Drawer Wall Fixing With Spring Tongues for Low-Force Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer fixing devices require numerous components and significant manual force to secure wall portions, with previous solutions either consuming excessive structural space or necessitating extensive modifications to the wall elements.
Innovation Solution
A comb-like arresting element with spring-elastic tongues that can be pushed into openings in the wall portions, providing a force-locking and self-arresting mechanism, and an optional release device using a lever to facilitate separation without continuous force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If push-in pins with gripping elements are used to secure wall portions, then the wall portions can be fixed relative to each other, but numerous components and considerable manual force are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrating element that features both the resilient tongue for insertion and the bar portion with lateral projections for engagement. This merging eliminates the need for separate gripping elements and reduces the overall component count while maintaining reliable fixing of wall portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrating element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a resilient tongue for pushing into openings, provides lateral projections for engagement with wall portions, and enables both assembly and disassembly operations. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required multiple separate components.
2Reliability
If push-in pins with gripping elements are used to secure wall portions, then the wall portions can be fixed relative to each other, but considerable manual force has to be applied for tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a resilient tongue that dynamically adapts during the insertion process. The tongue is designed to be deformable, allowing it to flex during insertion and then spring back to engage with the wall portion. This dynamic behavior reduces the force required compared to rigid gripping elements that require continuous high force for tightening.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient tongue automatically engages with the wall portion through its own elastic recovery after insertion. The tongue's elasticity provides the locking force without requiring continuous manual application, making the fixing mechanism self-sustaining once installed.
3Reliability
If resilient hooks are used to connect drawer wall portions, then the wall portions can be latched in corresponding openings, but a large amount of structural space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the connecting function into distributed lateral projections along the bar portion rather than using a single large hook. These multiple smaller engagement points achieve reliable latching while occupying less overall structural space compared to traditional resilient hooks.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient tongue acts as a flexible element that can deform during insertion and engagement. This flexibility allows the tongue to navigate tight spaces and engage with wall portions in a compact manner, reducing the structural space required compared to rigid hook mechanisms.
4Reliability
If resilient hooks are used to connect drawer wall portions, then the wall portions can be latched in corresponding openings, but the wall portions have to be provided with corresponding openings
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the wall portions provide complex corresponding openings for hooks, the patent inverts the approach by having the integrating element provide the engagement features (lateral projections) that directly interface with simpler openings in the wall portions. This reduces the manufacturing complexity of the wall portions while maintaining reliable latching.
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 offers a simple, cost-effective, and robust method for reliably fixing wall portions while minimizing structural modifications and manual effort, ensuring secure and efficient assembly and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
the arresting element has at least one, in particular spring-elastic, tongue which can be introduced into an opening in one of the wall portions and can be fixed therein
Implementation Method 2
those tongues are held in force-locking relationship within the opening by bearing against a flank of the opening
Implementation Method 3
upon being pushed in—preferably in opposite relationship to the spring force of the tongues—they can be bent into the opening, in which case the tongues are held in self-arresting relationship
Implementation Method 4
the tongues are held in self-arresting relationship by constantly bearing against a flank of the opening
Implementation Method 5
the free end of the tongue forms a kind of barb which engages in claw-like relationship within the opening and the tongue is prevented from being undesirably pulled out
Data Source
AI summary
A drawer with a first wall part, a second wall part, and a fixing device, via which the first wall part and the second wall part can be connected to each other. The fixing device has at least one locking element for locking the wall elements to each other. The locking element has at least one tongue, which is spring-elastic in particular and which can be inserted into a recess of one of the wall parts and fixed in the recess, in particular in a clamped manner. The locking element is substantially designed in a comb-like manner in which two or more tongues that are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of a connecting piece project laterally from the connecting piece.