Drawer front connection unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer front connection units in furniture construction lack flexibility and stability, particularly in deep storage spaces, as they often require different connection techniques and do not provide secure attachment methods that distribute connecting forces evenly.

Innovation Solution

A drawer front connection unit with front fastening elements that can be detachably or permanently attached to a drawer wall element, featuring a mounting body with adjustable fastening elements and a filling element for enhanced stability, allowing for secure and even force distribution across multiple connection points, and can be snap-fitted, welded, or attached using screws or rivets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drawer front connection units are used in deep storage spaces, then the connection stability should be improved, but the existing units do not distribute connecting forces evenly causing attachment instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidconnection force distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer front connection unit is divided into multiple front fastening elements (at least two) positioned at different heights within the chamber section. This segmentation allows connecting forces to be distributed across multiple discrete attachment points rather than concentrated at a single location, improving connection stability in deep storage spaces while maintaining a manageable device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening elements are arranged vertically along the height dimension of the chamber section, extending from the upper region to the lower region. This vertical dimensionality allows forces to be distributed along the height axis, creating a more stable connection that resists both vertical and lateral loads in deep drawer configurations.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If different connection techniques are used for different drawer fronts, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection technique varietyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer front connection unit incorporates multiple front fastening elements that can accommodate different connection techniques (screws, rivets, welding, snapping) within a single standardized component design. This universal approach allows the same connection unit structure to work with various drawer front types and attachment methods, improving adaptability while simplifying manufacturing compared to creating separate specialized units for each connection technique.

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

3Reliability

If the drawer front connection unit extends over the height dimension of the chamber section, then the attachment security is improved, but the visibility of the connection unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidvisibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer front connection unit is designed to be housed within the chamber section of the drawer wall element, with the fastening elements positioned inside the chamber rather than protruding externally. This nesting arrangement provides attachment security through vertical distribution of fastening points while keeping the connection unit concealed within the chamber, preventing visibility from the front of the drawer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If multiple front fastening elements are used to distribute forces, then the connection stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidnumber of fastening elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple front fastening elements are integrated into a single unified drawer front connection unit structure that includes a mounting body with multiple mounting positions. This merging approach provides the connection stability benefits of multiple distributed fastening points while maintaining a compact, single-component design that simplifies installation and reduces the number of separate parts to manage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3082511B1Drawer front connection unit
Publication Date: 2022.11.16 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3082511B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3082511B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4

AI summary

Disclosed is a drawer front connection unit (2) for a drawer wall element (1) of a drawer, onto which an edge section of a drawer bottom can be placed in order to form a drawer side wall adjoining the drawer bottom. The drawer wall element (1) comprises a wall profile part (4) and a bottom-receiving profile part (11), wherein there is provided on the drawer wall element (1) a support surface present on the bottom-receiving profile (11) for underside support for a drawer bottom that can be placed onto the drawer wall element (1). The wall profile part (4) also has a chamber section (3) with an inner wall sheet section (6) and an outer wall sheet section (7) which are spaced apart opposite one another across a width of the drawer wall element (1) and are connected by an elbow (5a, 5b, 8). The invention is characterized in that the drawer front connection unit (2) is designed to be fitted in the chamber section (3) of the drawer wall element (1) and extends over a height of the chamber section (3), wherein the drawer front connection unit (2) has front fastening elements (13, 14) for fitting a drawer front.