Pivot Fitting Clamping Mechanism With Reduced Adjustment Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swivel fittings for furniture require complex and cumbersome processes to adjust between locking positions, limiting ease of use and increasing wear, thus reducing their service life.

Innovation Solution

A swivel fitting with a clamping mechanism featuring a toothing system, a pawl, and control disks that allow for easier adjustment and locking of levers without needing to return to the initial position, incorporating a spring element for pressure and protection, and a design that enables silent or audible engagement options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the detent fitting is pivoted completely into an end position and back to reach a previously passed detent position, then the locking position can be changed, but the adjustment path is increased and the service life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional adjustment mechanism by allowing the detent fitting to pivot in the return direction (opposite to the adjustment direction) to access previously passed detent positions. This inversion eliminates the need to return to the end position and backtrack, directly reducing the adjustment path and wear on components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the locking fitting is pivoted beyond the locking mechanism by a predetermined adjustment angle, then the locking position can be changed, but the adjustment path is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidadjustment path
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows the locking fitting to pivot in the return direction to access detent positions that were previously passed during adjustment. This eliminates the need to overshoot the end position and backtrack, directly reducing the total adjustment path required to reach any detent position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the pawl is pressed against the teeth with a spring element, then the locking mechanism is more reliable, but the components are more exposed to dirt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidexposure to dirt
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests the toothing, control disks, and pawl within a covered interspace formed by first and second covers. This nested arrangement protects the spring element and locking components from dirt and contaminants while maintaining their pressing force and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses covers to create a protective enclosure around the spring element, toothing, and pawl. This shielding approach protects the mechanical components from environmental contaminants while allowing the spring to maintain its pressing force on the pawl.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 easier adjustment between locking positions with a reduced adjustment path, enhancing user experience and extending the service life of the swivel fitting by simplifying the adjustment process and protecting components from dirt.

Implementation Method 1

the clamping mechanism has a spring element with which the at least one pawl can be pressed against the teeth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The first control disk can be carried along in a friction-fitting manner on the toothing and is mounted so that it can rotate by a switching angle relative to the first lever

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3847928A1Pivot fitting and piece of furniture
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 HETTICH FRANKE
  • EP3847928A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3847928A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3847928A1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A pivot fitting, particularly for movable furniture parts on upholstered furniture, comprises a first lever (2) and a second lever (3) which are pivotably mounted relative to each other about a common axis (D) from a home position by a predetermined angle (a), a clamping mechanism with which the two levers (2, 3) can be fixed relative to each other in different angular positions within the predetermined angle (a), wherein the clamping mechanism has a toothing (4) fixed to the second lever (3) in a rotationally fixed manner, at least one latch (5) pivotably mounted on the first lever (2) and loaded in the direction of the toothing (4), which is engaged with the toothing (4) in a detent position, a first control disk (7) rotatably mounted about the common axis (D), with which the at least one latch (5) can be disengaged from the toothing (4) in an adjustment direction (V) after passing over the predetermined angle (a) from the home position.so that when the latch (5) is disengaged from the toothing (4), the two levers (2, 3) can be pivoted back into their initial position by passing over the predetermined angle (a) in a return direction (R), the clamping mechanism having a spring element (11) with which the latch (5) can be pressed against the toothing (4), and the first lever (2) having a first cover (2a) and a second cover (2b), the spring element (11) fully enclosing the space between the lever heads (23) of the covers (2a, 2b). Furthermore, a piece of furniture is described.