Flush Integrated Ejection Device for Revolving Doors

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ejection devices for furniture, particularly revolving doors, are bulky and aesthetically unpleasing when integrated, as they require significant space and impair the appearance of the furniture they are mounted on.

Innovation Solution

A compact electromechanical ejection device with an integrated damping function that can be seamlessly mounted within a furniture wall, utilizing a flat design and a plunger actuator, allowing for a flush integration without visible components, and activated by a sensor for handle-less operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a known electromechanical ejection device is used, then the door can be opened automatically, but the device takes up a relatively large amount of space and greatly impairs the appearance of the furniture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic door openingVSAvoidspace occupied by ejection device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ejection device with the furniture wall structure itself, integrating the drive mechanism and housing into the wall assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting space and allows the device to be accommodated within the existing furniture thickness, resolving the contradiction between automatic door opening functionality and space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a known electromechanical ejection device is used, then the door can be opened automatically, but the device greatly impairs the appearance of the furniture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic door openingVSAvoidaesthetic appearance of furniture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the ejection device housing with the furniture wall structure, the device becomes part of the furniture's overall design rather than a separate add-on component. This merging allows the mechanical elements to be concealed within the wall assembly, maintaining the furniture's aesthetic appearance while preserving automatic door opening functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection device is nested within the furniture wall structure, with the drive mechanism and housing contained inside the wall assembly. This nesting approach allows the device to be hidden within the furniture's existing form, preventing visual impairment while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the ejection device is mounted in a furniture wall, then integration is achieved, but the device must be extremely flat to be suitable for mounting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration into furniture wallVSAvoidthickness of ejection device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent redistributes the device dimensions by utilizing the wall's depth dimension rather than requiring excessive thickness in the protruding direction. The drive mechanism is arranged to operate within the wall's thickness, with the plunger extending only minimally to actuate the door, thereby achieving wall integration without requiring an extremely flat profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection device components are nested within the furniture wall assembly, with the housing and drive mechanism contained inside the wall structure. This nesting allows the device to adapt to the wall's available space while maintaining a compact profile suitable for integration, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and thickness requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 provides a space-efficient and visually unobtrusive ejection mechanism that effectively opens and closes doors while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the furniture, offering a handle-less operation with enhanced functionality.

Implementation Method 1

an electric motor (13), which acts via a drive worm (14) with a preferably non-self-locking pitch on its output shaft on a transmission, here a multi-stage gear transmission (15)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a spring (53) arranged between the bottom of the opening (54) and the plunger portion (52)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy storage: Spring

Implementation Method 3

the last gear wheel (16) has segment teeth on its outer circumference and an axially extending pin (17) on a radius R to the axis of rotation of the segment gear wheel (16) engages in a connecting link (18)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical transmission through segment gear: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP2153003B1Piece of furniture with an ejector for a movable furniture element
Publication Date: 2014.02.26 HETTICH ONI
  • EP2153003B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2153003B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2153003B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pusher for a movable furniture element, in particular a revolving door, a piece of furniture having a body (1) with at least one wall (2) or a plurality of walls (2-6), is characterised in that the pusher is designed in such a way that it can be integrated into one of the walls (2-6) of the piece of furniture.