Furniture Flap Fitting with Spring Counterweight and Gear Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture flap fittings require significant vertical forces for opening and closing, making the initial movement difficult, especially in the opening direction, and often obstruct the furniture opening area when folded.
Innovation Solution
A furniture flap fitting system that uses a support lever connected to gear wheels, which drives a control lever, incorporating an energy store like tension springs to assist in the opening and closing movements, allowing for smooth operation by compensating for weight forces and reducing the effort required from the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flap is held on two rotatable arms coupled via interlocking areas, then the flap can pivot through the two arms, but the user has to apply comparatively large forces in the vertical direction for an opening movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an energy store (spring mechanism) that stores energy during the closing movement and releases it during the opening movement to counteract the weight of the flap. This counterweight mechanism significantly reduces the vertical force the user must apply to open the flap, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and force requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy store is pre-charged during the closing movement, storing energy that will be used during the opening movement. This preliminary action of charging the spring during closing prepares the system to assist the opening movement, reducing the effort required from the user.
2Area of stationary object
If the flap is held on two rotatable arms, then the flap can pivot, but the flap covers an opening area of the furniture body in the folded position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control lever that can be positioned in different locations (first and second positions) to dynamically adjust the pivot path and opening angle of the flap. This dynamic positioning allows the flap to achieve a larger opening angle, reducing the area covered in the folded position and improving opening area availability.
3Ease of operation
If a control lever with movable articulation axis is used, then the pivoting movement can be guided in the desired path, but it can be difficult to move, especially in the initial area of the opening movement
Solution Approach 1:
The energy store (spring mechanism) provides a counterbalancing force that assists the control lever in overcoming the initial resistance of the mechanism. By charging the spring during closing, the system automatically provides the necessary force to initiate and sustain the opening movement, making the control lever easier to operate without adding significant complexity.
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 system enables a smooth and harmonious opening and closing motion with reduced user effort, allowing the flap to open with minimal initial movement and fully utilize the furniture opening area, while a damper ensures a controlled stop to avoid hard impacts.
Implementation Method 1
The energy accumulator can have one or more springs, in particular tension springs, which are tensioned in the housing of the flap fitting.
Implementation Method 2
An energy store is therefore preferably provided, which prestresses the flap in the closing direction in a closed position and prestresses the flap in the opening direction in an opening area.
Implementation Method 3
each flap fitting comprises a support lever which, when rotated, drives a first gear wheel which directly or indirectly drives a second gear wheel, the control lever being rotatably mounted on the second gear wheel
Implementation Method 4
In order to avoid a hard impact, at least one damper can be provided, by means of which an opening and/or closing movement of the flap is braked before the end position is reached.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a shutter fitting (4), in particular for a piece of furniture, said fitting comprising a housing (5) which can be fixed to a body (2), on which housing a supporting arm (6) is mounted rotatably, and comprising a pivotably mounted control arm (7), wherein the supporting arm (6) and the control arm (7) can be hingedly connected to a shutter (3) via spaced-apart axes of rotation (61, 71), wherein the supporting arm (6) drives a first gearwheel (10) in the event of a rotary movement, which first gearwheel directly or indirectly drives a second gearwheel (11), wherein the control arm (7) is rotatably mounted on the second gearwheel (11) at a distance from the axis of rotation (12) of the second gearwheel (11), and to a piece of furniture comprising a shutter fitting of this kind.