Drawer-to-Rail Coupling with Elastic Play Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer coupling apparatuses to rail systems in pull-out guides often experience longitudinal play, leading to relative movement between the drawer and the rail, which affects operating comfort and convenience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a resiliently yielding region between the holding and counterpart holding portions to act as a cushion, compensating for tolerances and ensuring a play-free connection by using a yielding material, such as rubber-elastic plastic, between the drawer and the rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid coupling apparatus is used to connect the drawer to the rail, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but longitudinal play occurs due to manufacturing tolerances, resulting in relative movement between the drawer and rail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the coupling interface by introducing a yielding material portion that can deform elastically. This allows the rigid coupling apparatus to accommodate manufacturing tolerances through controlled deformation of the yielding material, eliminating longitudinal play while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite coupling system combining rigid components (holding portion and counterpart holding portion) with a yielding material portion (elastically deformable material). This composite structure leverages the strength of rigid materials while utilizing the compliance of the yielding material to compensate for dimensional variations and eliminate play.
2Ease of operation
If a resiliently yielding region is introduced to compensate for tolerances, then longitudinal play is reduced and operating comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing the yielding material portion only at the specific contact region between the holding portion and counterpart holding portion. This localized application provides the necessary compliance to eliminate play and improve operating comfort without requiring the entire coupling apparatus to be complex or resilient.
Solution Approach 2:
The yielding material portion acts as an intermediary element between the rigid holding portion and counterpart holding portion. This intermediate layer absorbs dimensional variations and tolerances, enabling smooth operation and eliminating play while keeping the overall device design relatively simple.
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
The solution effectively compensates for length tolerances, allowing the drawer to be connected play-free to the rail, enhancing operating comfort and convenience by reducing longitudinal play.
Implementation Method 1
at least that region of the holding portion, that comes into contact with the counterpart holding portion, is of a yielding nature, preferably by the mounting of a yielding material portion so that a longitudinal play which possibly occurs of the drawer in relation to the rail can be compensated
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for releasably coupling a drawer to a rail, which can be pulled out in a longitudinal direction, of a drawer pull-out guide. The apparatus has a holding part which interacts with a mating holding part in the coupled state in order to establish the releasable connection. At least that region of the holding part which comes into contact with the mating holding part is made flexible, preferably by attaching a flexible piece of material, so that any longitudinal play of the drawer which may occur in relation to the rail can be compensated.