Two-Part Drawer Guide Lift for Quiet Closing Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drawer pull-out guides suffer from deformation of rolling elements due to weight, leading to rattling noise and uneven joint patterns, and the use of hard materials like metal for bearing devices exacerbates noise issues during drawer retraction.

Innovation Solution

A drawer pull-out guide with a lifting device designed in two parts, where a softer material lifting device reduces noise and lifts the pull-out rail before the end position, and a metallic supporting roller body statically supports the drawer in the closed position, relieving the rolling elements of weight and maintaining a consistent joint pattern.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hard material bearing device (metal) is used to support the drawer in closed position, then the bearing strength and reliability are improved, but noise is generated during drawer retraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing strengthVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is divided into two functional parts: a first region (lifting region) made of softer material for noise-free lifting operation, and a second region (bearing region) made of harder material for reliable static support. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the lifting device are made from different materials with different hardness properties. The first region uses softer material to reduce noise during lifting, while the second region uses harder material to provide reliable bearing support. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and bearing strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a single hard material bearing device is used throughout, then the bearing strength is improved, but the rolling elements become deformed and generate rattling noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing strengthVSAvoidrattling noise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is segmented into a lifting region and a bearing region with different material properties. The softer lifting region prevents deformation of rolling elements during movement, while the harder bearing region provides stable support in the closed position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The softer first region acts as a cushioning element that protects the rolling elements from deformation before they reach the harder bearing region. This preliminary cushioning prevents the rattling noise that would otherwise occur when rolling elements contact hard surfaces under load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a softer material lifting device is used, then noise is reduced during lifting, but the bearing strength in closed position is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidbearing strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is divided into two regions: the first region uses softer material for quiet lifting operation, while the second region uses harder material to compensate for bearing strength requirements. This segmentation allows the softer material to perform its noise-reduction function without compromising overall bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different material hardness is applied locally to different regions of the lifting device. The softer first region reduces noise during lifting, while the harder second region provides sufficient bearing strength in the closed position, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and bearing strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3065596B1Drawer pull-out guide
Publication Date: 2017.06.14 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3065596B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3065596B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3065596B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4d

AI summary

Drawer pull-out guide (1) comprising a basic-structure rail (2), which can be fastened on a basic furniture structure, also comprising at least one pull-out rail (3a, 3b), which is mounted such that it can be displaced relative to the basic-structure rail (2) between an open position and a closed position, and further comprising at least one lifting device (4), by means of which the pull-out rail (3a, 3b) can be raised relative to the basic-structure rail (2) towards the end of the closing movement, wherein the lifting device (4) is of at least two-part design, wherein the lifting device (4) has a raising device (5), for raising the pull-out rail (3a, 3b), and a bearing device (6), for supporting the pull-out rail (3a, 3b) in the closed position, wherein the raising device (5), in the closed position of the pull-out rail (3a, 3b), is relieved of the loading of the pull-out rail (3a, 3b).