Furniture Ejector Linkage for Jam-Free Edge Press Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional opening devices for furniture parts, such as drawers and doors, often fail to trigger properly when pressed at the edge or outer areas, leading to jamming due to improper alignment, as they require central pressure and can activate only the closest ejection device, causing the drawer to become stuck.

Innovation Solution

A device with at least two ejection devices connected via movement-dependent triggering elements, secured against rotation on a strut or rod, ensuring alignment before triggering, allowing activation from any point and preventing jamming by requiring simultaneous contact with both elements for ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional opening devices are pressed at the edge or outer areas, then the pressure point is easier to reach, but the ejection device is not triggered properly causing jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of pressure pointVSAvoidtriggering reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The opening device is segmented into multiple ejection devices (at least two) positioned at different locations on the furniture part. Each ejection device has its own triggering element, allowing independent activation from different pressure points while ensuring reliable operation regardless of where the user applies force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rod connects multiple triggering elements in a movement-dependent manner, creating a universal triggering mechanism that responds to pressure applied at any location on the furniture part. This multi-functional design ensures that whether pressure is applied centrally or at the edges, the system reliably activates the ejection devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If only the closest ejection device is activated by edge pressure, then the activation response is faster, but the furniture part becomes stuck due to improper alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation response speedVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is designed to perform preliminary alignment action before triggering ejection. When pressure is applied, the rod first moves to align the furniture part properly through its connection to multiple triggering elements, ensuring correct positioning before the ejection devices are activated. This preliminary alignment prevents the furniture part from becoming stuck.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The triggering elements are merged into a single integrated rod structure that combines multiple functions: detecting pressure at different locations, aligning the furniture part, and triggering the ejection devices. This unified structure ensures that alignment and activation occur together as a coordinated action, preventing jamming while maintaining fast response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If multiple ejection devices are arranged in outer areas, then the triggering accessibility is improved, but only the closest device is activated causing jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetriggering accessibilityVSAvoidjamming
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rod acts as an intermediary mechanism between the multiple ejection devices positioned in outer areas. It transmits the pressure force from any location to all triggering elements in a movement-dependent manner, ensuring that all ejection devices are activated simultaneously rather than only the closest one, thereby preventing jamming while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2322745B1Device for opening a movable furniture part
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2322745B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2322745B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6b
  • EP2322745B1 patent drawingFigure 7a~7b

AI summary

The device has releasing elements (9) spaced from each other and movement-dependently coupled with each other and provided at a movable furniture part (2) or a furniture body for releasing of an ejector (6). The ejector is exclusively releasable during stop of the releasing elements. The releasing elements are connected by a bar (8) that is axially and rotatably mounted perpendicular to an ejection direction at a rear wall (5) of the furniture part. The releasing elements are designed as angular elements and paddles attached to front sides of the bar and extending into different directions.