SE1950099A1 - Joining system for furniture parts - Google Patents

Abstract

A joining system (1) for furniture parts (10, 20) is disclosed, comprising a female coupling recess (30) formed in a first furniture part (10), a male coupling tongue (40) projecting from an adjoining second furniture part (20), said female coupling recess (30) being adapted to receive the male coupling tongue (40), said male coupling tongue (40) comprising a flexible locking protrusion (70) integrally formed in the male coupling tongue (40), said female coupling recess (30) comprising a locking groove (80) to receive the flexible locking protrusion (70), the female coupling recess (30) comprises a coupling release channel (90) adapted for receiving a coupling release rod (110) to force the flexible locking protrusion (70) to flex out of its engagement with the locking groove (80) to separate the first furniture part (10) from the second furniture part (20).

Description

JOINING SYSTEM FOR FURNITURE PARTS TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a joining system for furniture parts, comprising a femalecoupling recess formed in a first furniture part. The female coupling recess isadapted to receive a male coupling tongue projecting from an adjoining secondfurniture part.

BACKGROUND ln the recent years the furniture industry is gradually replacing traditional fasteningand joining methods using nails and screw and nut joining elements with varioussnap-locking joining systems. This trend vastly facilitates installation of furnituresuch as for example book shelves, wardrobes and cupboards.

An example of such a joining system is described in US 9 714 672 (B2) where aset of panels includes a first panel having a first main plane and a second panelhaving a second main plane. The panels are provided with a mechanical lockingdevice for locking a first edge of the first panel to a second edge of the secondpanel. The mechanical locking device includes an edge section groove at the firstedge, wherein an edge section of the second edge is insertable into the edgesection groove. A flexible tongue is pre-fitted in an insertion groove provided in theedge section groove and cooperates with a tongue groove provided at the edgesection of the second panel. Disassembly of the furniture parts once they havefirst been joined together is affected by pushing the flexible tongue out sideways inthe longitudinal direction of the joint by a tool. The complexity of the joiningsystems in the prior art is a problem that entails complicated and expensivemanufacturing processes. A further problem with the prior art systems is lack ofstability in certain load direction. These uneven stability properties of the jointshave to be taken into account when designing a piece of furniture, whichpotentially limits available design options in the design process.

SUMMARY lt is an object of the invention to at least partly overcome one or more limitations ofthe prior art. ln particular, it is an object to provide and improved joining system for furniture parts which is less complex to manufacture and more robust, while beingeasy to assemble and disassemble if desired. ln a first aspect of the invention, this is achieved by a joining system for furnitureparts, comprising a female coupling recess formed in a first furniture part, and amale coupling tongue projecting from an adjoining second furniture part. Thefemale coupling recess is adapted to receive the male coupling tongue, and themale coupling tongue comprises a first locking element configured for a snap jointinterlocking engagement with a matching second locking element in said femalecoupling recess. The first locking element comprises a flexible locking protrusionintegrally formed in the male coupling tongue and extends laterally from the malecoupling tongue. The second locking element in said female coupling recesscomprises a locking groove to receive the flexible locking protrusion for saidinterlocking engagement. The female coupling recess comprises a couplingrelease channel with an open end facing the flexible locking protrusion of the malecoupling tongue when locked in the female coupling recess. The coupling releasechannel is adapted for receiving a coupling release rod to engage with the flexiblelocking protrusion and force the flexible locking protrusion to flex out of itsengagement with the locking groove in the female coupling recess so as todeliberately separate the first furniture part from the second furniture part. ln a second aspect of the invention, this is achieved by a method for unlocking ajoining system for furniture parts. The method comprises unlocking the joiningsystem according to the first aspect by inserting a coupling release rod into thecoupling release channel, thus forcing the flexible locking protrusion to flex out ofits engagement with the locking groove in the female coupling recess fordeliberately separating the first furniture part from the second furniture part.

Having a flexible locking protrusion integrally formed in the male coupling tongueand a female coupling recess comprising a locking groove to receive the flexiblelocking protrusion, as well as a coupling release channel with an open end facingthe flexible locking protrusion, provides for a joining system which is less complexto manufacture and which is robust but yet allows for easy disassembly if desired.

Still other objectives, features, aspects and advantages of the invention willappear from the detailed description as well as from the drawings.

