Furniture Flap Fitting with Spring-Triggered Opening Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture flap fittings require users to overcome a holding force to open the flap, making it inconvenient, especially for handleless designs, and lack a mechanism to assist the opening process.
Innovation Solution
A fitting arrangement with a locking mechanism and retaining bracket that holds the flap in a closed position, using a spring element to introduce a preload in the opening direction, assisted by a release mechanism to automatically open the flap, and an adjustment device to vary the spring force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a holding device with spring element is used to keep the flap in closed position, then the flap can be reliably held closed, but the user must overcome holding force to open the flap
Solution Approach 1:
The lock is pre-loaded by the spring element to engage with the retaining bracket in the closed position, creating a preliminary locking action that secures the flap. When opening, the user simply needs to press the release mechanism which releases this pre-established lock, allowing the spring element to automatically push the flap open without requiring the user to overcome continuous holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's opening action and the spring element's pushing force. By pressing the release mechanism, the user triggers the disengagement of the lock from the retaining bracket, which then allows the spring element to mediate the automatic opening motion, converting the user's small pressing force into the larger force needed to overcome the holding device.
2Ease of operation
If a locking mechanism with spring element is used to automatically open the flap, then opening convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock and retaining bracket are merged into a simple engagement system where the lock has a locking portion that directly engages with the retaining bracket's retaining portion. This merged design eliminates the need for complex separate locking and retaining mechanisms, achieving automatic opening functionality through the coordinated action of the spring element, lock, and retaining bracket as an integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element provides self-service by automatically pushing the flap open after the lock is released. The holding device also provides self-service by automatically engaging the lock with the retaining bracket when the flap closes, eliminating the need for manual intervention to secure or open the flap under normal conditions.
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
Enables convenient opening of furniture flaps by allowing the flap to be automatically moved into an open position with minimal user effort, suitable for handleless designs, while maintaining secure closure.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element is provided which, in the closed position of the kinematic arrangement, introduces a preload into the kinematic arrangement in the opening direction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a fitting assembly with a furniture fitting, in particular a flap holder, by means of which a furniture flap or a door can be pivotally secured to a furniture body. A lock (200) and a mounting (300) are provided, by means of which the furniture flap can be connected to the furniture body in a force- and/or form-fitting manner in a closed position of a kinematic assembly (30) of the furniture fitting. The kinematic assembly (30) has levers and joints, by means of which the furniture flap or the door can be moved from the closed position into an open position. A spring element (38.2) is provided which introduces a pre-tension into the kinematic assembly (30) in an opening direction when the kinematic assembly (30) is in the closed position. The lock (200) and the mounting (300) form a trigger mechanism, by means of which the connection between the lock (200) and the mounting (300) can be released in the closed position of the kinematic assembly. By using such a fitting assembly, a comfortable opening process of a door or flap from the closed position can be produced.