Furniture Door Guide Deflection for Preventing Transition Collisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide systems for hingedly connected door leaves in furniture can cause jamming and mechanical stress due to premature pivoting during transition between guide rails, leading to collisions with the furniture body or other door leaves.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of deflection elements in the transition area between guide rails to prevent premature pivoting of door leaves, allowing them to be fully extended before pivoting relative to the furniture side wall, using rotatable rollers with adjustable positioning to ensure smooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If door leaves are moved from retracted position to extended position manually, then door leaves can be opened for access, but door leaves may tilt too early in transition area causing jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor leaf operationVSAvoiddoor leaf movement stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A deflection element is introduced as an intermediary component between the door leaf and the furniture body side wall. This deflection element prevents direct contact and premature pivoting by acting as a mediator that guides the door leaf through the transition area smoothly, eliminating the jamming problem while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If door leaves are allowed to pivot freely in transition area, then movement is flexible, but collisions with side wall cause mechanical stress and jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor leaf movement flexibilityVSAvoidmechanical stress and collision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection element is positioned in advance in the transition area to prevent premature pivoting and collisions before they can occur. By applying preliminary anti-action through the deflection element, the system prevents harmful collisions with the side wall while maintaining the flexibility needed for door leaf operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If deflection element is fixed in position, then structure is simple, but cannot accommodate variations in door leaf movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeflection element structureVSAvoiddoor leaf movement adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt dynamically to variations in door leaf movement. This mobility enables the deflection element to maintain optimal positioning throughout the transition area while keeping the overall structure relatively simple, balancing complexity with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Prevents collisions and jamming by ensuring door leaves are fully extended before pivoting, reducing mechanical stress and maintaining smooth operation.

Implementation Method 1

at least two deflection elements are provided for supporting the door leaves at least in a transition region between the first and second guide, wherein the deflection elements prevent a collision between the furniture body, in particular the side wall of the furniture body, and/or a panel arranged thereon and at least one door leaf in the transition region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Implementation Method 2

at least one of the deflection elements can be mounted so that it can move, preferably rotate. The deflection element can be rotationally symmetrical, for example, as a rotatable roller.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentEP3969703B1Guide system for guiding at least one door leaf
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3969703B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3969703B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3969703B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A guide system (5) for guiding at least one door leaf (3a, 3b), in particular of a slide and fold door, relative to a furniture body (2), comprising: - a first guide (7a) which is designed to guide the at least one door leaf (3a, 3b) along a front face (2a) of the furniture body (2); and - at least one second guide (7b) which runs transversely to the first guide (7a) and is designed to guide the at least one door leaf (3a, 3b) along a side wall (13a) of the furniture body (2), wherein the guide system (5) has at least one deflection element (15a, 15b) for supporting the at least one door leaf (3a, 3b) at least in a transition region between the first and second guides (7a, 7b), and a collision in the transition region between the furniture body (2), in particular the side wall (13a) of the furniture body (2), and/or a panel (20) disposed thereon and the at least one door leaf (3a, 3b) is prevented by the at least one deflection element (15a, 15b).