Kitchen Plinth Bracket Assembly for Precise Gap-Free Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional furniture plinth attachment methods, such as friction fit and clips, fail to ensure correct alignment and prevent gaps between the plinth and end panel, leading to aesthetic issues and instability.
Innovation Solution
A bracket assembly with a recess and protrusion system that provides a snug fit and alignment, featuring L-shaped bracket parts with markings for correct positioning, and locking mechanisms to secure the parts together, allowing for precise and secure attachment of two items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If friction fit is used to attach the plinth, then the plinth can be easily installed, but the plinth is easily knocked over and not properly aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into separate components: a bracket attached to the furniture unit and a plinth with attachment portions that engage with the bracket. This segmentation allows the plinth to be securely connected through multiple engagement points rather than relying on a single friction fit, thereby improving stability while maintaining ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
A bracket assembly acts as an intermediary component between the furniture unit and the plinth. The bracket provides a stable mounting structure with multiple attachment portions that engage with the plinth, transferring and distributing the loads more effectively than direct friction fit, thus enhancing plinth stability without complicating the installation process.
2Reliability
If clips are used to retain the plinth, then the plinth is less likely to be kicked over, but correct alignment and gap prevention are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly extends in multiple dimensions with attachment portions positioned at different locations and orientations. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows simultaneous achievement of plinth retention and precise alignment, as the attachment portions can engage with corresponding features on the plinth to control both vertical stability and horizontal positioning, eliminating the gap between plinth and end panel.
3Manufacturing precision
If a snug fit system is implemented with recess and protrusion, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pre-attached to the furniture unit during manufacturing, with recesses and positioning features already formed. The plinth is designed with corresponding protrusions that automatically align with these pre-prepared features during installation. This preliminary preparation of attachment features simplifies the installation process and maintains alignment precision without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 1b~3d
Figure 4~5b
AI summary
A bracket assembly is provided for use in one example for joining a kitchen plinth to an end panel of a kitchen unit. The bracket assembly includes a first bracket part and a second bracket part. The first bracket part has a recess defined therein in which a protrusion member of the second bracket part is engaged therein in use.