Device for moving a movable piece of furniture and piece of furniture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture movement devices lack a reliable and low-noise mechanism for force-assisted opening and locking of furniture parts, such as drawers and doors, which complicates user interaction and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A device incorporating an energy storage system with a locking arrangement and a touch latch function, allowing for a short unlocking path and reliable locking and unlocking, facilitated by a movable lever and locking element that automatically recharges during closure, enabling a power-assisted opening mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional locking mechanism is used for the energy storage device, then the locking function can be provided, but the operation becomes complex and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidlocking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking arrangement is designed to automatically lock the energy storage device in the loaded state without requiring user intervention. The lever is biased by a spring to automatically engage with the locking element, providing self-service locking that simplifies operation while maintaining high reliability through automatic engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a complex unlocking mechanism is used, then reliable locking can be achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The unlocking function is extracted and simplified to a touch latch arrangement where a small triggering element interacts with the locking element. This separates the simple unlocking trigger from the robust locking mechanism, maintaining reliability while reducing overall device complexity. The touch latch requires minimal movement and结构简单.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring a complex positive locking mechanism, the design uses a biased lever that naturally tends to lock (negative locking). The spring bias on the lever creates a self-locking tendency, and unlocking is achieved by overcoming this bias with a simple touch, inverting the conventional approach where locking requires active engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If a long unlocking path is provided, then the locking can be reliably canceled, but the triggering distance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlocking reliabilityVSAvoidtriggering distance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The touch latch arrangement uses partial action where only a small portion of the lever needs to move to trigger unlocking. The triggering element only needs to move a short distance to engage the locking element and initiate the unlocking sequence, achieving reliable unlocking with minimal movement rather than requiring the lever to traverse a long path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Ease of operation

If friction and noise are not considered, then simpler locking mechanisms can be used, but user effort increases and usability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser effortVSAvoidnoise and friction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The design replaces high-friction mechanical locking with a low-friction touch latch system. The biased lever and locking element interact with minimal contact and friction, and the touch latch requires very little force to trigger. This substitution reduces the harmful effects of friction and noise while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 provides a reliable, low-noise, and low-friction locking and unlocking mechanism, ensuring consistent operation and reducing user effort, with automatic recharging during closure, enhancing the functionality and usability of furniture parts.

Implementation Method 1

an energy storage device, so that with the assembled device the movable furniture part can be brought into the opening direction under the action of the energy storage device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy storage: Mechanical Accumulator

Data Source

PatentEP3132718B1Device for moving a movable piece of furniture and piece of furniture
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3132718B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3132718B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3132718B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device (1) for moving a movable furniture part in an opening direction of the furniture part in relation to a furniture body of a piece of furniture is proposed, the movable furniture part being able to be brought in the opening direction and in a closing direction via guide means, the device (1) having an energy store comprises, so that with the assembled device (1) the movable furniture part can be brought under the action of the energy store in the opening direction, and wherein the device (1) has a locking arrangement for locking a clamped position of the energy store in which the energy store (3) for the opening movement of the furniture part is loaded, the clamping position being unlockable. According to the invention, there is a locking element (7) of the locking arrangement and a movable lever of the device (1), which is coupled to the energy accumulator, interacting in such a way that when the energy accumulator is in the locked clamped position, the locking element (7) assumes a locking position and the lever assumes a waiting position in which cancellation of the waiting position of the lever is blocked by the locking member (7).