The coupling release channel may be inclined relative to a longitudinal direction ofthe female coupling recess. The coupling release channel may be inclined relative to a Iongitudinal direction of the female coupling recess with an inclination anglewithin an interval of 130 to 160 degrees, and advantageously within an interval of136 to 146 degrees. ln another advantageous example the inclination angle of thecoupling release channel is essentially 141 degrees.

The flexible locking protrusion may be inclined relative to a Iongitudinal direction ofthe male coupling tongue. The flexible locking protrusion may be inclined relativeto a Iongitudinal direction of the male coupling tongue with an inclination anglewithin an advantageous interval of 40 to 73 degrees. ln another advantageousexample the inclination angle of the flexible locking protrusion may be essentially64 degrees.

The coupling release rod may comprise a generally rectangular cross-section.Alternatively, the coupling release rod comprises a generally l-beam shapedcross-section, with a central waist portion located between two laterally extendingend portions.

The coupling release rod may be at least partly tapered having an increasingcross-sectional area from, or at a distance from, a tip portion thereof towards abase portion thereof. The coupling release rod may comprise an introductorysection with a constant cross-sectional area, extending from said tip portion to atapered unlocking section with an increasing cross-sectional area towards thebase portion of said coupling release rod.

The length of the tapered unlocking section may exceed the length of theintroductory section. The length of the introductory section may be from 30% to50% of the length of the tapered unlocking section. The length of the introductorysection may be 40% of the length of the tapered unlocking section. ln one example, the tapered unlocking section comprises a linear tapering profile.ln another example, the tapered unlocking section comprises a non-linear taperingprofile. ln such an embodiment, the tapered unlocking section may comprise aconcave tapering profile. The tapered unlocking section may comprise a convextapering profile.

A Iongitudinal axis of the coupling release channel and a Iongitudinal axis of theflexible locking protrusion intersect at a first intersection angle when the flexiblelocking protrusion of the male coupling tongue is seated in the locking groove ofthe female coupling recess, and that said intersection angle is increased to a second intersection angle when the coupling release rod is introduced into thecoupling release channel to a point of release between said flexible lockingprotrusion and the locking groove of the female coupling recess, whereby theflexible locking protrusion is deflected out of engagement with the locking grooveby the tapered coupling release rod. The first intersection angle may be less than90 degrees, and the second intersection angle may be essentially 90 degrees.

The flexible locking protrusion may be essentially perpendicular to the couplingrelease channel when the coupling release rod is inserted to a point of release ofsaid coupling protrusion as it leaves the locking groove in the female couplingrecess.

The coupling release rod may comprise a manipulation handle at its base portion.The coupling release rod may be made of a polymer material and/or metal.

The flexible locking protrusion may exhibit a curved bulb-shaped tip portionadapted to engage a matching curved portion of said locking groove in the femalecoupling recess. The curved bulb-shaped tip portion of the flexible lockingprotrusion is shaped to engage the curved portion of said locking groove in thefemale coupling recess along a partial segment of said tip portion defined by alimited segment angle uniformly straddling a longitudinal symmetry axis of theflexible locking protrusion.

The lateral extension of the base portion of the male coupling tongue relative to alongitudinal axis of said male coupling tongue may exceed the lateral extension ofthe of flexible locking protrusion relative to said longitudinal axis of said malecoupling tongue.

A slot may be located between the flexible locking protrusion and the base portionof the male coupling tongue. This slot is adapted to leave room for the flexiblelocking protrusion to deflect in the direction of said base portion when a couplingrelease rod is received in the coupling release channel. The slot may extendessentially in parallel with the flexible coupling release protrusion.

The method for unlocking the joining system may comprise angling the secondfurniture part relative to the first furniture part, or vice versa, following initialunlocking of a first stretch ofa furniture joint, said angling resulting in progressiveunlocking of a remaining stretch of said furniture joint.

Furthermore, the method may comprise unlocking two furniture joints located at adistance from each other in a common furniture part and two other correspondingfurniture parts by simultaneously inserting a coupling release rod into the couplingrelease channels of each furniture joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Fig.1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 shows an enlarged side view of a joining system according to anexample of the disclosure, applied on an exemplifying basic furniture90-degree cornerjoint between two furniture parts. The figure showsthejoining system in a fully joined and locked position, wherein amale coupling tongue extending from one of the furniture parts isengaged in a female coupling recess formed in the other furniturepart. shows an enlarged side view similar to the one in Fig. 1, only here ina position before the male coupling tongue of the second furniturepart has engaged the female coupling recess of the first furniturepart. shows a further enlarged side view of the joining system, where themale coupling tongue is shown in an introductoryjoining positionwhere the flexible locking protrusion has come to a temporary reston an inclined guiding surface and the male coupling tongue is ininitial contact with two guiding surfaces of the female couplingrecess. shows a further enlarged side view of the joining system, where themale coupling tongue has been pushed further into engagementwithin the female coupling recess. Here, during the insertion, theflexible locking protrusion is forced to temporarily elastically deflectinwardly towards the male coupling tongue just before entering thelocking groove in the female coupling recess. During said elasticdeflection of the flexible locking protrusion, the remaining malecoupling tongue is held in lateral alignment with the female couplingrecess by four locking surfaces arranged therein.

