Furniture Hinge Control Member for Cover Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture designs lack efficient control mechanisms for moving covers between operating positions, leading to suboptimal movement and visibility issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a control member within the furniture hinge that engages with the cover upon a predefined door wing position, allowing for controlled movement between operating positions through a guide track and control curve, enabling precise kinematic control of the cover's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a motorized drive is used to move the cover, then the cover can be moved between operating positions, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover movement controlVSAvoiddrive mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control member is designed to automatically engage with the cover and move it between operating positions based on the door wing's position, eliminating the need for separate motorized drive mechanisms. The system uses the door wing's movement itself to trigger and control the cover's movement through the control member's engagement and disengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control function for moving the cover is integrated into the furniture hinge mechanism itself, combining the hinge's rotational function with the cover's movement control. This merging eliminates the need for separate motorized drives while maintaining coordinated operation between the door wing and cover.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the control member is always engaged with the cover, then the cover movement is continuously controlled, but the cover cannot be manually positioned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover movement controlVSAvoidmanual positioning capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control member's engagement with the cover is made dynamic rather than fixed. It automatically engages when the door wing reaches a predefined position and disengages when the door wing moves to another predefined position, allowing the cover to be manually positioned during intermediate states while maintaining automated control at specific operational points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control member periodically engages with the cover at specific intervals based on the door wing's position, rather than maintaining continuous engagement. This periodic engagement provides controlled movement at critical positions while allowing manual positioning flexibility during other phases of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cover is always visible, then the receiving compartment is always accessible, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates when the door wing is in the first position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover visibilityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The cover's visibility and position are made dynamic, automatically adjusting based on the door wing's position. When the door wing is in the first position, the control member engages to move the cover to a first operating position that provides aesthetic coverage. When the door wing moves to the second position, the control member disengages, allowing the cover to be moved to a second operating position that provides visibility and access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If the control member engages the cover early, then the cover movement starts early, but the movement timing becomes uncoordinated with the door wing position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover movement timingVSAvoidengagement position precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control member uses a control curve with a gliding surface that replaces complex mechanical timing mechanisms. The gliding surface is designed to engage the cover at the precise moment when the door wing reaches the predefined position, ensuring coordinated timing and synchronized movement without requiring additional mechanical timing devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11982114B2Item of furniture

Publication Date: 2024.05.14 JULIUS BLUM GMBH

AI summary

An item of furniture including a furniture carcass, a door wing movably-supported relative to the furniture carcass, and a furniture hinge for movably supporting the door wing, the furniture hinge being hingedly connected to the door wing. A receiving compartment is arranged in or on the furniture carcass for at least partially receiving the door wing, and the receiving compartment is defined by a sidewall of the furniture carcass. At least one cover is configured to be moved at least between a first operating position, in which the cover at least partially covers the receiving compartment, and a second position, in which the cover unblocks the receiving compartment. The furniture hinge includes a control member for moving the cover between the two operating positions upon an at least partial movement of the a door wing within the receiving compartment.