Integrated Drawer Damper for Soft Opening and Quiet Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture drawer systems require separate units for soft opening and closing, resulting in a complex assembly.
Innovation Solution
A single device with an oblong housing, a longitudinally displaceable damper cylinder, and offsetable pin members that provide resistance through fluid flow control, allowing for both smooth opening and closing while reducing slamming noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate units are used for soft opening and soft closing, then the drawer can achieve smooth opening and closing, but the assembly becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both soft opening and soft closing functions into a single integrated device mounted on the drawer rail. The housing contains a damper cylinder with a piston that provides damping resistance in both directions of movement, eliminating the need for separate opening and closing mechanisms while maintaining smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single device performs multiple functions: it provides soft opening resistance when the drawer is pulled out, soft closing resistance when the drawer is pushed in, and includes an automatic closing function. The damper cylinder's piston and fluid system universally handle both opening and closing operations with a single mechanism.
2Device complexity
If a single device is used for both opening and closing, then the assembly is simplified, but the device must perform multiple functions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The single device is designed to perform multiple functions: soft opening, soft closing, and automatic closing. The damper cylinder with its piston and fluid channels provides damping resistance in both directions, and the pin members enable automatic closing, allowing one device to universally handle all drawer movement control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a dynamic fluid-based damping system where the piston moves within the damper cylinder, allowing the resistance to adapt dynamically based on the direction and speed of drawer movement. The fluid flows through different channels depending on whether the drawer is opening or closing, enabling the single device to adapt to multiple operational modes.
3Productivity
If the drawer closes quickly, then the operation is efficient, but slamming noise occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The damper cylinder is positioned to engage with the pin members before the drawer completes its closing movement. The fluid-based damping system provides resistance in advance during the closing process, cushioning the final impact and preventing slamming noise while still allowing relatively quick operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a hydraulic damping mechanism where fluid flows through the piston and damper cylinder channels. This fluid resistance provides controlled deceleration during closing, reducing impact velocity and eliminating slamming noise while maintaining efficient operation speed.
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 device simplifies the assembly by using a single unit for both functions, providing a soft and quiet operation by controlling resistance through fluid flow, thus reducing noise and preventing sudden slamming.
Implementation Method 1
a longitudinally displaceable damper cylinder is mounted in said housing, said damper cylinder comprising a piston with a piston rod, said piston being provided with at least one auxiliary valve
Implementation Method 2
said piston being provided with at least one auxiliary valve, and where a first end part of the damper cylinder - and which is free of the piston rod - has an abutment face
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for use in connection with a "soft" opening and later "soft" closing of a drawer in a furniture body. One or more rails (2,3,4) are mounted between the drawer and the furniture body. The device comprises a single, oblong, partly open housing (1) delimited by a first end member (7a) and a second end member (7b). The housing (1) is mounted on a furniture body or on a rail (2) secured thereon. A longitudinally displaceable damper cylinder (9) is mounted in said housing (1), said damper cylinder comprising a piston (8) with a piston rod (10), said piston (8) being provided with an auxiliary valve (37,38). A first end part (9b) of the damper cylinder (9), and which is free of the piston rod (10), has an outer abutment face against which a first offsetable pin member (15), which is mounted substantially at the rear end of the drawer or on a longitudinally displaceable rail, abuts when the drawer is opened, while a second offsetable pin member (13), which is mounted substantially at the front end of the drawer, abuts a third end part (12) mounted on the outermost end of the piston rod (10), when the drawer is displaced towards the closed position thereof; the first end member (7a) and the second end member (7b) of the housing optionally being provided with a slot-like opening, (7a' ) and (7b' ), respectively, through which the first pin member (15) and the second pin member (13), respectively, optionally can pass in and out of the housing (1).