Drawer Front Mounting for Adjustable Height Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture designs with drawers one above the other often require distinct front panels to achieve aesthetically pleasing coverage of the furniture carcass, complicating assembly and increasing costs due to the need for multiple panel designs.

Innovation Solution

The use of furniture fittings with three fastening points, allowing for the same front panels to be positioned at different heights relative to the side walls by selecting specific fastening points or holes, enabling the same front panels to cover both the top and bottom edges of the furniture carcass without the need for separate panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If different front panels are used for top and bottom drawers to achieve aesthetically pleasing coverage, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidnumber of different front panel designs
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single front panel that can serve multiple functions at different height positions. The same front panel is used for both top and bottom drawers, but its position is adjusted vertically to achieve the desired aesthetic coverage for each drawer type, eliminating the need for multiple specialized panel designs

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the front panel position adjustable rather than fixed. The furniture fitting allows the front panel to be mounted at different vertical positions on the drawer, enabling the same panel to adapt to different aesthetic requirements for top and bottom drawers without requiring different panel designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If different front panels are used for top and bottom drawers, then the aesthetic coverage is improved, but the assembly time and confusion increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic coverageVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The same front panel is designed to be universally applicable to multiple drawer positions. The panel includes mounting features that allow it to be attached at different vertical positions, reducing the number of different panel types that need to be handled during assembly and minimizing confusion

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

Solution Approach 2:

The furniture fitting is pre-designed with multiple vertical mounting positions built into its structure. This preliminary configuration of mounting options allows the front panel to be quickly installed at the correct height without requiring complex measurements or adjustments during the assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Shape

If the bottom drawer front panel is positioned lower to cover the furniture floor, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the front panel height position complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidfront panel height positioning system
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The furniture fitting provides a dynamic positioning system with multiple predetermined vertical mounting positions. This allows the front panel to be flexibly positioned at different heights depending on the drawer type and aesthetic requirements, rather than being fixed at a single position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The furniture fitting is segmented into multiple vertical mounting positions, each designed to accommodate the front panel at a specific height. This segmentation of the mounting system allows for easy selection of the appropriate position without requiring a complex continuous adjustment mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2744371B1Furniture
Publication Date: 2016.07.27 IKEA SUPPLY AG
  • EP2744371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2744371B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2744371B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a piece of furniture (1) comprising at least two drawers (2, 3, 4) which lie one above the other and which comprise similar front panels (5) that can be removably connected to lateral walls (6, 7) of the drawers (2, 3, 4) via furniture fittings (10, 20). The furniture fittings (10, 20) can be fixed in bores (51, 52) of the front panels (5) using fixing elements (8) which lie one above the other. Each furniture fitting (10, 20) has three fixing points (11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23) for the fixing elements (8), each said furniture fitting (10, 20) being fixed to the front panel (5) at only two fixing points (11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23) of the furniture fitting (10, 20) by means of the fixing elements (8) in order to determine a different height of the front panel (5) relative to the lateral wall (6, 7) of the drawer (2, 3, 4).