Device for guiding a movable furniture part
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture guiding devices face challenges in providing a compact and simple design that effectively counteracts the sagging of movable furniture parts, particularly drawers, when they are in the open state, due to the weight of their contents.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a cabinet rail with two horizontally aligned running surfaces separated by a walkway, and a drawer slide with guide rails that incorporate rolling elements moving along these surfaces. The running surfaces of the cabinet rail are divided into seamlessly transitioning sections, with one section oriented obliquely to the other, ensuring smooth operation and compensating for sagging by aligning the drawer slide horizontally when open.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the diameter or material of rolling bodies in a carriage is changed to counteract downward deflection, then the ability to close heavy drawers is improved, but the device complexity and design simplicity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the running surface from flat to oblique, creating an inclined plane that mechanically counteracts the downward deflection of the drawer. This parameter change allows the system to generate sufficient closing force for heavy drawers without modifying the rolling bodies themselves, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the running surface is made consistently flat throughout, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to counteract downward deflection of heavy drawers is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat running surface to a three-dimensional oblique running surface. This dimensional change introduces an incline that provides mechanical advantage for counteracting downward deflection, while still maintaining a simple monolithic structure that is easy to manufacture as a single piece.
3Force
If the running surface is made oblique to counteract downward deflection, then the closing force for heavy drawers is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and design simplicity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oblique running surface directly into the monolithic structure of the rail component. By combining the incline feature with the single-piece construction, the design achieves both the mechanical advantage needed for closing heavy drawers and manufacturing simplicity, as the oblique surface is formed as an integrated part of the monolithic component rather than requiring separate parts or complex assembly.
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 allows for smooth and effortless closure of heavy drawers by counteracting sagging, ensuring the drawer remains horizontal and aligned, even when fully extended, through the angled orientation of the guide rails.
Implementation Method 1
load-transmitting rolling elements along the running surface of the body rail and drawer rail are movable
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for guiding a movable furniture part is proposed, which can be slidably mounted on a furniture carcass by means of the device, wherein the device comprises a carcass rail and a drawer rail, wherein the carcass rail can be arranged on the furniture carcass, wherein the slidably mounted drawer rail is movable relative to the carcass rail in an opening and closing direction, wherein the carcass rail and the drawer rail each have at least one flat running surface, wherein the running surface of the drawer rail is continuously and uniformly flat, wherein load-transmitting rolling elements are movable along the running surface of the carcass rail and drawer rail during the relative movement between the drawer rail and the carcass rail, wherein the running surface extends in a longitudinal and a lateral direction, the longitudinal direction being perpendicular to the lateral direction.wherein the longitudinal extent of the running surface is aligned in the opening and closing direction of the drawer slide. According to the invention, the longitudinal extent of the running surface of the cabinet slide is divided into two running sections, wherein the running sections of the running surfaces transition seamlessly into one another, wherein a plane of a first running section is oriented obliquely with respect to its longitudinal extent relative to a plane of a second running section and is not tilted with respect to its lateral extent.