Furniture Panel Locking Joint With Flexible Tongue Snap Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for furniture components, particularly those made of soft core materials like particleboard, face challenges in providing strong and rigid connections while being cost-effective and simple to assemble, often requiring complex production processes and loose parts.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking system featuring a flexible tongue with a rigid outer part that can be displaced into a tongue groove, allowing for a strong snap action connection between panels without loose parts, using an inclined insertion groove for easier production and a plug for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a flexible tongue is used for locking soft core materials like particleboard, then the connection strength is improved, but the production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tongue is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid outer part that provides structural strength and a flexible inner part that enables the locking mechanism. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while keeping the overall structure manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tongue combines rigid and flexible materials or structural characteristics in a single component. The rigid outer part provides strength for soft core materials, while the flexible inner part enables the locking action, creating a composite structure that solves both strength and functionality requirements.
2Strength
If special connection devices with loose parts are used, then the assembly strength is improved, but the assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element and locking groove are integrated directly into the panel edges during manufacturing. The flexible tongue is permanently attached to form a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate loose connection devices and reducing assembly to a simple insertion motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements are pre-installed and integrated into the panel edges during factory production. This preliminary action ensures that no loose parts need to be handled during assembly, and the connection is established through a single straightforward insertion movement.
3Ease of operation
If plastic snapping connections are used, then the assembly simplicity is improved, but the production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The snapping connection is achieved through segmented structural features (locking elements and grooves) that are integrated into the panel edges, avoiding the need for separate plastic connection components while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel edges are self-contained with integrated locking elements that perform the connection function without requiring external plastic snapping components. The structure serves its own connection needs through its inherent geometry and material properties.
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 system enables cost-effective, strong, and easy assembly of furniture components, even with soft materials, by providing a rigid locking mechanism that simplifies production and eliminates the need for loose parts, while allowing for connections at various angles.
Implementation Method 1
The separate and flexible tongue has an inner part mounted in the insertion groove and an outer part extending outside an opening of the insertion groove. The flexible tongue is displaceable inwardly towards a bottom of the insertion groove and outwardly into the tongue groove during locking.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
There is provided a set of furniture components formed as rectangular panels comprising a first panel (1) and a second panel (2), wherein an edge (16) of the second panel is insertable into a groove (6) of the first panel (1). A separate and flexible tongue (3) is arranged in an insertion groove (4) of the groove (6) and the edge (16) comprises a tongue groove (5). The separate and flexible tongue (3) is insertable into the tongue groove (5) for locking the panels to each other in a first direction, which is perpendicular to a main plane (MP) of the first panel (1). Moreover, the edge (16) of the second panel is configured to cooperate with the groove (6) of the first panel (1) for locking the panels to each other in a second direction, which is parallel to the main plane (MP) of the first panel (1). The mechanical locking system of the set comprises a plug (21) configured to be inserted into a hole.