Cupboard Drawer Ejector Layout for Stable Front Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cupboard furniture designs require an ejector installed near the rear wall for drawer extension, which can lead to instability and the need for additional structural support, as well as the absence of a pull handle on the drawer panel, making it difficult to manually extend the drawer without an ejector.

Innovation Solution

The ejector is positioned approximately in the middle of the drawer, with its ejector element acting on the drawer panel between the rail guides, providing symmetrical force application and avoiding drawer tilting, and can be either mechanically or electromotively triggered, with the option of a single ejector and integrated motor drive for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the ejector is arranged near the rear wall of the drawer, then the drawer can be extended from a closed end position, but the ejector stability is compromised and additional structural support is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawer extension capabilityVSAvoidejector stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector is repositioned from the conventional rear wall location to a central position on the drawer front panel, creating an asymmetric arrangement that improves both operational ease and structural stability without requiring additional support elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the ejector is arranged near the rear wall of the drawer, then the drawer extension function is achieved, but the structural complexity increases due to need for cross brace support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawer extension capabilityVSAvoidstructural support requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector is extracted from its conventional location near the rear wall and repositioned to the central drawer front panel area, eliminating the need for additional cross brace support structures and simplifying the overall device configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a single ejector is used in the middle of the drawer, then the force application becomes symmetrical and drawer tilting is avoided, but the ejector must be precisely positioned to act on the drawer panel between rail guides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawer stability during extensionVSAvoidejector positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector is designed to utilize the drawer panel itself as the actuation surface, where the drawer panel serves dual purposes as both the structural element and the interface for ejector force application, eliminating the need for separate handling mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2387911B1Cupboard
Publication Date: 2016.07.27 HAILO WERK RUDOLF LOH
  • EP2387911B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2387911B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2387911B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The cabinet has a drawer hood (10) whose drawer (8) is arranged on or close to a front side of a cabinet body (1) in a retracted position. An ejector element adjusts the retracted position in an ejector housing, and is triggered from the retracted position to extend the drawer. The drawer hood moves out a unit to the front side of the body, and is connected with the drawer each other. The ejector housing of an ejector is arranged in the body, and the ejector element is engaged in a center line of the drawer on the drawer hood for moving the drawer in a transverse direction.