Coplanar Wardrobe Door Opening Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional coplanar door opening devices require extensive mechanical machining, are costly, and limit the flexibility in door height and width, making them unsuitable for varied furniture designs and spaces, and often result in unbalanced doors.

Innovation Solution

A rotary-translation opening device with a guide attached above or below the frame, featuring a jointed quadrilateral mechanism with levers and rods, allowing sliding and rotary motion, and a locking element for controlled door movement, enabling doors of varying heights and widths with improved balance and ease of production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional coplanar door opening devices are used, then the doors can be opened and closed, but the device requires extensive mechanical machining and has high production costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction cost and complexityVSAvoidmechanical machining requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The opening device is divided into separate modular components: a first element attached to the door and a second element attached to the furniture frame. These elements work together through their relative movement without requiring complex integrated machining, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional coplanar door opening devices are used, then the doors can be opened and closed, but the device limits flexibility in door height and width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor size flexibilityVSAvoidstructural support requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The opening device is designed with universal applicability to doors of various heights and widths. The first and second elements work together in a configuration that adapts to different door dimensions without requiring additional structural support or modification, enabling single mechanism to serve multiple door size requirements.

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

3Ease of operation

If traditional sliding mechanisms are used, then the doors can slide coplanarly, but the slides positioned at one side create unbalanced door movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor movement balanceVSAvoidslide positioning configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device intentionally positions the first and second elements asymmetrically - the first element on the door and the second element on the frame at a different location. This asymmetric arrangement creates a balanced moment system that counteracts the unbalancing effect, achieving smooth door operation without requiring symmetric slide positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2801686B1Opening ddevice for coplanar doors
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 EFFEGI BREVETTI
  • EP2801686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2801686B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2801686B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An opening device (10) for coplanar doors of wardrobes and/or similar furnishing accessories suitable for being applied to a wardrobe (12), comprising a guide (18) attached above or below a frame (14) of the wardrobe (12), longitudinally extended and suitable for allowing the sliding of a mobile unit (19, 19') connected to a door (16) via a first lever (26, 26') and a second lever (28, 28') co-operating with mechanical means restrained to said guide (18) and mobile unit (19, 19') to define a jointed quadrilateral mechanism for the opening/closing of the door (16) with a rotary translation motion, said device comprising at least one carriage (54, 56) sliding with respect to a plate-guide (50, 52) secured to the door (16) and at least one hinge (60, 62) attached with one end to said at least one carriage (50, 56) and with the other end to a vertical shoulder (13) of the frame (14), with said at least one carriage and at least one hinge coordinated with the movement of said first and second lever (26, 26' and 28, 28') and provided with elements for locking/unlocking of the sliding movement of said door (16) parallel to the frame (14) defined by a locking element or hook (64) suitable for engaging with said at least one carriage (54, 56).