Furniture Ejector Delay Element to Prevent Unintended Triggering

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for moving movable furniture parts often experience undesirable triggering, leading to unintended opening or closing movements, which can result in inefficient energy usage and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A device with an energy accumulator, ejector, and locking arrangement, featuring a delay element in the guide link to prevent unintentional triggering, allows controlled movement of furniture parts through a touch latch function, enabling controlled opening and closing with energy storage recharging during the closing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the device uses a power storage device and ejector for automatic opening movement, then the opening process is automated and energy-efficient, but the device becomes susceptible to unwanted triggering during closing movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic opening movementVSAvoidunwanted triggering
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A delay element is introduced as an intermediary component between the release element and the power storage device. This delay element temporarily decouples the triggering mechanism from the power storage device during closing movements, preventing unwanted activation while allowing intentional triggering when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The delay element is pre-positioned in the triggering path before the release element reaches the power storage device. This preliminary positioning ensures that any movement during the closing phase is absorbed or delayed before it can trigger the opening mechanism, providing a buffer against unintended activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the release element is directly connected to the power storage device, then the response time is fast, but friction and wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The delay element serves as a mediator that reduces direct frictional contact between the release element and the power storage device. By introducing this intermediate component, the system maintains functional connectivity while minimizing wear and energy loss through reduced direct contact friction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively prevents unintended triggering, ensures controlled movement of furniture parts, and allows for efficient recharging of the energy storage device, enhancing user control and reducing the risk of damage.

Implementation Method 1

a delay element is arranged in the guide track, wherein the delay element is designed to delay the movement of the release mechanism from the closed position to the release position by means of friction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the power storage device drives the ejector from a closed position of the ejector in an opening movement of the ejector in an opening direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical energy storage: Mechanical Accumulator

Data Source

PatentEP4105424B1Device for moving a movable piece of furniture
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 GRASS GMBH
  • EP4105424B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4105424B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4105424B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A device for moving a movable furniture part in an opening direction relative to the furniture body is proposed, wherein the device comprises a power storage device and an ejector, such that, with the device mounted on the furniture, the movable furniture part can be moved from the closed position into the opening direction under the action of the power storage device during an opening operation, by the power storage device driving the ejector from a closed position of the ejector into an opening direction, and an opening movement of the ejector can be transmitted to the movable furniture part, wherein the device comprises a locking arrangement with a release element, wherein a closing movement of the ejector can be transmitted to the release element, so that the release element can be moved from a rest position into a release position, wherein the power storage device is unlocked in the release position of the release element.wherein the device has a guide track, wherein a release element is guided within the guide track. According to the invention, a delay element is arranged in the guide track, wherein the delay element is configured to delay, in particular to delay in time, the movement of the release element from the closed position to the released position by friction.