Adjustable Sliding Door Guide Element for Furniture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide devices for sliding elements in furniture face challenges such as non-adjustable height, leading to deep grooves that consume more material and cause friction noise, and adjustable mechanisms that result in rubbing issues during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A guide device with a transversely adjustable guide element using an actuating device that moves the guide element away from the groove bottom, allowing for tolerance compensation and precise distance setting, reducing groove wall length and minimizing friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the groove is made deep to ensure lateral overlap of the guide element for stable guidance, then the guidance stability is improved, but the material consumption increases and the visual appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element is made height-adjustable via an adjustment mechanism, allowing it to be positioned at different heights within the groove. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the guide element to achieve stable lateral guidance with shorter groove walls, as the optimal position can be found without requiring excessive groove depth. The adjustability transforms a static structure into a dynamic one that can adapt to minimize material usage while maintaining guidance stability.
2Quantity of substance
If the guide element is made height-adjustable to reduce groove wall length, then the material consumption is reduced, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be operated by the installer during assembly, allowing on-site adjustment of the guide element height. This self-adjusting capability eliminates the need for complex pre-adjustment procedures or specialized tools, enabling the installer to optimize the guide element position directly during installation. The mechanism serves itself by providing the adjustment function that would otherwise require complex external adjustment systems.
3Productivity
If the projection is positioned in the groove during assembly, then the guide element can be installed, but rubbing against the groove floor occurs causing sliding noises and higher operating forces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element incorporates an adjustment mechanism that allows it to be positioned at different heights within the groove. During assembly, the guide element can be initially placed in the groove for quick installation, then subsequently adjusted to an optimal height position that prevents contact with the groove floor during operation. This dynamic adjustment capability eliminates the rubbing and friction noise problem while maintaining assembly efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The invention relates to a guide device for a sliding element (3, 4) comprising a guide rail (6) having at least one groove (60, 61) into which a guide element (8, 9, 9') that can be secured to a sliding element (3, 4) can be introduced, wherein the guide element (8, 9, 9') is retained on a holder (10) such that it can be adjusted towards a base of the groove (60, 61) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail (6) and it can be secured in different positions relative to the base of the groove (60, 61), and an actuation device (20) is provided in order to bring the guide element (8, 9, 9') from a moveable adjustment position into a secured position, wherein the guide element (8, 9, 9') can be moved from a position on the base of the groove (60, 61) away from the base of the groove (60, 61) via the actuation device (20), in order to secure the guide element (8, 9, 9') at a distance from the base of the groove (60, 61). The invention also relates to an item of furniture and a method for assembling a sliding element (3, 4).