Appliance Drawer Slide Layout for Longer Extension Without Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable compartments in appliances, such as drawers and grills, often have limited travel distance, making it difficult to access bulky objects due to obstruction by other components, which can lead to partial obstruction and increased risk of collapse when trying to extend the compartment fully.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism using parallel slides with runners that allow extra travel distance by gliding over the recess of bearing ribs, enabling a longer extension without modifying the existing structure, suitable for low and high-temperature environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer is completely pulled out to access bulky objects, then access to items is improved, but the risk of collapse increases due to overloaded bearing points
Solution Approach 1:
The slide mechanism is divided into two functional segments: a first portion that travels within the recess of the bearing rib (providing stable support) and a second portion that extends beyond the recess (enabling extra travel distance). This segmentation allows the drawer to achieve complete extension for accessing bulky objects while distributing the load appropriately between the two segments, preventing overload and collapse at the bearing points.
2Length of moving object
If the slide travel distance is extended to allow complete drawer extraction, then access to items is improved, but the structural load on bearing points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide mechanism utilizes a two-dimensional path: the first portion of the slide travels within the recess of the bearing rib (providing vertical support and stability), while the second portion extends horizontally beyond the recess to achieve extra travel distance. This dimensional approach allows extended drawer extraction without concentrating excessive stress at the bearing points, as the load is distributed along the recess path.
3Device complexity
If a traditional slide mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but the drawer cannot be fully extended without obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The slide mechanism is nested within the existing structure of the appliance. The first portion of the slide is received within the recess of the bearing rib, which is an existing structural feature. This nesting approach allows the slide to achieve extended travel distance by utilizing the available space within and beyond the recess, without requiring major structural modifications to the appliance framework.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide system for an appliance is provided. The system may be used with a retractable compartment, such as a drawer, shelf or grill and may be implemented inside a cavity of the appliance having a pair of vertical walls provided with a series of ribs having a recess at their top surfaces, and a movable runner in the recess. The runner may be located over slides that delimit and guide travel of the runner to provide a longer draw-out distance for the retractable compartment, which is conducive to improving storage ability and accessibility to the retractable compartment.