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Fig. 11 12 13 shows a further enlarged side view of the joining system, where themale coupling tongue has been pushed further into full engagementwithin the female coupling recess. Here, the flexible lockingprotrusion has snapped into engagement with the locking groove inthe female coupling recess and thus prevents the male couplingtongue from separating from the female coupling recess. shows a similar view as in Fig. 5, but with a coupling release rodpartially inserted in the coupling release channel prior to releasingthe joint. shows a similar view as in Fig. 6, where an unlocking section of acoupling release rod has entered the coupling release channel,forcing the flexible locking protrusion to flex out of its engagementwith the locking groove in the female coupling recess so as todeliberately separate the first furniture part from the second furniturepart. shows an enlarged sideview of a coupling release rod according toan example of the disclosure, where a tapering unlocking sectionexhibits a linear tapering profile. shows an enlarged sideview of a coupling release rod according toan example of the disclosure, where a tapering unlocking sectionexhibits a concave tapering profile. shows an enlarged sideview of a coupling release rod according toan example of the disclosure, where a tapering unlocking sectionexhibits a convex tapering profile. shows a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary cross-sectionalshape of the coupling release rod. shows a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary cross-sectionalshape of the coupling release rod. shows a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary cross-sectionalshape of the coupling release rod.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a drawer comprising joining systemsaccording to examples of the disclosure being disassembled at twoupper furniture joints by two coupling release rods.

Figs. 15a-b show flow charts of a method for unlocking a joining system for furniture parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodimentsof the invention are shown. The invention may be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

With initial reference to Fig. 1, this figure shows an enlarged side view of a joiningsystem 1, applied on an exemplifying basic furniture 90-degree cornerjointbetween two furniture parts 10, 20. Fig. 1 shows thejoining system 1 in a fullyjoined and locked position. The joining system 1 comprises a female couplingrecess 30 formed in a first furniture part 10, and a male coupling tongue 40projecting from the adjoining second furniture part 20. The female coupling recess30 is adapted to receive the male coupling tongue 40. The male coupling tongue40 comprises a first locking element 50 configured for a snap joint interlockingengagement with a matching second locking element 60 in the female couplingrecess 30. The first locking element 50 on the male coupling tongue 40 comprisesa flexible locking protrusion 70 integrally formed in the male coupling tongue 40.This locking protrusion 70 extends laterally from the male coupling tongue 40. Thesecond locking element 60 in the female coupling recess 30 comprises a lockinggroove 80.

