or in restricted locations.

Innovation Solution

A jig assembly that uses spacer elements corresponding to the handle to be secured, allowing for quick and accurate determination and formation of attachment locations on the door or drawer front, reducing the need for additional assembly components and enabling easy reconfiguration for different sizes and orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual measurement and marking operations are performed for each handle attachment, then flexibility in handle placement is achieved, but time consumption and risk of manual error increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle placement flexibilityVSAvoidtime for measurement and marking operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking handle attachment positions on door and drawer front components during the initial manufacturing stage. This allows the positions to be transferred to the final assembly without requiring manual measurement during installation, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining placement accuracy and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by transferring pre-marked position indicators from manufacturing templates or digital designs directly to the physical components. This copying process eliminates repeated manual measurement operations while preserving the adaptability of handle placement across different configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If manual measurement and marking operations are performed for each handle attachment, then precise handle placement can be achieved, but the risk of manual error increases requiring repeated operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrill hole position accuracyVSAvoidconsistency of measurement operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by incorporating self-aligning features and self-marking mechanisms into the assembly process. The pre-marked positions and alignment features guide the installation automatically, reducing reliance on manual measurement skills and minimizing human error while maintaining high precision and consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement operations with pre-programmed position indicators and automated marking systems. This substitution eliminates the variability of manual measurement while maintaining or improving precision, thereby enhancing the reliability and consistency of handle placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If handles are attached in-situ at height or in restricted locations, then installation flexibility is maintained, but measurement and marking become more difficult and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation location flexibilityVSAvoidaccessibility for measurement operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by completing all measurement and marking operations during the manufacturing phase when components are easily accessible. This transfers the complexity of measurement to the factory setting, allowing in-situ installation to proceed with simple alignment and attachment operations, thereby maintaining installation flexibility while eliminating measurement difficulties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses intermediaries in the form of pre-marked position indicators and alignment features that are transferred to the components during manufacturing. These intermediaries serve as guides during in-situ installation, eliminating the need for difficult on-site measurements while preserving installation location flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If multiple handles are attached to numerous doors and drawer fronts, then complete furniture assembly is achieved, but the cumulative time for measuring, marking, and drilling operations becomes significant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall assembly completionVSAvoidcumulative measurement and drilling time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking all handle attachment positions on all doors and drawer fronts during the initial manufacturing stage. This bulk pre-marking operation replaces numerous individual measurement and marking operations that would be performed during installation, dramatically reducing the cumulative time required while enabling complete furniture assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3142820B1Jig assembly and method
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 SUSTAIN SCOTLAND LTD
  • EP3142820B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3142820B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3142820B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A jig assembly (10) for location with respect to a first item of furniture, such as a door or drawer front, to which a second item of furniture, such as a handle, is to be secured. The jig assembly (10) comprises a first member in the form of first block (12) and a second member in the form of second block (14), the first block (12) and the second block (14) being configured to be coupled together by a spacer (16). The spacer (16) may comprise, may be identical to, or may correspond to, a handle (18) corresponding to that which is to be secured to the door or drawer front.