Panel Mechanical Locking Device with Tolerance-Limiting Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture assembly technologies face challenges in producing panels with larger tolerances without affecting the mechanical locking device's functionality and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking device comprising a rod-shaped element with a recess and a flexible tongue, where the rod-shaped element has a third part with an extension perpendicular to its length direction, allowing for increased tolerances in manufacturing and automatic locking without the need for tools, and enabling easy disassembly using a dismantling rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the mechanical locking device uses a rod-shaped element inserted into a bottom-ended attachment groove, then the assembly precision requirement is reduced, but the positioning accuracy of the rod-shaped element deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rod-shaped element is designed with a third part (flange) that extends perpendicular to the length direction, adding a dimensional constraint that limits insertion depth into the attachment groove. This perpendicular extension provides a new degree of freedom for positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
The third part of the rod-shaped element acts as an intermediary between the rod and the bottom surface of the attachment groove, preventing direct contact and thus limiting the insertion depth to a controlled amount, which ensures consistent positioning despite variations in groove depth.
2Reliability
If the rod-shaped element is made longer to improve locking reliability, then the locking strength increases, but the tolerance for positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rod-shaped element is segmented into three distinct parts: a first part for insertion into the attachment groove, a second part for insertion into the insertion groove, and a third part (flange) perpendicular to the length direction. This segmentation allows each part to serve a specific function with optimized dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the rod-shaped element have different local qualities and functions. The third part with perpendicular extension provides positioning control, while the first and second parts provide locking function. This local differentiation allows the locking portions to be longer for reliability while the positioning is controlled by the perpendicular flange.
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
This solution allows for the production of furniture with higher tolerances and lower production costs, while ensuring secure assembly and easy disassembly of panels, enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible tongue positioned in the panel groove... the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the recess for a locking of the first panel to the second panel
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4~5b
AI summary
A set (1) comprising a first panel (10), a second panel (20, 20a) and a mechanical locking device (30) for locking the first panel (10) to the second panel (20, 20a), wherein the first panel (10) comprises a first edge surface (11), and the second panel (20, 20a) comprises a second edge surface (21). The first edge surface (11) is facing a second panel surface (22) in a locked position. The mechanical locking device (30) comprises a panel groove (133, 30), a flexible tongue (6) positioned in the panel groove (133, 30), a rod -shaped element (31) at the first edge surface (11) and an insertion groove (32) at the second panel surface (22). The rod -shaped element (31) has a longitudinal and a recess (34). The flexible tongue (6) is configured to cooperate with the recess (34) for a locking the first panel (10) to the second panel (20, 20a) in a first direction which is perpendicular to the second panel surface (22). The rod-shaped element (31) further comprises a third part (53), having an extension perpendicular to the length direction (L) that is larger than the extension of the attachment groove in the first edge surface (11), such that the third part (53) is configured to limit the depth that the first part (51) could be inserted into the attachment groove.