Furniture Hinge Fitting With Offset Height Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fittings for pivoting elements, such as furniture parts or doors, suffer from complex design requirements, limited positioning options, reduced rigidity, and difficulty in height adjustment, especially when mounting heavy elements, which compromises aesthetics and stability.

Innovation Solution

The fitting design includes an adjusting device spaced apart from the pivot axis, allowing for compact positioning near the top or bottom edge, facilitating easy height adjustment with reduced breakout risk and improved stability, using a lever effect and transmission components to translate rotational movements into translational adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the adjusting device is positioned orthogonally to the longitudinal extension of the fitting (as in prior art), then height adjustment is enabled, but the design becomes complex requiring grooves in the pivot element and increased positioning precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustmentVSAvoidgroove design and positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting device is repositioned from an orthogonal orientation to a longitudinal orientation along the second fitting part. This dimensional change allows the adjusting device to be spaced apart from the pivot axis in the longitudinal direction, eliminating the need for complex grooves in the pivot element and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining height adjustment functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the fitting is designed with an L-shaped configuration and bridge (as in prior art), then attachment is enabled, but the visual appeal is compromised and rigidity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment capabilityVSAvoidrigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting is divided into two separate parts: a first fitting part for attachment to the support plate and a second fitting part for attachment to the pivoting element. These parts are connected via a pivot connection, eliminating the need for an L-shaped bridge configuration. This segmentation maintains attachment capability while improving visual appeal and structural rigidity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the adjusting device is positioned close to the pivot axis (as in prior art), then compact design is achieved, but access for adjustment becomes difficult especially on tall pivot elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompact designVSAvoidaccess for adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting device is positioned in the longitudinal direction along the second fitting part, spaced apart from the pivot axis. This longitudinal positioning maintains compactness in the vertical dimension while providing adequate access space for adjustment operations, especially on tall pivot elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the second fitting part is positioned far from the top edge (as in prior art with bridge), then attachment is stable, but the vertical distance requirement increases affecting furniture panel design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidvertical distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting is segmented into two separate parts attached at different locations: the first fitting part attaches to the support plate while the second fitting part attaches to the pivoting element. This segmentation allows the second fitting part to be positioned close to the top edge without compromising attachment stability, reducing the vertical distance requirement for furniture panel design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 user-friendly, precise, and efficient height adjustment of pivoting elements with enhanced stability and reduced complexity, maintaining a compact design while minimizing the need for complex grooves and orthogonal considerations.

Implementation Method 1

a lever effect and transmission components to translate rotational movements into translational adjustments

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever effect: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP4437209B1Fitting, in particular furniture fittings, for movable bearing of a swiveling element
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP4437209B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4437209B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4437209B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a fitting (1), in particular a furniture fitting, for movably mounting a pivoting element (2), in particular a furniture part, door (3) or window (4), relative to a stationary support (5), comprising: a first fitting part (6) which is designed to be fastened to a preferably substantially horizontally oriented panel (7) of the support (5); a second fitting part (8) for fastening to the pivoting element (2), the second fitting part (8) being pivotably connected to the first fitting part (6); at least one hinge pin (9) which is arranged on the second fitting part (8) and is oriented substantially orthogonally relative to the longitudinal extent (10, 11) of the first fitting part (6) and/or the second fitting part (8); and at least one adjusting device (12) for adjusting the orientation of the second fitting part (8) relative to the first fitting part (6) along the at least one hinge pin (9), wherein the second fitting part (8) is displaceable relative to the first fitting part (6) parallel to the at least one hinge pin (9) via the at least one adjusting device (12), wherein the at least one adjusting device (12) is spaced from the at least one hinge pin (9) in the direction of the longitudinal extent (11) of the second fitting part.