Adjustable Drawer Engagement Element for Precise Front Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture designs with movable parts and lockable ejection devices require complex and precise adjustments for the front gap between the drawer and the furniture body, often necessitating removal of the drawer and involving intricate mechanisms that are prone to material wear.

Innovation Solution

A linearly adjustable engagement element on the movable furniture part, connected to a self-locking adjustment device with a rotatable actuating element and a spiral link, allows for stepless adjustment of the front gap without altering the opening and closing mechanism, enabling easy access and stable operation by converting rotational movements into translational adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the engagement element is made fixed on the movable furniture part, then the opening and closing mechanism remains simple and stable, but the front gap cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of front gapVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement element is separated from the opening/closing mechanism into an independent adjustable component. This segmentation allows the engagement element to be adjusted independently without affecting the simplicity and stability of the opening and closing mechanism, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and mechanism simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement element is designed to be dynamically adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the movable furniture part. This dynamic positioning capability enables front gap adjustment while maintaining a simple fixed connection for the opening/closing function, addressing the need for both adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the engagement element is made adjustable to change front gap, then the adaptability is improved, but the structural simplicity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of front gapVSAvoidstructural simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment function is segmented as a separate feature of the engagement element, independent from the opening/closing mechanism. This allows the engagement element to incorporate adjustment capability without making the overall structure complex, as the adjustment is localized to one component rather than distributed throughout the mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement element is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the connection point for the opening/closing mechanism and as an adjustable element for front gap control. This universal design achieves adjustability without adding separate dedicated adjustment mechanisms, preserving structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the opening and closing mechanism is designed as a touch-latch mechanism requiring precise adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening and closingVSAvoidprecise adjustment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The touch-latch mechanism is segmented from the engagement element's positioning function. The engagement element handles the precise positioning and front gap adjustment, while the touch-latch mechanism handles only the opening/closing operation. This segmentation allows the touch-latch to maintain its ease of operation without inheriting the precise adjustment requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement element provides dynamic adjustability for positioning, while the touch-latch mechanism maintains its fixed, simple design for operation. This dynamic-static division allows the system to achieve both ease of operation through the touch-latch and manufacturing flexibility through the adjustable engagement element, reducing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution simplifies the adjustment process, reduces material wear, and maintains the stability of the opening and closing mechanism, allowing for convenient and precise adjustment of the front gap without the need to remove the movable part from the furniture body.

Implementation Method 1

the adjustment device has a housing arranged on the second furniture part, in which the engagement element is slidably mounted in the opening/closing direction of the movable furniture part... the adjustment device is designed to convert a rotational movement into a translational movement, with a rotatably mounted actuating element, which has a spiral link, being operatively connected to the linearly movable engagement element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpiral link mechanism: Helix

Data Source

PatentEP1959792B1Piece of furniture having at least a first and a second furniture part
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP1959792B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP1959792B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP1959792B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Piece of furniture (1) having at least a first furniture part (3) and a second furniture part (4), of which one furniture part (3) is mounted in a stationary manner, and the other furniture part (4) is mounted in a movable manner, on the basic furniture structure (2) and which can be moved relative to one another, and having a lockable pushing-out device (5) which is arranged on the first furniture part (3) and is intended for moving the movable furniture part (4) from a closed end position into an open position, and having an engagement element (8) which is arranged on the second furniture part (4) and engages with the pushing-out device (5) at least over a part of the opening/closing path (OR, SR) of the movable furniture part, the engagement element (8) being mounted on the second furniture part (4) such that it can be adjusted preferably in linear fashion in relation to the first furniture part (3).