Drawer Rack Gear with Pivoting Tooth to Prevent Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for stabilizing the running behavior of furniture parts, such as drawers, often experience jamming issues due to the gear wheel and toothed rack not aligning properly in the threading area, leading to operational faults.

Innovation Solution

A toothed rack with a movable tooth mounted on a joint, allowing it to pivot and adjust its position, preventing collision with the gear wheel and enabling smoother threading by enlarging the tooth gap between adjacent teeth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid toothed rack is used to stabilize the running behavior of a furniture part, then lateral stabilization is achieved, but the threading area causes jamming between the gear wheel and rack

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral stabilizationVSAvoidjamming prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The toothed rack transitions from a completely rigid structure to a dynamic structure where at least one tooth in the threading area can move independently relative to the rack body. This movable tooth pivots on a joint, allowing the rack to adapt its configuration during the threading process to prevent jamming while maintaining lateral stabilization functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The toothed rack is segmented into a fixed rack body and at least one movable tooth that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows the threading area to flex and adjust during operation, separating the stabilization function (performed by the fixed rack body) from the threading function (performed by the movable tooth).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design enhances the stability and reliability of furniture movement by reducing jamming incidents and ensuring smooth operation of the gear wheel and toothed rack interaction.

Implementation Method 1

the movable tooth is mounted on a joint on the rest of the rack. If necessary, the movable tooth can therefore perform a pivoting movement via the joint, which can also be referred to as a hinge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

the movable tooth is flexibly mounted relative to the rest of the toothed rack, so that it can be moved out of a basic position and then back into it during threading

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlexure: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2633780B1Device for stabilising the running behaviour of a movable furniture part in a furniture body
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 GRASS GMBH
  • EP2633780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2633780B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The device (11) has a gear wheel (21) which is engaged with rack gears (22) for the inward and outward movement of the furniture component (13). The rack gears have introduction region for engaging the gear wheel. A movable tooth (27) is located in gear wheel relative to rack gear along longitudinal direction, and is supported over a joint (33) at rack gear. An independent claim is included for furniture.