Technical field

The present invention relates to a device for facilitating assembling of a product, wherein the assembling involves attaching a first part to a second part, such that a first surface of the first part, and a second surface of the second part, have a mutual contact surface.

Background

Such devices may be useful, for instance, when assembling a frame for kitchen cupboards or drawers, and in many other products, typically when the end user assembles a product in his or her home without professional assistance. In many cases, different e.g. laminated board pieces are to be assembled, often by attaching one edge of one board piece to a flat surface of another. An assembling facilitating device may then consist of a wooden plug that is fitted into a hole in the surface of one piece. The plug length may then be twice the depth of the hole, such that one half of the wooden plug extends from the hole. The extending half may then be inserted into a corresponding hole the other piece when the pieces are fitted together. A number of such plugs may be used. This may not be enough to assemble the pieces, but keeps the pieces correctly aligned when, for instance, screws are applied to keep the pieces together. Moreover, the wooden plug offers some stability by preventing mutual movement between the pieces in a direction that is perpendicular to the plug axis.

One problem with such plugs is that they may be difficult to insert. Tolerances are important, as too thin plugs tend to fall out of the holes and too wide plugs may break the board piece when forced into the hole.

Summary

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide an assem- bling facilitating device that makes assembling even easier. This object is achieved by means of a device as claimed in claim 1 . More specifically, the disclosure then relates to a device for facilitating assembling of a product, wherein the assembling involves attaching a first part to a second part, such that a first surface of the first part and a second surface of the second part have a mutual contact surface. The device comprises a first unit intended to be embedded in the first surface, flush therewith, being hollow, and having a first opening facing the first surface. The device further comprises a second unit intended to be embedded in the second surface flush therewith and having a cavity facing the second surface. The first unit has a piston which is moveable between a retracted position, where the piston is retracted in the unit, and an extended position, where the piston extends out through the first unit's opening. The second unit comprises an activator part that interacts magnetically with the piston such that the piston automatically moves to the extended position, extending into the other unit's cavity, when the first and second surfaces are in contact and the first and second units are aligned.

This means that when the two pieces are correctly aligned, the piston of the first unit snaps into the cavity of the second. This simplifies the process considerably for the user, who does not need to handle plugs or the like. Moreover, when the pieces are correctly aligned, a distinct clicking sound informs the user that the alignment is correct and that e.g. screws can be used to permanently fasten the parts. This gives the user an acknowledgement that the assembling process is carried out correctly.

The piston may be made of a ferromagnetic material, and the activator part may comprise a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet may be annular.

A spring may be arranged to urge the piston towards the retracted position. The force that is applied on the piston by the spring may then be exceeded by the force applied by the activator part when the first and second surfaces are in contact and the first and second openings are aligned. Then the piston snaps out when the units are aligned, but if the parts are sub- sequently separated, the piston snaps back into the retracted position.

The second opening of the second device may be tapering in the direction towards the inner part of the second cavity, the outer part of the second opening being wider than the piston. This means that the piston can begin moving towards the extended position even before perfect alignment is achieved, and may help mutually moving the first and second parts such that more or less perfect alignment is achieved. Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 A-1 B illustrate a situation where a device according to the present disclosure may be useful.

Fig 2 and 3 shows an example of a device according to the present disclosure.

Detailed description

Fig 1 A and 1 B illustrate a situation where a device according to the present disclosure may be useful. Typically, a product is to be assembled which comprises a number of parts of which a first part 1 and a second part 3 are shown in the form of board pieces. When these parts are assembled a surface 5 close to the edge of the first part (surface obscured in fig 1 ) is made to abut an edge surface 7 of the second part 3, such that a mutual contact surface is established where the parts are in contact. A contact surface may be curved but is more likely flat in most cases.

One typical situation when this is done may be when assembling a cabinet, e.g. for a kitchen. This involves assembling a number of such board pieces. The same may be the case where a bookshelf or another storage system is assembled, or any other type of product.

In the present diclosure, devices for facilitating assembling are pro- vided in the abutting portions of the surfaces 5, 7. This is done by providing a unit of a first type 9 (concealed in fig 1 ) in the first surface 5 and a unit of a second type 1 1 in the second surface 7. The first and second types of unit are complementing and are placed in pairs, in the illustrated case four pairs, such that a unit of the first type faces a unit of the second type when the two parts 1 , 3 are correctly mutually aligned. The units, that will be described later, are automatically activated when the surfaces abut in correct alignment, such that a piston in one of the units snaps into a cavity in the facing complementary unit. This serves to keep the parts aligned in this position while other fasten- ing means, a nail, a screw or the like (not shown), may be used at other locations to permanently attach the two parts to each other. This facilitates the assembling as the snapped units keep the parts aligned while being fastened to each other. Moreover, the user is informed, by the sound of the snap, that correct alignment has been attained. Further, even when the parts are finally assembled, the first and second units assist in the fastening of the parts and may take up some load, particularly shearing between the surfaces. Some applications and variations may even be considered where screws or the like are not needed and the two parts are kept together by the snapped units only.

