Drawer Guide Rail Depth Adjustment With Tool-Free Stop Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for adjusting the position of drawers in furniture structures are complex to attach and require modifications to the drawer itself, limiting user flexibility and ease of use.

Innovation Solution

A depth adjustment device with a guiding unit that includes a setting unit with a knurled wheel and internal thread, allowing for adjustable positioning between the movement rail and basic-structure rail without attaching to the drawer, featuring a stop plate and threaded pin for defined positioning, enabling easy and user-friendly depth adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an adjusting device is attached to the drawer to enable depth adjustment, then the drawer position can be adjusted, but the attachment becomes complex and requires modifications to the drawer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawer depth adjustment capabilityVSAvoidattachment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment function is extracted from the drawer and relocated to the guiding unit's movement rail. The setting unit with stop plate and threaded pin mechanism is attached to the movement rail instead of the drawer, allowing depth adjustment without modifying the drawer structure. This extraction simplifies the overall system by separating the adjustment mechanism from the drawer component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The setting unit acts as an intermediary between the movement rail and the drawer. It includes a stop plate that interacts with the basic-structure rail and a threaded pin with knurled wheel for adjustment. This intermediary mechanism enables depth adjustment by mediating the positioning between the movement rail and the drawer without requiring direct attachment to the drawer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a depth adjustment device is integrated into the drawer, then precise depth control is achieved, but the drawer cannot be used independently of the setting device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawer depth positioning precisionVSAvoiddrawer independence

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into independent functional components: the drawer, the movement rail, the basic-structure rail, and the setting unit. The setting unit is an optional attachment to the movement rail rather than an integral part of the drawer. This segmentation allows the drawer to function independently without the adjustment mechanism, while providing precise depth control when the setting unit is installed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing guiding units are modified to include depth adjustment, then adjustment functionality is added, but retrofitting becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedepth adjustment functionalityVSAvoidretrofitting ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The setting unit is designed as a pre-assembled module that can be attached to existing movement rails. The modular design with standardized attachment points allows for preliminary preparation of the adjustment mechanism separate from the guiding unit installation. This enables easy retrofitting of depth adjustment functionality to existing guiding units without complex modifications to the rail structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 easy and tool-free depth adjustment of drawers, allowing for independent use and retrofitting on existing systems, with various setting units available for different depth ranges, ensuring uniform drawer alignment and appearance.

Implementation Method 1

the setting unit comprises a knurled wheel with an internal thread, which is mounted rotatably on a main body of the setting unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

The knurled wheel and the internal thread may be formed as one part, but also as multiple parts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9974386B2Device for setting a furniture part received in a basic furniture structure, guiding device for moving a movable furniture part and piece of furniture with a device for setting a furniture part received in a basic furniture structure

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 GRASS GMBH

AI summary

A device for setting a movable furniture part received in a basic furniture structure by means of a guiding unit, with which the furniture part is movably guided in the basic furniture structure, the guiding unit including a movement rail, which is attached to the furniture part and is mounted displaceably with respect to a basic-structure rail, the device including a setting unit that is attached to a front-side end portion of the movement rail, which sets a stop position of the movement rail during closing movements with respect to the basic-structure rail.