The female coupling recess 30 comprises a coupling release channel 90 with anopen end 100 facing the flexible locking protrusion 70 of the male coupling tongue40 when locked in the female coupling recess 30. The coupling release channel90 is adapted for receiving a coupling release rod 110. The coupling release rod110 may be an elongated rod having cross-sectional dimensions that fits insidethe coupling release channel 90, as illustrated in e.g. Fig. 6. The coupling releaserod 110 may engage the flexible locking protrusion 70 and force the flexiblelocking protrusion 70 to flex out of its engagement with the locking groove 80 in the female coupling recess 30 so as to deliberately separate the first furniture part10 from the second furniture part 20. Having a flexible Iocking protrusion 70integrally formed in the male coupling tongue 40 and a female coupling recess 30comprising a Iocking groove 80 to receive the flexible Iocking protrusion 70, aswell as a coupling release channel 90 with an open end 100 facing the flexibleIocking protrusion 70 provides for a joining system 1 which is less complex tomanufacture, and which is robust, but yet allows for easy disassembly if desired.E.g. a drawback of prior art joining system is that a separate flexible polymertongue is typically required for the interlocking of the furniture parts, which has tobe pre-fitted during manufacture. This may increase the complexity of theproduction line and the manufacturing process as well as the joining system. Thejoining system can also become more expensive as a result. The throughput of theproduction line in mass production may also be more limited. Furthermore, in suchprevious joining systems, the separate polymer tongue must typically be removed,as a separate piece, in order to disassemble the furniture parts. The joiningsystem 1 as described in the present disclosure comprising a coupling releasechannel 90 with an open end 100 facing the flexible Iocking protrusion 70 allowsfor facilitated disassembly by instead forcing the flexible Iocking protrusion 70 outof its engagement with the Iocking groove 80 with a coupling release rod 110. lnaddition to providing for a more robust and strongerjoining system 1 which canabsorb greater force loads in more directions - due to its single-piece integratedconstruction - it also allows for a facilitated repeated assembly and disassemblyby the user, should it be desired, due to the reduced number of separate parts.The furniture parts 10, 20, may correspond to various parts of pieces of differentfurniture items to be assembled together utilizing the joining system 1, such asdrawers, wardrobes, shelves, desks, cabinets, etc.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged side view similar to the one in Fig. 1, only here in aposition before the male coupling tongue 40 of the second furniture part 20 hasengaged the female coupling recess 30 of the first furniture part 10. As seen in theexample of Fig. 2, the coupling release channel 90 may be inclined relative to alongitudinal direction 140 of the female coupling recess 30 with an inclinationangle (A). l.e., the longitudinal axis 200 of the coupling release channel 90 formsinclination angle (A) with the longitudinal direction 140 as shown. This provides fora facilitated and more effective engagement of the flexible Iocking protrusion 70with a coupling release rod 110. The inclination angle (A) may be in an interval of130 to 160 degrees in examples of the disclosure. The inclination angle (A) maybe in an interval of 136 to 146 degrees for a further facilitated engagement with the flexible Iocking protrusion 70. The inclination angle (A) may be essentially 141degrees in a particularly advantageous example, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

As may also be seen in Fig. 2, the flexible Iocking protrusion 70 may be inclinedrelative to a longitudinal direction 150 of the male coupling tongue 40 with aninclination angle (B). The inclination angles (A) and (B) may be optimized inrelation to each other to provide for an effective transfer of momentum onto theflexible Iocking protrusion 70 as coupling release rod 110 is inserted into thecoupling release channel 90. The flexible Iocking protrusion 70 may be inclinedrelative to the longitudinal direction 150 of the male coupling tongue 40 with anacute inclination angle (B). This may provide for a facilitated joining of the malecoupling tongue 40 with the female coupling recess 30, as well as an increasedretention force between the first and second Iocking elements 50, 60, in theinterlocking engagement. The inclination angle (B) may be in the interval 40 to 73degrees for a further facilitated joining of the furniture parts 10, 20, and a stronginterlocking engagement. The inclination angle (B) may be essentially 64 degreesin a particularly advantageous example, as illustrated in e.g. Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a further enlarged side view of the joining system 1, where the malecoupling tongue 40 is shown in an introductoryjoining position where the flexibleIocking protrusion 70 has come to a temporary rest on an inclined guiding surfacelP1, and the male coupling tongue 40 is in initial contact with two guiding surfacesIP2 and lP3 of the female coupling recess 30. The two guiding surfaces lP2, lP3,of the female coupling recess 30 guides the male coupling tongue 40 into thecorrect position inside the female coupling recess 30, while flexible Iockingprotrusion 70 is positioned against the inclined guiding surface lP1 so that a forcewill subsequently be applied by the latter onto the flexible Iocking protrusion 70.Having an inclined guiding surface lP1 as shown may provide for a facilitateddeflection of the flexible Iocking protrusion 70.

Fig. 4 shows a further enlarged side view of the joining system, where the malecoupling tongue 40 has been pushed further into engagement within the femalecoupling recess 30. Here, during the insertion, the flexible Iocking protrusion 70 isforced to temporarily elastically deflect inwardly towards the male coupling tongue40 just before entering the Iocking groove 80 in the female coupling recess 30.During said elastic deflection of the flexible Iocking protrusion 70, the remainingmale coupling tongue 40 may be held in lateral alignment with the female couplingrecess 30 by four Iocking surfaces LS1, LS2, LS3, and LS4, arranged therein, asillustrated in Fig. 4. This may provide for increased stability and correct guiding of the female ooupling reoess 30 and the male ooupling tongue 40 into the finalinterlooking engagement.

