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A fixing

[Category : - OTHER- CONSTRUCTION HOME IMPROVEMENT- Furnitures]
[Viewed 571 times]

A fixing (1), such as a nut, for receiving a bolt or screw (4) comprises a tubular member (2) having a proximal end (2a) into which the bolt or screw (4) is received in use and a distal end (2b) opposite the proximal end (2a). A plurality of resiliently flexible elements (9) protrude inwardly from an internal side of the tubular member (2) and are directed towards the distal end (2b).

Having worked in the returns department for a very large retail company it became apparent that thousands of pounds were being wiped off the cost of goods whilst being assembled by delivery operatives under time constraints to achieve customer expectations.
Specifically, having to apply the feet to seated furniture and possibly due to time constraints cross threading them resulting in the item having to be returned to the retailer and another new item to be sent out.
Whilst it is easier to fit the front feet due to being centre turned the back feet are usually off centre turned and take longer to align the threaded bar to the insert. If this is not centred correctly and overdue pressure is applied the foot will cross thread part way and can not be fitted. Item then has to be returned and is consequently damaged further in the return transit.

Although this does not initially sound too devastating, when you calculate the costs involved for the retailer it is huge. Over 100 units of seated furniture per day returned and a large proportion of which would be damaged due to the cross threading the feet. For the cost of pennies thousands of pounds are lost. For example a large leather sofa costing over a thousand pounds returned with cross threaded feet which have broken through the frame and deemed it unsafe would be rendered unusable and put to landfill. Without the need to carefully centre the threaded bar to fit the feet many thousands of pounds could be saved. Not only on unit costs but delivery costs; fuel, carbon footprint etc.
My invention allows the foot to be push fitted into the insert and then can be screwed to a tight fit. The foot can also be removed by unscrewing.
This push fit insert is designed to be resistance fitted which would comply with current manufacturing tooling within the furniture industry. However the insert has an infinite number of uses throughout many manufacturing industries; automotive, plumbing, electrical, joinery etc.

Patent publications:

GB 2553815

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pongo (United Kingdom)

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