Furniture Panel Locking Tongue for Strong Snap-Fit Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for furniture components, particularly those made of soft core materials like particleboard, lack sufficient strength and rigidity, and are complex and costly to produce, requiring loose parts and complicated assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking system featuring a flexible tongue with two opposite displacement surfaces that can be displaced into an inclined insertion groove, providing a rigid outer part for strong locking, and allowing panels to be connected perpendicularly without loose parts, using a snap action that can be produced cost-effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a flexible tongue with rigid outer part is used in the locking system, then the strength and rigidity of the connection is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue is divided into two distinct parts: an inner flexible part that can deform during insertion and locking, and an outer rigid part that provides structural strength and stability. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while together they create a strong yet manufacturable locking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system employs a composite structure combining flexible and rigid materials in a single tongue component. The inner flexible part is made of a material that can elastically deform, while the outer rigid part provides mechanical strength, creating a composite structure that balances flexibility and rigidity for effective locking.
2Ease of operation
If a separate plastic tongue with outer flexible snap tab is used, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the strength and rigidity of the connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue is segmented into an inner flexible part for easy insertion and an outer rigid part for strong connection, allowing the assembly process to remain simple while the connection strength is significantly improved compared to fully flexible tongues.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the tongue have different mechanical properties: the inner part is flexible to facilitate easy assembly and insertion into the groove, while the outer part is rigid to provide strong connection strength. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of assembly and connection strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional locking systems with loose parts are used, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system merges the tongue and groove into an integrated unit where the tongue is either factory-connected to one panel or inserted into a groove during production. This eliminates the need for separate loose parts while maintaining adaptability for connecting panels at various angles including perpendicular connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system design provides multi-functionality by enabling connections at various angles (including perpendicular connections) using the same tongue-and-groove mechanism, eliminating the need for different locking systems for different connection types and reducing overall device complexity.
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 solution enables strong, cost-effective, and simplified assembly of furniture components, even with soft materials, by using a flexible tongue that locks firmly into a groove, offering rigidity and ease of production, and allowing for connections at various angles.
Implementation Method 1
a separate and flexible tongue (3) having an inner part (9) and an outer part (10)
Implementation Method 2
The separate and flexible tongue may, when the edge of the second panel is inserted into the groove of the first panel, lock by snapping.
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 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 edge (16) and the groove (6) 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).