Drawer Front Panel Mounting With Elastic Groove Adapters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer designs with fixed front panels lack flexibility in attachment options, limited design variability, and insufficient tolerance compensation, leading to monotonous aesthetics and reduced strength.
Innovation Solution
A drawer with holders featuring grooves for adapter elements that allow flexible attachment of panels with different materials, shapes, and colors, including glass, using undercut grooves and elastic adapter elements for secure clamping and impact absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece plate front panel is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the design is monotonous and lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The front panel is divided into multiple independent screens (first screen, second screen, third screen) that can be separately selected and attached to the holders, replacing the traditional one-piece plate structure. This segmentation enables diverse design combinations while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holders are designed with universal grooves that can accommodate multiple types of screens with different materials, shapes, and colors. The same holder structure serves multiple design functions, allowing flexible configuration without requiring different holder designs for each screen type.
2Device complexity
If traditional angle connectors are used to fix panels, then the connection structure is simple, but tolerance compensation is not possible and the connection strength is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter element is designed with elastic material properties that allow it to deform and compensate for thickness variations in glass panels. The elastic parameter enables the connector to adapt to different panel thicknesses within a range, providing tolerance compensation while maintaining strong clamping force.
3Adaptability or versatility
If glass panels are attached to holders, then attractive design is achieved, but secure attachment and tolerance compensation are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
An adapter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the holder and the glass panel. The adapter includes a T-shaped section that engages with the holder groove and a clamping section that secures the glass panel, providing both secure attachment and tolerance compensation for glass panels of varying thicknesses.
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 the creation of attractively designed drawers with stable and customizable front panels that can accommodate various materials and configurations, enhancing both aesthetics and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The adapter element can be made of an elastic material, for example made of plastic, so that it is possible to clamp the panels
Implementation Method 2
The groove on each holder is undercut. This prevents the adapter elements from being pulled out of the groove
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A wall element, in particular a front panel for a drawer, comprises two spaced-apart holders (2) which can each be fastened to a side wall (4), wherein at least one panel (5, 6, 1, 11) is arranged between the holders (2). Those end sides of the holders (2) which face one another each have a groove (20) into which an adapter element (8, 9, 10, 12) is pushed in order to fasten the panel (5, 6, 7, 11).