Compact Drawer Front Fitting With Integrated Height and Lateral Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture fittings for attaching a front panel to a drawer frame require excessive space and are complex due to large dimensions and numerous parts, compromising the available drawer volume and being costly.

Innovation Solution

A compact furniture fitting design featuring a pivoting adjusting plate for lateral adjustment and a displaceable adjusting element for height adjustment, with a connecting element that hooks into a hanging groove, allowing for easy attachment and secure locking without tools, and utilizing a thread for lateral adjustment and an eccentric for height adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a standard furniture fitting with lateral and height adjustment mechanisms is used, then adjustment functionality is achieved, but the space requirement increases and drawer volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment functionalityVSAvoiddrawer volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the lateral adjustment mechanism and height adjustment mechanism into a single integrated furniture fitting assembly. The mounting plate integrates both adjustment functions, eliminating the need for separate adjustment devices and reducing the overall space requirement in the drawer front area, thereby preserving more drawer volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides lateral adjustment through pivoting, height adjustment through vertical displacement, and acts as the connecting element between the drawer front and side. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, compacting the overall fitting design.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If a furniture fitting with separate locking mechanism and individual adjustment mechanisms is used, then adjustment and locking functionality is achieved, but the device complexity increases and number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment and locking functionalityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is integrated into the mounting plate structure itself, rather than being a separate component. The mounting plate combines adjustment functions (lateral and vertical) with the locking function in a single unified design, reducing the total number of parts and simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting plate performs multiple functions: lateral adjustment via pivoting, vertical adjustment via displacement, and locking to secure the drawer front. By making the mounting plate universal and multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms and locking devices, thereby reducing part count.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If a furniture fitting with wide lower section is used to accommodate adjustment mechanisms, then adjustment functionality is achieved, but the available volume in the drawer is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment functionalityVSAvoiddrawer front area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the lateral and height adjustment mechanisms into a single mounting plate assembly, the patent consolidates the space required for adjustment functions into a more compact area, reducing the width of the lower drawer front section and maximizing the usable drawer volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes vertical displacement of the mounting plate for height adjustment rather than requiring additional horizontal space. This dimensional approach allows adjustment functionality to be achieved within a compact footprint, preserving drawer front area and maximizing drawer volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The solution reduces the space required for the furniture fitting, maintains adjustment functionality, and simplifies the design while ensuring secure attachment and easy detachment of the front panel, enhancing the overall efficiency and compactness of the drawer frame.

Implementation Method 1

the positioning plate is pivotable in the lateral direction relative to the frame plate by a first adjusting element in the form of a lateral adjustment device, wherein bearing elements form a pivot axis for the positioning plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPivoting: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

is displaceable in the vertical direction relative to the frame plate by a second adjusting element in the form of a height adjustment device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric: Eccentric

Implementation Method 3

the connecting element can be hooked onto the support plate and, when hooked, follows the adjustment movements of the support plate relative to the frame plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHooking: Hook

Data Source

PatentEP2642892B1Furniture fitting for fastening a front panel
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP2642892B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2642892B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2642892B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a furniture fitting (1) for fastening a front panel (2) to a drawer frame (3), comprising a connecting element (5), which is associated with the front panel (2) and which can be pre-mounted on the front panel (2), and a fastening device (4), which is associated with the drawer frame (3) and which can be connected to the frame (3) and which has a frame plate (6), an adjusting plate (7), and adjusting elements (8, 9) that are arranged, in particular rotatably, on the adjusting plate (7) and that act on the adjusting plate (7), by means of which adjusting elements the adjusting plate (7) can be adjusted relative to the frame plate (6) in the height direction (HR) and in the lateral direction (SR), wherein the connecting element (5) can be hooked onto the adjusting plate (7) and, while hooked in, follows the adjustment motions of the adjusting plate (7) relative to the frame plate (6).