Handleless Drawer Ejection Layout to Prevent Partial Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wide drawers in furniture without handles pose a risk of faulty or partial opening due to uneven release of ejecting means, leading to misalignment or breakage, and existing synchronization solutions are complex and costly.

Innovation Solution

A piece of furniture with ejecting means on one side and retaining means on the other, configured to ensure proper opening by limiting the thrust required and preventing misalignment, using a slider and thrust spring for ejecting means and a tiltable slider and traction spring for retaining means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ejecting means are arranged on both lateral walls of the drawer, then the drawer can be opened reliably, but the construction becomes complex and costly when synchronization devices are added

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawer opening reliabilityVSAvoidejecting system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the ejecting means from one lateral wall, keeping it only on the other wall. This extraction eliminates the need for synchronization devices between two ejecting systems, reducing construction complexity and costs while maintaining reliable drawer opening through the single remaining ejecting means

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a retaining means as an intermediary element on the lateral wall without ejecting means. This retaining means works in conjunction with the single ejecting means to ensure proper drawer opening sequence and prevent faulty operation, replacing the need for complex synchronization devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ejecting means are arranged on both lateral walls of the drawer, then the drawer can be opened reliably, but the manufacturing and mounting costs increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawer opening reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and mounting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ejecting means from one lateral wall, reducing the total number of ejecting devices from two to one. This directly reduces manufacturing material costs, assembly time, and mounting complexity, while the retaining means ensures the system remains reliable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining means serves as a simple, cost-effective component that replaces the need for expensive synchronization devices. It is a straightforward mechanical element that is easy to manufacture and install, providing the necessary function at low cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If the user presses a lateral area of the drawer front, then the drawer can be opened, but there is a risk of partial or faulty opening and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawer opening easeVSAvoiddrawer opening reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining means acts as an intermediary that coordinates the action of the single ejecting means. It ensures that when the user presses the drawer front, the ejecting means is properly activated and the drawer opens completely and aligned, preventing partial opening and misalignment while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining means provides mechanical feedback to ensure proper drawer opening. It engages and disengages in a controlled sequence with the ejecting means, ensuring that the drawer moves correctly and completely, preventing faulty operation while responding to user input

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Ensures reliable and safe opening of wide drawers without partial or faulty opening, maintaining simplicity and low costs in construction.

Implementation Method 1

a thrust spring (20) connected at one end with the slider (18) and at the other end with a base body (19) so as to be loaded by the movement of the slider (18)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a tiltable slider (23) which is biased in the closing direction by a traction spring (24)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2731471B1Piece of furniture having at least one drawer or the like provided with ejecting means
Publication Date: 2015.03.25 ARTURO SALICE SPA
  • EP2731471B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2731471B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2731471B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The piece of furniture (10) having at least one drawer (13) or the like comprises a first and a second wall (11, 12) laterally arranged to the drawer (13) and provided with respective pull-out guides (14, 15) for the drawer, and ejecting means (16; 42) conformed and arranged for generating a thrust in an opening direction on the drawer (13), the ejecting means (16; 42) being lockable in a closing position of the drawer by means of re leasable locking means (21, 22; 44, 46); the ejecting means (1 6; 42) with the relevant locking means (21, 22; 44, 46) are provided at only one (11) of the walls (11, 12) of the piece of furniture (10) laterally arranged to the drawer (13).