Fig. 5 shows a further enlarged side view of the joining system, where the maleooupling tongue 40 has been pushed further into full engagement within thefemale ooupling reoess 30. Here, the flexible looking protrusion 70 has snappedinto engagement with the looking groove in the female ooupling reoess 30 andthus prevents the male ooupling tongue 40 from separating from the femaleooupling reoess 30. As shown in Fig. 5, the flexible looking protrusion 70 mayexhibit a ourved bulb-shaped tip portion 220 adapted to engage a matohing ourvedportion 230 of said looking groove 80 in the female ooupling reoess 30. A ourvedbulb-shaped tip portion 220 may provide for faoilitated engagement of the flexiblelooking protrusion 70 with the looking groove 80, as well as an inoreased retentionforoe therebetvveen. The ourved bulb-shaped tip portion 220 of the flexible lookingprotrusion 70 may be shaped to engage the ourved portion of said looking groove80 in the female ooupling reoess 30 along a partial segment (S) of said tip portion220, defined by a limited segment angle (SA) uniformly straddling a longitudinalsymmetry axis 240 of the flexible looking protrusion 70. The length of the partialsegment (S), and its assooiated segment angle (SA) may be optimized to providefor a faoilitated joining of the flexible looking protrusion 70 and the looking groove80 while providing for a robust interlooking engagement therebetween.

Fig. 6 shows a similar view as in Fig. 5, but with a ooupling release rod 110partially inserted in the ooupling release ohannel 90 prior to releasing the joint.25. ln the example shown in Fig. 6, the lateral extension (Lb) of the base portion250 of the male ooupling tongue 40 relative to a longitudinal axis 150 of said maleooupling tongue 40 exoeeds the lateral extension (Lb) of the of flexible lookingprotrusion 70 relative to said longitudinal axis 150 of said male ooupling tongue40.

The joining system 1 may oomprise a slot 260 arranged between the flexiblelooking protrusion 70 and the base portion 250 of the male ooupling tongue 40, assohematioally shown in e.g. Fig. 6. The slot 250 is adapted to leave room for theflexible looking protrusion 70 to defleot in the direotion of said base portion 250when the ooupling release rod 110 is inserted into the ooupling release ohannel90. This may thus provide for a faoilitated defleotion of the flexible lookingprotrusion 70. E.g. the foroe required to interlook the male ooupling tongue 40 withthe female ooupling reoess 30 may be reduoed. The slot 260 may extend 11 essentially in parallel with the flexible coupling release protrusion 70, which mayfurther facilitate the deflection of the flexible Iocking protrusion 70.

The coupling release rod 110 may be at least partly tapered having an increasingcross-sectional area from, or at a distance from, a tip portion 120 thereof towardsa base portion 130 thereof. Thus, as the coupling release rod 110 is graduallyinserted into the coupling release channel 90, the increasing size of the crosssection may push against the flexible coupling release protrusion 70, as shown inthe example of Fig. 7. lt should however be understood that in other examples, theflexible coupling release protrusion 70 may be sufficiently pushed to be releasedfrom the Iocking groove 80 with a coupling release rod 110 having a constantcross-section. Having an at least partly tapered coupling release rod 110 may insome examples facilitate the deflection of the flexible coupling release protrusion70 and the separation of the joining system 1.

Fig. 7 shows a similar view as in Fig. 6, where an unlocking section 190 of thecoupling release rod 110 has entered the coupling release channel 90, forcing theflexible Iocking protrusion 80 to flex out of its engagement with the Iocking groove80 in the female coupling recess 30 so as to deliberately separate the firstfurniture part 10 from the second furniture part 20. The unlocking section 190 ofthe coupling release rod 110 may be tapered.

With reference now to both Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, a longitudinal axis 200 of thecoupling release channel 90 and a longitudinal axis 210 of the flexible Iockingprotrusion 70 may intersect at a first intersection angle (IA) when the flexibleIocking protrusion 70 of the male coupling tongue 40 is seated in the Iockinggroove 80 of the female coupling recess 30. The first intersection angle (IA) maybe increased to a second intersection angle (lA') when the tapered couplingrelease rod 110 is introduced into the coupling release channel 90 to a point ofrelease between said flexible Iocking protrusion 70 and the Iocking groove 80 ofthe female coupling recess 30. ln this position, the flexible Iocking protrusion 70 isdeflected out of engagement with the Iocking groove 80 by the coupling releaserod 110. ln one example, the first intersection angle (IA) may be less than 90degrees, and the second intersection angle (lA') may be essentially 90 degrees ormore than 90 degrees.

