Drawer Front Adjuster With Internal Access and Narrow Side Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer front adjustment mechanisms require increased installation space, are inaccessible for adjustment when the drawer is adjacent to a wall, and cannot be adjusted from within when the drawer is loaded, limiting design flexibility and usability.

Innovation Solution

A front adjustment system that allows for transverse adjustment of the front panel via a bearing body integrated into the front panel, featuring separate adjustment elements for height and side adjustment, including an adjusting wheel with internal teeth and an eccentric bolt for precise vertical and lateral movement, enabling narrower drawer frame designs and internal access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the adjustment mechanism is installed in the drawer frame side, then the front panel can be adjusted, but the drawer frame width increases and design uniformity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefront panel adjustabilityVSAvoiddrawer frame width
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is extracted from the drawer frame side and integrated into the front panel itself. The bearing body is fixed to the front panel, and the adjustment elements are housed within the front panel structure, eliminating the need for side frame mounting and maintaining uniform drawer frame design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanism is repositioned from a lateral mounting location to a front-facing location. The adjustment elements are accessible from the front of the drawer, changing the spatial dimension of access from side to front, which allows for narrower side frames while maintaining adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the adjustment mechanism is mounted on the drawer frame, then the front panel can be adjusted, but the mechanism becomes inaccessible when the drawer is adjacent to a wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefront panel adjustabilityVSAvoidaccessibility in different installation positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is designed with front-facing accessibility that works regardless of the drawer's position relative to walls. The bearing body and adjustment elements are configured to be accessible from the front, making the mechanism universally applicable whether the drawer is flush with a wall, protruding, or recessed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the adjustment mechanism is located on the drawer frame, then the front panel can be adjusted, but adjustment from inside the drawer is impossible when loaded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefront panel adjustabilityVSAvoidadjustment accessibility from different locations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is repositioned to allow access from the front of the drawer, enabling users to reach the adjustment elements from inside the drawer when it is pulled out. This dimensional change in accessibility allows adjustment even when the drawer is loaded, as users can access the mechanism from the front opening rather than from the sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Manufacturing precision

If a gear guide mechanism is used for precise adjustment, then adjustment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment precisionVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment systems with a gear guide mechanism that provides precise adjustment through a simplified design. The gear guide uses a rack and pinion arrangement where a toothed rack is guided by a gear, eliminating the need for multiple adjustment elements and complex linkages while maintaining high precision.

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

Enables user-friendly, precise adjustment of the front panel without increasing the drawer frame's width, allowing for a uniform design and accessibility even when the drawer is loaded or adjacent to a wall, while accommodating various materials.

Implementation Method 1

the adjustment mechanism has an adjusting wheel with internal teeth, which engages an external toothing of the first adjustment element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

the second adjustment element is preferably designed as an eccentric bolt, which enables smooth linear displacement of the adjusting bolt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP2367460B1Front adjuster for drawers and drawer
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2367460B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2367460B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2367460B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5b

AI summary

Front adjuster for drawers, comprising a bearing body (25), a slide (9) arranged on the bearing body (25) and fixable to a lateral frame (3) and an adjuster mechanism arranged in the bearing body for height and/or lateral adjustment of the slide (9), wherein the bearing body (25) may be fixed to the front panel (2).