Drawer Wall with Nested Cover Part to Reduce Installation Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer wall designs with cover parts that protrude outward in an open position require additional installation space and are prone to damage, compromising their functionality in closing openings.
Innovation Solution
The cover part is integrated within the drawer wall thickness, allowing it to move perpendicular to the plane of the opening and be formed in one piece with a spring element, such as a helical spring or plastic material, ensuring a compact and secure closure mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cover part is made to protrude outward to close the opening, then the closure function is achieved, but additional installation space is required and the cover part is prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cover part is nested within the drawer wall thickness, moving inside the wall structure rather than protruding outward. This nesting approach eliminates the need for additional installation space while protecting the cover part from external damage, as it remains concealed within the wall during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover part's movement is redirected from a lateral dimension (protruding outward) to a depth dimension (moving within the wall thickness). This dimensional change allows the cover to effectively close the opening while remaining contained within the existing wall boundaries, avoiding both space requirements and exposure to damage.
2Volume of moving object
If the cover part is integrated within the drawer wall, then installation space is reduced, but the cover part must be movable perpendicular to the opening plane
Solution Approach 1:
The cover part and spring element are merged into a single integrated component. This combination simplifies the overall mechanism by eliminating separate mounting structures and reducing the number of parts, while the spring element provides the necessary elastic force for movement within the wall thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element's elastic properties enable the cover part to change its position dynamically within the wall thickness. By utilizing material elasticity, the system achieves complex movement behavior (opening and closing against spring force) without requiring complex mechanical linkages or actuation mechanisms.
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 solution provides a more compact drawer wall design that maintains the cover part's functionality while preventing protrusion and potential damage, ensuring effective closure and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element, by which the cover part is pretensioned in an effective direction of the spring element in the direction of the closed position
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
Drawer wall (4), comprising: - an opening (10) arranged on a lateral surface (13c) of the drawer wall (4), - a movably mounted cover part (11) which closes the opening (10) in a closed position and releases the opening (10) in an open position, - a spring element (18) by which the cover part (11) is biased in a direction of action of the spring element (18) in the direction of the closed position, wherein the cover part (11) is fixed in a direction parallel to the lateral surface (13c) and is movably mounted in a direction opposite to the direction of action of the spring element (18) approximately perpendicular to the lateral surface (13c), wherein the cover part (11) is arranged within the drawer wall (4) in all operating positions.