Joint Fitting With Trigger-Locked Lever for Foldable Table Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing joint fitting for foldable tables lacks a mechanism to securely lock the lever, leading to unintentional movement during leg opening or closing, posing risks of instability and potential injury.

Innovation Solution

A joint fitting with a lever-operated lock pin mechanism, featuring a spring-loaded lever and notches, ensures stable locking and unlocking transitions by engaging with notches on the leg base, preventing unintentional movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a lever-operated lock pin mechanism is used to enable easy switching between locked and unlocked states, then the ease of operation is improved, but the lever may move unintentionally during leg opening or closing, worsening the reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of switching between locked and unlocked statesVSAvoidunintentional lever movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A trigger mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the lever and the lock pin. The trigger engages with the lever at specific positions to prevent unintentional movement while allowing intentional operation. When the leg is in open or closed position, the trigger locks the lever in place; when the user intentionally operates the lever, the trigger disengages to allow movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger mechanism is pre-configured to engage with the lever at predetermined positions corresponding to the open and closed states of the leg. This preliminary positioning ensures that the lever is automatically locked into place before any unintentional movement can occur, while still allowing intentional operation when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the lever is made freely movable to enable operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the leg structure deteriorates due to potential unintentional movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelever operabilityVSAvoidleg structure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The lever system transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic operable state through the trigger mechanism. The trigger allows the lever to be stationary and stable during normal operation, but becomes dynamically movable when the user intentionally actuates it, enabling controlled transitions between locked and unlocked states without compromising overall stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger acts as a mediator that selectively permits or prevents lever movement. It maintains the lever in a stable locked position during normal leg operation, but allows intentional movement when the user applies force to operate the locking mechanism, thus balancing stability and operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables stable operation of foldable table legs by maintaining the lever in a locked or unlocked state during transitions, ensuring safety and stability.

Implementation Method 1

a spring in which both ends are wound on said lock pin and said hinge pin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4707620A1Joint fitting
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 KOJIMAKK
  • EP4707620A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707620A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707620A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object, and the means of claim 1 is a joint fitting comprising: a top plate base attached to an underside of a top plate; a leg base attached to a leg supporting said top plat e; a hinge pin capable of pivotally supporting and swinging said top plate base and said leg base; a lock pin that inserted into a long hole provided in said to p plate base capable of locking said top plate base and said leg base; a lever f or operating said lock pin; a lever pin that inserted into said top plate base c apable of pivotally supporting and swinging said lever; a spring in which both e nds are wound on said lock pin and said hinge pin; said lock pin is inserted int o a lock pin hole provided in said lever; when said top plate and said legs are in open position and locked state, said lock pin engages with a first notch prov ided in said leg base; when said top plate and said legs are in close position a nd locked state, said lock pin engages with a second notch provided in said leg base; and when said top plate and said legs are in unlocked state, a trigger mov ed linearly and supported by a bracket attached to said top plate base locks sai d lever.