Hidden Furniture Panel Joint With Front-Access Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture joints require visible holes and complex mechanisms, which are aesthetically unappealing, create obstacles, and are difficult to activate in limited spaces, especially for lower joints.
Innovation Solution
A hidden joint system with front activation that minimizes visible holes and encumbrance, using a container with snap-in plugs and interconnection components, allowing easy access and assembly between panels without visible holes, utilizing a pin and butt mechanism with a grub screw for secure interconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visible holes and caps are used for joint assembly, then the joint can be securely connected, but the aesthetical appearance deteriorates and user accessibility is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the visible cap and hole elements from the joint assembly, relocating the activation mechanism to the front of the furniture piece where a tool can access it without creating visible holes in the panels. The joint mechanism itself remains hidden within the furniture structure, achieving secure connection without aesthetic compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a front-accessible activation mechanism that serves as an intermediary between the user and the hidden joint mechanism. This allows the user to activate the joint from the front without creating visible holes in the panels, while still achieving secure connection through the hidden mechanism.
2Ease of manufacture
If caps are added to cover holes, then aesthetical appearance improves, but user accessibility and object positioning are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the cap element entirely from the design, replacing it with a front-accessible activation mechanism. This eliminates the obstacle that caps create for object positioning while maintaining aesthetical appearance by keeping all holes hidden within the furniture structure.
3Ease of operation
If activation is performed from above, then the joint can be activated, but it becomes difficult in limited spaces between shelves or from the bottom area
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating the joint from above through holes in the panels, the invention inverts the activation approach by providing front accessibility. The activation mechanism is positioned at the front of the furniture piece, allowing tool access from the front rather than from above or below, thereby solving the limited space problem.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint for firmly interconnecting a first panel and a second panel of furniture and other furnishing items positioned perpendicular to each other is provided with at least one fixing element coupled to the first panel and includes a plurality of interconnection and blocking components for joining and firmly blocking the two panels together, wherein, in the joint, the plurality of components lie on the same plane, which is parallel and interspaced with respect to the first panel and perpendicular with respect to the second panel.