Furniture Door Control Device Using Cable Drum Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for controlling the opening and closing of door wings in furniture are bulky, aesthetically unsuitable, and inefficient, particularly for furniture with reduced depth, as they require extensive longitudinal dimensions and compromise inner space or visibility.
Innovation Solution
A compact control device with a hollow casing fixed outside the furniture, using a cable and elastic means to guide and support the door wing's movement, ensuring smooth operation without occupying usable space, and allowing easy assembly and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a linear sliding mechanism is used to control door wing opening, then the door wing can open completely to 90 degrees, but the device requires extended longitudinal dimension that exceeds furniture depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear sliding motion to rotational motion around a pivot point. The cable winds around a drum that rotates as the door opens, converting the linear cable travel into rotational displacement. This dimensional change allows the same cable length to achieve greater door opening angles without proportionally increasing device length.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a circular drum for cable winding introduces curvature to the mechanism. The cable wraps around the curved surface of the drum, allowing compact storage of cable length in a radial direction rather than requiring linear extension. This curved geometry enables the device to fit within limited furniture depth while maintaining full door opening capability.
2Length of stationary object
If a rotor mechanism is used to return the cable, then the device fits in reduced depth furniture, but it diminishes inner usable room and remains visible when door is open
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control mechanism from the interior space of the furniture and relocates it to the exterior back panel. The housing is mounted on the outer surface, allowing the door wing to be controlled without occupying valuable storage space inside the furniture compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable acts as an intermediary element that transmits force from the externally mounted mechanism to the door wing. This allows the control system to be positioned outside the furniture while still effectively controlling the door movement through the cable transmission medium.
3Ease of operation
If gas springs or damping means are used to control door movement, then the door opening/closing is smoothed, but the housing becomes bulky and unaesthetic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional gas spring or hydraulic damping mechanisms with a cable-drum-ratchet mechanical system. The ratchet and pawl mechanism provides controlled damping and one-way motion restriction without requiring the bulky containment shells needed for pneumatic or hydraulic systems, resulting in a more compact and aesthetically pleasing housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism uses adjustable cable tension and ratchet engagement parameters to control the door movement characteristics. By adjusting the spring preload on the pawl or cable tension, the damping effect can be modified to achieve smooth operation without changing the physical size of the housing components.
4Ease of manufacture
If the device is mounted inside the furniture body, then it is hidden from view, but it occupies valuable internal space and complicates installation
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is extracted from the interior mounting location and repositioned to the exterior back panel of the furniture. This external mounting approach eliminates the need to carve out space within the furniture body, simplifying installation while maintaining aesthetic concealment through strategic positioning.
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 device provides a robust, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing solution for controlling door wing movement, maintaining usable space and functionality while ensuring smooth operation and easy assembly, with adjustable features for varying door wing weights and dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a first and a second elastic means 9, 10, 10'... adapted to be actuated at different times of the travel of the door wing A
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for controlling the opening/closing of a door wing (A) of a piece of furniture (M) having a body comprising at least a sidewall (S) and a back (R) and defining an inner cavity, said device (1) comprising a casing (2) associated with the body of said piece of furniture (M), an inextensible cable (6), associable at a first end (6A) with said door wing (A) and extending with respect to said casing (2) between a retracted position, wherein the door wing (A) is kept in a closed position, and an extracted position wherein the door wing (A) is opened tilted downwards with respect to the body of the piece of furniture, and displacing means (100) connected to said cable (6) and movable with respect to said casing (2), said displacing means (100) further comprising elastic means (9, 10, 10'). In particular, said casing (2) is arranged outside said back (R), first guiding means (200A) being provided for guiding said cable (6) along the sidewall (S) of the piece of furniture, second guiding means (200B) being provided for deviating said cable (6) according to an orthogonal direction with respect to said first guiding means (200A).