Fig 2 shows in cross section an example of a device for facilitating assembling according to the present disclosure. The device has a first and a second unit, which in fig 2 are misaligned, such that the device is not activated. The first unit 9 may be built as a hollow cylinder, typically made of plastic, with a circular connection surface 13 being flush with the surface of the part (cf. 1 , fig 1A) in which the the first unit 9 is embedded. Being hollow, the first unit has an inner cavity 15, where a piston 17 can move. There is an opening 19 in the connection surface 13 of the first unit. The piston 17 is moveable between a retracted position, which is shown in fig 2, where the piston is retracted, and an extended position, which is shown in fig 3, where the piston 17 extends out of the inner cavity 15, through the opening 19. The first unit 9 may placed and glued in a hole, prepared in the first part's surface, when the first part is produced.

The piston 17 may be circular symmetric around an axis parallel with its movement and may have a wider head portion 21 at the end distant from the opening 19 in the connection surface 13. Adjacent to this connection surface 13, and surrounding the opening 19, the unit may have an inner support surface 23. The piston may be spring loaded by a compressed spring 25, resting on the support surface 23 and the head portion 21 of the piston 17, such that the latter is urged away from the opening 19. The piston 17 may be made of a ferromagnetic material. The opening 19 is narrower than the head portion 21 and the spring 25, such that those parts cannot fall out of the cavity 15. The first unit 9 may have a mounting opening 27, through which the piston 17 and the spring 25 can be inserted. The mounting opening 27 has a number of lips 29, extending from its periphery and inwards. The outer surfaces of the lips 29 may be bevelled, such that the head portion 21 of the piston can be snapped past the lips when introduced, but once introduced the lips prevent the piston 17 from slipping out, even as the piston head is urged towards the lips 29 by the spring 25.

The second unit 1 1 may as well be built as a hollow cylinder with a circular connection surface 33 being flush with the surface of the part (cf. 3, fig 1A) in which the the second unit 1 1 is embedded. The second unit 1 1 may also be made as a plastic, hollow cylinder, and comprises an activator part 31 which may be a permanent magnet. This magnet 31 is embedded in the second unit 1 1 at a distance beneath the connection surface 33, leaving a cavity 35 in front of the magnet. The inner part of the cavity, closest to the magnet, may be wide enough, but only just, to accommodate the narrower end of the first unit's 9 piston 17. The outer part 37 of the cavity 35 may be funnel shaped, having walls that slant from the connection surface 33 towards the inner part. The outer part may 37 e.g. be 10-30% wider than the corresponding end of the piston to provide a guiding function while the cavity 35 is just a few percent wider, depending on the allowed play. The second unit 1 1 may comprise a mounting opening 39 at the inner end of the unit, distant from the cavity 35. The mounting opening 39 may be large enough to allow the magnet 31 to be inserted. The second unit 1 1 may be embedded in its surface in the same way as the first unit.

In fig 2, the first and second units 9, 1 1 are misaligned but in fig 3 this is no longer the case, which results in the device being activated. Thus, the piston 17, activated by the magnet 31 , snaps into the cavity 35, overcoming the force of the spring 25, which is compressed. As the end of the piston 17 only just fits in the cavity 35, further mutual movement of the parts, parallel with the connecting surfaces 13, 33 is no longer possible. As further the narrow part of the piston 17 has a size closely corresponding with the opening 19, and the head portion 21 of the piston fits snugly in cavity 15, very little play is allowed. Further, the connection surfaces are kept together to some extent by the force of attaction between the piston and the magnet.

Therefore, further assembling of the two parts 1 , 3 (cf. fig 1 ) is considerably facilitated, especially if the user works alone.

The funnel shaped outer part 37 of the cavity 35 may be allows the piston itself to correct a minor misalignment while entering into the cavity providing a guiding function.

The piston entering the cavity further produces a clicking sound which provides a feedback to the user that correct alignment has been attained. The magnet 31 may be annular, having an axial hole 41 running to the cavity 35, to optionally allow a tool 43 to release the magnet, as illustrated in fig 3.

The invention is not restricted to the disclosed embodiment, and may be varied and altered within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the piston may consist of a permanent magnet material, and the activator part 31 may then consist of another permanent magnet or a ferromagnetic material, as long at the activator part and the piston attract each other.

Further, even though the first and second units have been illustrated as rotational symmetric around the piston's axis of movement, other configurations are of course possible.