The flexible Iocking protrusion 70 may be essentially perpendicular to the couplingrelease channel 90 when the coupling release rod 110 is inserted to a point ofrelease of said coupling protrusion 70 as it leaves the Iocking groove 80 in the 12 female coupling recess 30. |.e. the longitudinal axis 200 of the coupling releasechannel 90 may be essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 210 of theflexible locking protrusion 70.

As demonstrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the coupling release rod 110 may comprisean introductory section 180 with a constant cross-sectional area, extending fromsaid tip portion 120 to a tapered unlocking section 190 with an increasing cross-sectional area towards the base portion 130 of said coupling release rod 110.

The length (Lt) of the tapered unlocking section 190 may exceed the length (Li) ofthe introductory section 180. The introductory section 180 may provide forfacilitated guiding of the coupling release rod 110 into the coupling releasechannel 90 before the tapered unlocking section 190 start to push the flexiblelocking protrusion 70 for release. The length (Li) of the introductory section may befrom 30% to 50% of the length (Lt) of the tapered unlocking section 190 in someexamples. The length (Li) of the introductory section 180 may in oneadvantageous example be 40% of the length (Lt) of the tapered unlocking section190.

Furthermore, Fig. 8 shows a first example of a tapered coupling release rod 110,where the tapering unlocking section 190 exhibits a linear tapering profile. Fig. 9shows a second example of a tapered coupling release rod 110, where thetapering unlocking section 190 exhibits a concave tapering profile. Fig. 10 showsan enlarged sideview of a tapered coupling release rod 110, where the taperingunlocking section 190 exhibits a convex tapering profile. As seen in Figs. 8, 9 and10, the coupling release rod 110 may comprise a manipulation handle 195 at itsbase portion 130. The coupling release rod 110 may be made of a polymermaterial. lt may alternatively, or in addition, be made of other materials such asmetal.

Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary cross-sectional shape ofthe coupling release rod 110. ln this example the coupling release rod 110comprises a generally rectangular cross-section.

Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary cross-sectional shapeof the coupling release rod 110. ln this example the coupling release rod 110 alsocomprises a generally rectangular cross-section, although here it is a morerounded at the edges. 13 Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary cross-sectional shape ofthe coupling release rod 110. ln this example the coupling release rod 110comprises a generally l-beam shaped cross-section, with a central waist portion160 located between two laterally extending end portions 170.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a drawer comprising two joining systems 1 asdescribed above, and denoted as upper furniture joints 280, 281, in Fig. 14. Fig.14 is a schematic illustration of the upper furniture joints 280, 281, beingdisassembled by two coupling release rods 110.

Fig. 15a is a related flow chart of a method 400 for unlocking a joining system 1 forfurniture parts 10, 20, as described above with reference to Figs. 1 - 14. Themethod 400 comprises unlocking 401 the joining system 1 by inserting a couplingrelease rod 110 into the coupling release channel 90, thus forcing the flexiblelocking protrusion 70 to flex out of its engagement with the locking groove 80 inthe female coupling recess 30 for deliberately separating the first furniture part 10from the second furniture part 20.

Fig. 15b is another flowchart ofa method 400 for unlocking a joining system 1 forfurniture parts 10, 20. The method 400 may further comprise angling 402 thesecond furniture part 20 relative to the first furniture part 10, or vice versa,following initial unlocking of a first stretch 270 of a furniture joint 280, where saidangling results in progressive unlocking of a remaining stretch 290 of said furniturejoint 280.

The method 400 may comprise unlocking 403 two furniture joints 280, 281,located at a distance from each other in a common furniture part 300 and twoother corresponding furniture parts 310, 320 by inserting a coupling release rodinto the coupling release channels 90 of each furniture joint 280, 281. Thecoupling release rod may be inserted simultaneously into the coupling releasechannels 90 of each furniture joint 280, 281 _ The joining system according to the invention is equally applicable to a widevariety of materials, such as for example solid wood, laminated wood, differenttypes of fibreboard materials like MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) or HDF (HighDensity Fibre Board) materials, plastic or composite polymer materials like PVC,or other polymer materials. lt is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings and a 14 skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be madewithin the scope of the appended claims.

List of reference numerals and letters as used in the description and in theaccompanying drawings: 1.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.90.100.110.120.130.140.150.160.170.180.190.195.200.210.220.230.240.250.260.

