Reversible Flexible Tongue Panel Lock for Tool-Free Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture and floor products with mechanical locking devices face challenges in being easily assembled and disassembled without damaging the locking mechanism, requiring tools, and risking incorrect installation and reduced stability.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking device featuring a flexible tongue with dual locking surfaces and a guiding surface, allowing panels to be locked and unlocked in multiple orientations, facilitating tool-free assembly and disassembly while reducing the risk of incorrect installation and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical locking device with a flexible tongue is used to lock panels together, then the panels can be securely locked, but the locking device cannot be damaged during disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into two distinct components: a flexible tongue with locking surfaces and an edge tongue with a tongue groove. This segmentation allows the flexible tongue to be inserted into the groove and locked in place, while also enabling controlled disassembly by withdrawing the edge tongue without damaging the flexible tongue or the groove, thus allowing repeated assembly and disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tongue features localized locking surfaces positioned at specific orientations (first and second orientations) that engage with corresponding features in the tongue groove. This local quality design ensures secure locking in both orientations while allowing the tongue to be flexibly inserted and removed without causing damage to the locking mechanism during disassembly and reassembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a mechanical locking device is designed for secure locking, then assembly is stable, but assembly requires tools and is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tongue is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to flex during insertion into the tongue groove and then spring back to engage the locking surfaces. This dynamic flexibility enables tool-free assembly where the user simply inserts the edge tongue with the groove into the flexible tongue, which automatically locks into place through elastic deformation, providing stable assembly without requiring tools.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a locking device allows disassembly, then the set can be dismantled, but the risk of incorrect installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tongue and edge tongue are designed with asymmetric geometries where the locking surfaces on the flexible tongue correspond to specific features in the tongue groove at defined orientations. This asymmetric design ensures that the components can only be assembled in the correct orientation, preventing incorrect installation while still allowing for easy disassembly and reassembly. The first and second locking surfaces engage with the groove in specific orientations, guiding proper assembly.
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 easy and repeated assembly and disassembly of panels without damaging the locking device, reduces the risk of incorrect installation, and provides a more stable and aesthetically pleasing construction.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible tongue (4) positioned in the insertion groove (3) The flexible tongue may comprise a guiding surface configured to cooperate with the edge tongue during a displacement of the first panel relative to the second panel
Data Source
AI summary
A set including a first panel, a second panel and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel, the mechanical locking device includes an insertion groove at the second edge surface, a flexible tongue positioned in the insertion groove and an edge tongue including a tongue groove, the flexible tongue includes a first locking surface and a second locking surface, the first locking surface is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a first orientation, the second locking surface of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a second orientation.