Furniture fitting or building fitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture fittings suffer from mechanical overload leading to thread stripping or breakage of adjustment wheels, limiting their durability and functionality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a separate stop mechanism, such as a counter-stop, to limit the rotational movement of adjusting elements, providing defined feedback on adjustment range and reducing the risk of damage to the adjustment elements and threads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional fitting with separate fastening elements and adjustment mechanisms is used, then adjustability and connection strength are improved, but device complexity and number of parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional elements (fastening, adjustment, connection) into a single integrated fitting component. The fitting comprises a body with integrated fastening elements and adjustment mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate parts while maintaining adjustability and connection strength functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides fastening, adjustment, and connection functions. The single fitting structure can perform multiple operations that traditionally required separate dedicated components, reducing overall device complexity.

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

2Strength

If a traditional fitting with multiple separate components is used, then connection strength is improved, but ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidease of assembly and disassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By merging fastening and adjustment functions into a single integrated fitting body, the number of assembly steps is reduced. The fitting can be installed and adjusted as one unit rather than assembling multiple separate components, improving ease of installation while maintaining connection strength through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a fitting with integrated fastening elements and adjustment mechanisms is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of partsVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

While the fitting is integrated, the design incorporates modular functional zones within the single body structure. The fastening elements, adjustment mechanisms, and connection points are segmented as distinct functional regions, allowing for standardized manufacturing of each zone while maintaining overall integration, thus balancing manufacturing precision requirements with device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If adjustment mechanisms are integrated into the fitting body, then ease of adjustment is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-contained within the fitting body, allowing users to perform adjustments directly on the installed fitting without requiring external tools or additional components. This self-service capability improves ease of adjustment while the integration keeps the overall device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4568543B1Furniture fitting or building fitting
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP4568543B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4568543B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4568543B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A furniture fitting (14) or building fitting comprising: at least one base (18), at least one bearing device (20), which can be moved relative to the base (18), and at least one adjustment device (15), which is intended for adjusting a position of the bearing device (20) relative to the base (18), wherein the adjustment device (15) has at least one rotatable adjustment element (15a), wherein the position of the bearing device (20) can be adjusted relative to the base (18) by the at least one adjustment element (15a) being rotated, wherein the at least one adjustment element (15a) has a lateral surface (31), in which at least one thread (27) is arranged, wherein the at least one thread (27) is in at least partial engagement with, or can be brought into at least partial engagement with, the bearing device (20), wherein the at least one adjustment element (15a) of the adjustment device (15) has at least one stop (23), which is separate from the thread (27), wherein at least one, preferably curved, mating stop (24a, 24b) is provided, and the stop (23) of the adjustment element (15a) can be positioned against the mating stop in order to limit a rotary movement of the adjustment element (15a).