Joining system First furniture part Second furniture part Female coupling recess Male coupling tongue First Iocking element on male coupling tongue Matching second Iocking element in female coupling recessFlexible Iocking protrusion on male coupling tongue Locking groove in female coupling recess Coupling release channel Open end of coupling release channel Coupling release rod Tip portion of coupling release rod Base portion of coupling release rod Longitudinal direction of the female coupling recessLongitudinal direction of the male coupling tongue Central waist portion of the coupling release rod Laterally extending end portions of coupling release rodlntroductory section of coupling release rod Tapered unlocking section of the coupling release rodManipulation handle on coupling release rod Longitudinal axis of the coupling release channel Longitudinal axis of the flexible Iocking protrusion Curved bulb-shaped tip portion of the flexible Iocking protrusionCurved portion of the Iocking groove in the female coupling recessLongitudinal symmetry axis of the flexible Iocking protrusionBase portion of the male coupling tongue Slot between the flexible Iocking protrusion and the base portion of the male coupling tongue 270.280.281.290.

First stretch of a furniture jointFurniture joint Furniture joint Remaining stretch of furniture joint 300. Common furniture part 310. Furniture part 320. Furniture part 400. Method for unlocking a joining system

Claims (35)

1. Ajoining system (1)for furniture parts (10, 20), comprising a female coupling recess (30) formed in a first furniture part (10), a male coupling tongue (40) projecting from an adjoining second furniturepart (20), said female coupling recess (30) being adapted to receive the malecoupling tongue (40), said male coupling tongue (40) comprising a first lockingelement (50) configured for a snap joint interlocking engagement with a matchingsecond locking element (60) in said female coupling recess (30), said first lockingelement (50) comprising a flexible locking protrusion (70) integrally formed in themale coupling tongue (40) and laterally extending from the male coupling tongue(40), said second locking element (60) comprising a locking groove (80) to receivethe flexible locking protrusion (70) for said interlocking engagement, wherein the female coupling recess (30) comprises a coupling releasechannel (90) for receiving a coupling release rod (110), said coupling releasechannel (90) comprising an open end (100) facing the flexible locking protrusion(70) of the male coupling tongue (40) when locked in the female coupling recess(30).

2. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein thecoupling release channel (90) is inclined relative to a longitudinal direction (140) ofthe female coupling recess (30).

3. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 2, wherein thecoupling release channel (90) is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction (140)of the female coupling recess (30) with an inclination angle (A) in an interval of130 to 160 degrees.

4. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 3, wherein theinclination angle (A) of the coupling release channel (90) is within an interval of136 to 146 degrees.

5. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 4, wherein theinclination angle (A) of the coupling release channel (90) is essentially 141degrees.

6. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any of the precedingclaims, wherein the flexible locking protrusion (70) is inclined relative to alongitudinal direction (150) of the male coupling tongue (40). 17

7. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 6, wherein theflexible Iocking protrusion (70) is inclined relative to the Iongitudinal direction (150)of the male coupling tongue (40) with an acute inclination angle (B)

8. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 7, wherein theflexible Iocking protrusion (70) is inclined relative to the Iongitudinal direction (150)of the male coupling tongue (40) with an inclination angle (B) in the interval of 40to 73 degrees.

9. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 8, wherein theinclination angle (B) of the flexible Iocking protrusion (70) is essentially 64degrees.

10. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any of thepreceding claims, wherein a Iongitudinal axis (200) of the coupling release channel(90) and a Iongitudinal axis (210) of the flexible Iocking protrusion (70) intersect ata first intersection angle (IA) when the flexible Iocking protrusion (70) of the malecoupling tongue (40) is seated in the Iocking groove (80) of the female couplingrecess (30),wherein said first intersection angle (IA) is adapted to be increased to a second intersection angle (lA') at a point of release between said flexible Iockingprotrusion (70) and the Iocking groove (80) of the female coupling recess (30).

11. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 10, whereinthe first intersection angle (IA) is less than 90 degrees, and the secondintersection angle (lA') is essentially 90 degrees.

12. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any of thepreceding claims, wherein said flexible Iocking protrusion (70) exhibits a curvedbulb-shaped tip portion (220) adapted to engage a matching curved portion (230)of said Iocking groove (80) in the female coupling recess (30).

13. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 12, whereinthe curved bulb-shaped tip portion (220) of the flexible Iocking protrusion (70) isshaped to engage the curved portion (230) of said Iocking groove (80) in thefemale coupling recess (30) along a partial segment (S) of said tip portion (220),defined by a limited segment angle (SA) uniformly straddling a Iongitudinalsymmetry axis (240) of the flexible Iocking protrusion (70). 18

14. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any of thepreceding claims, wherein a |atera| extension (Lb) of the base portion (250) of themale coupling tongue (40) relative to a longitudinal axis (150) of said malecoupling tongue (40) exceeds a |atera| extension (Lp) of the of flexible lockingprotrusion (70) relative to said longitudinal axis (150) of said male coupling tongue(40).

15. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any of thepreceding claims, wherein a slot (260) is located between the flexible lockingprotrusion (70) and a base portion (250) of the male coupling tongue (40), said slot(260) being adapted to leave room for the flexible locking protrusion (70) to deflectin the direction of said base portion (250).

16. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 15, whereinsaid slot (260) extends essentially in parallel with the flexible locking protrusion(70).

17. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any of thepreceding claims, comprising a coupling release rod (110), said coupling releasechannel (90) being adapted for receiving the coupling release rod (110) to engagewith the flexible locking protrusion (70) and force the flexible locking protrusion(70) to flex out of its engagement with the locking groove (80) in the femalecoupling recess (30) so as to deliberately separate the first furniture part (10) fromthe second furniture part (20).

18. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 17, whereinthe coupling release rod (110) comprises a generally rectangular cross-section.

19. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 17 or 18,wherein the coupling release rod (110) comprises a generally l-beam shapedcross-section, with a central waist portion (160) located between two laterallyextending end portions (170).

20. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims17 to 19, wherein the coupling release rod (110) is at least partly tapered havingan increasing cross-sectional area from, or at a distance from, a tip portion (120)thereof towards a base portion (130) thereof. 19

21. _ The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims17 to 20, wherein the coupling release rod (110) comprises an introductory section(180) with a constant cross-sectional area, extending from said tip portion (120) toa tapered unlocking section (190) with an increasing cross-sectional area towardsthe base portion (130) of said coupling release rod (110).

22. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 21, wherein alength (Lt) of the tapered unlocking section (190) exceeds a length (Li) of theintroductory section (180).

23. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 22, whereinthe length (Li) of the introductory section is from 30% to 50% of the length (Lt) ofthe tapered unlocking section (190).

24. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 23, whereinthe length (Li) of the introductory section (180) is 40% of the length (Lt) of thetapered unlocking section (190).

25. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims21 to 24, wherein the tapered unlocking section (190) comprises a linear taperingprofile.

26. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims21 to 24, wherein the tapered unlocking section (190) comprises a non-lineartapering profile.

27. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 26, whereinthe tapered unlocking section (190) comprises a concave tapering profile.

28. Thejoining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to claim 26, whereinthe tapered unlocking section (190) comprises a convex tapering profile.

29. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims17 to 28, wherein the coupling release rod (110) comprises a manipulation handle(195) at its base portion (130).

30. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims17 to 29, wherein the coupling release rod (110) is made of a polymer material.

31. _ The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims17 to 30, wherein the coupling release rod (110) is made of metal.

32. The joining system for furniture parts (10, 20) according to any one of claims17 to 31, wherein the flexible Iocking protrusion (70) is essentially perpendicular tothe coupling release channel (90) when the coupling release rod (110) is insertedtherein to a point of release of said coupling protrusion (70) as it leaves the Iockinggroove (80) in the female coupling recess (30).

33. A method (400) for unlocking a joining system (1) for furniture parts (10, 20)according to any of the previous claims, comprising: - unlocking (401) the joining system by inserting a coupling release rod (110) intothe coupling release channel (90), thus forcing the flexible Iocking protrusion (70)to flex out of its engagement with the Iocking groove (80) in the female couplingrecess (30) for deliberately separating the first furniture part (10) from the secondfurniture part (20).

34. The method for unlocking a joining system for furniture parts according toclaim 33, comprising angling (402) the second furniture part (20) relative to thefirst furniture part (10), or vice versa, following initial unlocking of a first stretch(270) of a furniture joint (280), said angling resulting in progressive unlocking of aremaining stretch (290) of said furniture joint (280).

35. The method for unlocking a joining system for furniture parts according toclaim 34, comprising unlocking (403) two furniture joints (280, 281), located at adistance from each other in a common furniture part (300), and two othercorresponding furniture parts (310, 320) by inserting a coupling release rod (110)into the coupling release channels (90) of each furniture joint (280, 281 ).