Drawer Pull-Out Guide with Screw-Thread Lateral Adjustment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer pull-out guides lack a sensitive and precise mechanism for active lateral adjustment relative to the pull-out rail, making it difficult to accurately adjust the drawer's position due to the requirement of applying exact force to move the pin within corrugations.

Innovation Solution

A pull-out guide with a holding element and a movably connected connecting element, featuring an adjusting device that allows horizontal movement and includes a rotationally movable transmission device, such as an adjusting lever, to enable precise lateral adjustment of the drawer relative to the pull-out rail, with options for continuous or discrete adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pin is held in a knurled horizontal recess for lateral adjustment, then the drawer can be displaced laterally relative to the pull-out rail, but the adjustment is insensitive and imprecise because the force required to move the pin between recesses cannot be applied exactly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral adjustment precisionVSAvoidactive adjustment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical pin-in-corrugation system with a screw-thread mechanism. The screw thread converts rotational motion into precise linear displacement, allowing accurate lateral adjustment of the connecting element relative to the holding element. This substitution eliminates the imprecision of manually positioning a pin between discrete recesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a thread as an intermediary mechanism between the user's rotational input and the lateral displacement of the connecting element. This thread acts as a mediator that transforms the user's turning motion into controlled, precise linear movement, solving the problem of imprecise direct force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the connecting element is fixed relative to the holding element, then the structure is simple and stable, but lateral adjustment of the drawer is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral adjustment capabilityVSAvoidadjusting device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the connecting element dynamically adjustable relative to the holding element through a screw-thread mechanism. The connecting element can be positioned at different lateral locations by rotating the screw, transforming a static fixed connection into a dynamically adjustable one. This allows the drawer to be adapted to different lateral positions while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the connection system into separate components: a holding element fixed to the pull-out rail, a connecting element attached to the drawer, and a screw-thread mechanism between them. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the connecting element's lateral position while keeping the overall structure modular and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the connecting element is movably mounted to allow lateral movement, then active adjustment is possible, but the distance between the connecting element and the pull-out rail varies during movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive adjustment capabilityVSAvoiddistance constancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the contradiction by separating the adjustment motion from the connection geometry. The screw-thread mechanism provides lateral adjustment in one dimension (horizontal displacement) while the connecting element maintains its vertical distance relationship with the pull-out rail. The adjustment occurs through rotational motion that converts to linear displacement perpendicular to the rail, preserving the original distance relationship.

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

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 precise and active lateral adjustment of the drawer relative to the pull-out rail, allowing for accurate positioning without the need for excessive force, and includes self-locking mechanisms to prevent unintended displacement.

Implementation Method 1

The adjustment device (100) includes a rotationally movable transmission device (110), such as an adjusting lever (103), with which a rotational movement can be transferred to a horizontal movement of the connecting element (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical transmission: Gear

Implementation Method 2

The adjustment device for the horizontal movement of the connecting element is arranged on the holding element (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2531070B1Pull-out guide for a drawer
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP2531070B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2531070B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP2531070B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a pull-out guide (3) for a drawer (2), wherein the pull-out guide has a body rail (3c) to be fastened to the furniture body (4) and at least one pull-out rail (3a) that can be moved relative to the body rail (3c), the pull-out guide comprising a retaining element (5) having a connecting element (7), by means of which the drawer (2) can be adjustably connected to the pull-out rail (3a), wherein the retaining element (5) is or can be connected to the pull-out rail (3a) and wherein the connecting element (7) is movably mounted relative to the retaining element (5), wherein an adjusting device for horizontally moving the connecting element (7) is arranged on the retaining element (5), wherein the adjusting device comprises a converting device (9, 18, 32), which can be rotationally moved about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pull-out rail (3a) and by means of which a rotational motion component can be converted into a translational motion of the connecting element (7).