Furniture drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture drives face limitations in kinematics due to restricted mounting height and accessibility issues with fastening components, particularly screws, which hinder efficient operation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A furniture drive with a movably-supported locking element accessible from the longitudinal side of the carrier, allowing for external actuation and reducing the number of fastening components between the sidewall and furniture panel, enabling higher mounting and improved kinematics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the carrier is mounted as high as possible on the sidewall to improve the kinematics of the furniture flap, then the mounting height is increased, but the accessibility of the screw for fixing the furniture drive to the top panel is impeded by components arranged within the interior of the carrier
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of guiding the screw through an inclined hole in the carrier (which would allow accessibility but complicate the structure), the patent inverts the approach by making the carrier guide the locking element in a controlled path that ensures both accessibility from the longitudinal side and proper engagement with the furniture panel. The locking element is made movable relative to the carrier, allowing it to be accessed from outside while still being actuated through the carrier structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is designed to be movably-supported relative to the carrier, transitioning between a locked position (where it engages the furniture panel) and an unlocked/accessible position (where it can be actuated from the longitudinal side). This dynamic capability allows the same component to serve both fastening and accessibility functions without requiring additional fastening elements.
2Strength
If multiple fastening components (screws, dowels, fins) are used to connect the sidewall and top panel, then the connection strength is increased, but the device complexity and number of parts is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the locking element: it serves as both the fastening component (replacing screws, dowels, and fins) and the mounting mechanism for the furniture drive. The locking element integrates the fastening function directly into the furniture drive structure, eliminating the need for separate fastening components while maintaining connection strength between the sidewall and furniture panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is designed to perform multiple functions: it fastens the furniture panel to the sidewall, provides the mounting interface for the furniture drive, and enables adjustable positioning. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the assembly while maintaining structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If the screw is guided through an inclinedly aligned through hole of an angled element to improve accessibility, then the accessibility is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastening function from the carrier structure itself and places it in a dedicated locking element that is movably-supported. This separation allows the locking element to be accessed from the longitudinal side without requiring complex inclined guide holes in the carrier, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture drive for moving a furniture part movably-supported relative to a furniture carcass includes a carrier configured to be fixed within or to a sidewall of the furniture carcass, and the carrier has a front face and a longitudinal side protruding substantially at a right angle from the front face. A pivotally supported actuating arm is provided for moving the movable furniture part, and fastening device can fasten a furniture panel of the furniture carcass. The furniture panel extends substantially horizontally in a mounted position, and a fastening device includes a movably-supported locking element for fastening the furniture panel. The locking element is configured to be accessible for a manual or for a tool-assisted actuation from a longitudinal side of the carrier, and the longitudinal side of the carrier faces towards the outside.