Pivot fitting and piece of furniture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swivel fittings for furniture require complex and inefficient adjustment processes, necessitating a return to the initial position to achieve a new locking stage, limiting the usable adjustment path.

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 in intermediate positions without reversing to the initial position, utilizing a toothing system with a pawl that can be disengaged and re-engaged to facilitate a larger locking area with a reduced adjustment path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the detent fitting is pivoted completely into an end position and then back to reach a previously passed detent position, then the locking mechanism can reach any locking position, but the adjustment process becomes complex and requires a longer adjustment path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking position coverageVSAvoidadjustment process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control disk is designed to rotate relative to the first lever by a switching angle, dynamically changing the pawl's engagement state with the toothing. This dynamic mechanism allows the pawl to be disengaged during the adjustment process and re-engaged at intermediate positions, eliminating the need to return to the basic position and simplifying the adjustment operation while maintaining full adaptability to all locking positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the pawl remains continuously engaged with the toothing during adjustment, then the locking mechanism is secure, but the adjustment path required increases due to the need to return to basic position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking securityVSAvoidadjustment path length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pawl's engagement with the toothing is made periodic rather than continuous. The control disk rotates to disengage the pawl during adjustment phases and re-engages it when locking is desired. This periodic engagement/disengagement cycle allows the system to maintain security when needed while enabling efficient adjustment without traversing the entire range to the basic position, thereby reducing the effective adjustment path length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the control disk rotates by a switching angle relative to the first lever, then intermediate locking positions can be achieved without returning to basic position, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment process simplicityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control disk serves as an intermediary element between the first lever and the pawl. It translates the rotation motion into selective engagement/disengagement of the pawl with the toothing. This intermediary mechanism, while adding a component, simplifies the overall operation by providing a straightforward rotational control that manages the pawl's engagement state without requiring complex control logic or multiple steps, thus achieving ease of operation with manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables easier adjustment from one locking position to another and allows for locking in intermediate positions, increasing the usable adjustment path while simplifying the adjustment process and reducing the required adjustment distance.

Implementation Method 1

The first control disk (7) can be carried along in a friction-fitting manner on the toothing (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

For the permanent application of force to the pawl, the clamping mechanism has a spring element with which the at least one pawl can be pressed against the teeth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3621488B1Pivot fitting and piece of furniture
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 HETTICH FRANKE
  • EP3621488B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3621488B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3621488B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A pivot fitting, more particularly for moveable furniture parts on upholstered furniture, has a first lever (2) and a second lever (3), which are mounted to as to pivot relative to each other about a common axis (D) from a basic position through a predetermined angle (α); a clamping mechanism with which the two levers (2, 3) can be fixed relative to each other at different angular positions within the predetermined angle (α), wherein the clamping mechanism has a toothing (4) attached in a rotationally fixed manner on the second lever (3), at least one catch (5) that is pivotally mounted on the first lever (2) and loaded in the direction of the toothing (4), said catch engaging with the toothing (4) in a detent position, a first control disc (7) that is mounted so as to pivot about the common axis (D), with which control disc the at least one catch (5) can be disengaged from the toothing (4) when the predetermined angle (α) has been passed from the basic position into an adjusting direction (V), such that when the catch (5) is disengaged from the toothing (4), the two levers (2, 3) can be pivoted back into the basic position when the predetermined angle (α) is passed in a resetting direction (R), wherein the first control disc (7) can be carried by the toothing (4), resting thereon with a friction fit, and is mounted so as to pivot about a switching angle (β) relative to the first lever (2) and wherein a second control disc (9) mounted so as to pivot about the common axis (D) can be carried by the toothing (4) and is mounted so as to pivot about a switching angle (γ) relative to the toothing (4). A piece of furniture is also described.