Drawer structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer frame fastening devices are complex, require significant space, and lack efficient mechanisms for adjusting and detaching the front panel, particularly in terms of lateral and height adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with a second adjusting element assigned to the container for lateral adjustment, acting on a plate-shaped part of the connecting element, allowing the front panel to move relative to the container, while maintaining a narrow design by providing sufficient play for both vertical and lateral adjustments, and incorporating a locking device that acts on the same plate-shaped part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple adjusting elements are assigned to different components (container and front panel), then adjustment functionality is achieved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment functionalityVSAvoidfastening device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines both vertical and lateral adjusting elements on the container side, while the front panel only needs to provide the connecting element with plate-shaped part. This merging of adjustment functionality to one component reduces the overall device complexity and eliminates the need for corresponding adjusting elements on both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The plate-shaped part of the connecting element serves multiple functions: it acts as the attachment point for the front panel and simultaneously provides the interface for both vertical and lateral adjustments through the action of adjusting elements on the container side.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple adjusting elements are distributed between container and front panel, then adjustment capability is maintained, but the space requirement in the fastening area increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition adjustment capabilityVSAvoidfastening area space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By consolidating both adjusting elements on the container side and having them act on the same plate-shaped part of the connecting element, the patent reduces the spatial distribution of components, thereby minimizing the space required in the fastening area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If adjusting elements are assigned to the front panel, then the front panel can be adjusted, but the drawer frame width increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing adjusting elements on the front panel (which would increase drawer frame width), the patent inverts the arrangement by placing both adjusting elements on the container side, allowing adjustment functionality to be achieved without widening the drawer frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2531065B1Drawer structure
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP2531065B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2531065B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2531065B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drawer structure (5) comprising a fixing device (6) for fixing a front panel (7) to a drawer container (8) in a detachable and position-adjustable manner. The front panel (7) can be detachably connected to the fixing device (6) by means of a connection element (9) pre-mounted on the front panel (7). A first adjusting element (1) is associated with the container (8), for adjusting the position of the front panel (7) in the vertical direction (HR), and a second adjusting element (2) is associated with the container (8), for adjusting the position of the front panel (7) in the lateral direction (SR), at least the first (1) and second (2) adjusting elements engaging with the same part of the connection element (9).