Furniture Panel Fastener With Expandable Pin for Reversible Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assembling furniture panels, such as nailing back panels, require substantial effort, pose hazards, and result in furniture that cannot be disassembled or reassembled.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device with axial and lateral force-taking protrusions, featuring a wider and narrower section with slits and a through passage, allows for detachable assembly and disassembly by using a pin that expands to secure the dowel in place, enabling easy reconfiguration of furniture panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If nailing is used to assemble furniture panels, then the assembly is strong and stable, but the assembly cannot be disassembled and reassembled
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device is divided into multiple components: a dowel with protrusions, a pin with a head, and a hole. The dowel is inserted into the hole first, then the pin is inserted through the through passage to secure the dowel. This segmentation allows the assembly to be disassembled by simply removing the pin, enabling reconfiguration while maintaining stability during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device transitions from a static nailed connection to a dynamic removable connection. The pin can be inserted and removed to change the state of assembly, allowing the furniture to be dynamically reconfigured. The protrusions on the dowel provide stability when assembled, but the entire system can be easily disassembled when needed.
2Strength
If nailing is used to assemble furniture panels, then the assembly is strong, but it requires substantial effort and poses hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The dowel acts as an intermediary element between the furniture panels. Instead of directly nailing panels together, the dowel is inserted into pre-drilled holes, and the pin secures it in place. This intermediary system provides strong connections while eliminating the hazards of hammering nails, as the pin can be easily inserted and removed without substantial effort.
Solution Approach 2:
Holes are pre-drilled into the furniture panels before assembly. The dowel is designed with protrusions that fit into these pre-prepared holes, and the pin is inserted through the through passage to secure everything in place. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for substantial effort during assembly and removes the hazards associated with driving nails into hard wood.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple through passage is used for pin insertion, then the device is simple to manufacture, but it cannot take up forces in lateral directions
Solution Approach 1:
The dowel has different local qualities: smooth sections for easy insertion and protrusions for force resistance. The protrusions are strategically positioned on the circumferential peripheral surface to take up lateral forces, while the through passage remains simple for easy pin insertion. This local differentiation allows the device to be simple to manufacture while providing lateral force resistance where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device combines different structural elements: a cylindrical dowel body with protrusions, a through passage, and a pin with a head. This composite structure integrates multiple functions into a single device that is relatively simple to manufacture yet capable of resisting forces in both axial and lateral directions through the coordinated action of its components.
4Force
If protrusions are added to take up lateral forces, then lateral force resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dowel is segmented into functional zones: a through passage for pin insertion, protrusions for lateral force resistance, and smooth sections for easy insertion. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function while keeping the overall structure relatively simple. The protrusions are added as distinct features rather than complicating the entire dowel geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions change the geometric parameters of the dowel surface, adding lateral force resistance capability. However, the basic cylindrical form and simple through passage are maintained, so the overall complexity increase is minimal. The protrusions are straightforward geometric additions that can be easily manufactured without significantly complicating the device.
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
The fastening device facilitates efficient, safe, and reversible assembly of furniture panels, reducing customer effort and preventing damage, while allowing for easy disassembly and reassembly of the assembled furniture.
Implementation Method 1
using a pin that expands to secure the dowel in place
Implementation Method 2
elements for taking up forces along both axial and lateral directions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fastening device (2;20) for assembling panels (170;180) in furniture, the device (2;20) having an axial extension along an axial direction and a lateral extension along a lateral direction, said device (2;20) comprising an upper part (4;40), and a lower part (5;50) a circumferential extending peripheral surface (10;110), the device (2;20) having an axially extending through passage (8;80) for the insertion of a pin the in the axial direction, wherein the fastening device (2;20) comprises elements for taking up forces along both the axial and lateral direction.