Double-walled drawer sidewall with rounded lower back end

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double-walled drawer side walls can cause damage to kitchen worktops when removed, as the sharp-edged rear lower end scratches the surface during handling.

Innovation Solution

The rear lower end of the outer wall is rounded to minimize the risk of damage, either by forming it in the material itself or using a separate edge protection part, and the entire double-walled drawer side wall is coated with a softer material like powder coating or lacquer for enhanced scratch protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the rear lower end of the outer wall is designed with sharp edges for structural integrity, then the structural strength is improved, but the support surface (worktop) is scratched and damaged during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidscratch damage to worktop
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sharp rear lower end of the outer wall is replaced with a rounded contour. This curvature eliminates the sharp edge that causes scratching while maintaining the structural integrity of the drawer side wall. The rounded design allows the drawer to be handled and placed on worktops without causing damage to the support surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The rounding is applied specifically to the rear lower end of the outer wall, while the rest of the drawer side wall maintains its original structural design. This localized modification addresses the scratching problem only where it occurs during handling, without compromising the overall structural strength and functionality of the drawer assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate edge protection part is added to protect the worktop surface, then the scratch protection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescratch protectionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The edge protection function is merged directly into the outer wall structure by forming a rounded contour as an integral part of the drawer side wall. This eliminates the need for separate edge protection components, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining scratch protection functionality. The rounding serves both structural and protective purposes simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3727089B1Double-walled drawer sidewall with rounded lower back end
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3727089B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3727089B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3727089B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3a

AI summary

The invention relates to a double-walled drawer sidewall (4) comprising an outer wall (4a) and an inner wall (4b) that is connected thereto, wherein a rounded portion (11) is provided at the rear lower end of the outer wall (4a).