Mechanical locking system for building panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for furniture components require precise alignment and insertion of a rod-shaped tool to disassemble, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking system featuring a flexible tongue with a guiding protrusion that automatically guides a rod-shaped tool into a tongue groove, allowing for easy and precise disassembly without requiring precise orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rod-shaped tool is used to disassemble the locking system, then the locking can be released, but the tool must be turned in a correct position and inserted precisely into the tongue groove, making disassembly cumbersome and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding protrusion on the flexible tongue automatically guides the rod-shaped tool into the correct position within the tongue groove during insertion. This self-guiding mechanism eliminates the need for precise manual alignment by the user, allowing the tool to be inserted in any orientation and automatically directed to the correct position, thereby simplifying disassembly while maintaining locking reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tongue with guiding protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the rod-shaped tool and the tongue groove. It mediates the interaction by providing a physical guide that directs the tool along the correct path, transforming a precision-critical operation into a simple insertion action
2Ease of operation
If the rod-shaped tool is inserted into the insertion groove, then disassembly becomes possible, but precise orientation is required which increases complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding protrusion enables the system to self-align the rod-shaped tool during insertion. The user simply needs to insert the tool into the insertion groove without worrying about orientation, and the guiding protrusion automatically directs it to the correct position in the tongue groove, eliminating time-consuming alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding protrusion is pre-configured on the flexible tongue to provide automatic guidance during tool insertion. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that as soon as the tool is inserted, the guidance mechanism is already in place to direct it correctly, eliminating the need for subsequent alignment adjustments
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
Facilitates simple and efficient disassembly of locked panels by enabling the rod-shaped tool to be inserted sideways into the insertion groove, automatically guiding it into the tongue groove, thus simplifying the disassembly process.
Implementation Method 1
The separate and flexible tongue (3) is displaceable inwardly towards a bottom of the insertion groove (4) and outwardly into the tongue groove (5) during a locking of the first and second panel
Data Source
AI summary
Panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system including a separate and flexible tongue allowing connection with a snap action. An outer edge part of the separate flexible tongue includes a guiding protrusion for disassembly of the panels and that is deformed during locking and/or unlocking.