Furniture Opening Latch With Force Accumulator Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture movement devices lack reliable and low-noise locking and unlocking mechanisms for force-assisted opening functions, particularly in sliding and pivoting guides, which are prone to malfunction and require significant user effort for tensioning.
Innovation Solution
A device with a locking assembly and movable lever coupled to a force accumulator, featuring a touch-latch function and a compact locking mechanism that allows for a short unlocking path, enabling reliable and low-friction locking and unlocking, and automatic recharging of the force accumulator during closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking assembly with a locking member and movable lever is used, then reliability of locking and unlocking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member and movable lever are merged into a single integrated component that performs both locking and movement functions. This integration reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining reliable locking through the interaction between the locking member and the lever's standby position, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable lever serves multiple functions: it acts as a locking surface for the locking member, a movable component for tensioning the force accumulator, and a blocker for the standby position. This multi-functionality allows a single component to fulfill several roles, improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a touch-latch function with short unlocking path is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is preliminarily positioned to engage with the movable lever at a specific standby position before the unlocking action is initiated. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the user applies a short pushing movement, the unlocking action occurs at the optimal point, providing ease of operation while managing manufacturing precision requirements through pre-established geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-latch function utilizes the user's natural pushing motion on the furniture part to automatically trigger the unlocking mechanism. The short unlocking path is self-regulated by the interaction between the locking member and movable lever, where the lever's geometry and the locking member's position work together to convert a simple push into effective unlocking, reducing the need for high-precision manufacturing while improving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the locking member blocks the standby position of the lever, then reliability is improved, but friction and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking interaction between the locking member and movable lever is localized to a specific region of the lever's movement path, specifically at the standby position. By concentrating the locking function in this localized area with precisely engineered contact surfaces, the design achieves high locking reliability while minimizing friction and noise generation throughout the overall movement range of the lever.
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 solution provides a reliable, low-noise, and efficient force-assisted opening mechanism with reduced user effort for unlocking and recharging, ensuring consistent operation and improved user experience in furniture movement.
Implementation Method 1
a force accumulator (3) such that by way of the fitted device the movable furniture part under action of the force accumulator (3) is capable of being put in the opening direction
Implementation Method 2
the device has a locking assembly for locking a tensioned position of the force accumulator, in which the force accumulator (3) is charged for the opening movement of the furniture part
Implementation Method 3
a movable lever of the device, which is coupled to the force accumulator, are present in an interacting manner such that in the locked tensioned position of the force accumulator, the locking member assumes a locking position, and the lever assumes a standby position
Data Source
AI summary
A device for moving a movable furniture part, the device including a force accumulator such that by way of the fitted device the furniture part under the action of the force accumulator is capable of being put in the opening direction, and wherein the device has a locking assembly for locking a tensioned position of the force accumulator, in which the force accumulator is charged for the opening movement of the furniture part, wherein the tensioned position is unlockable. A locking member of the locking assembly, and a movable lever of the device, which is coupled to the force accumulator, are present in an interacting manner such that in the locked tensioned position of the force accumulator, the locking member assumes a locking position, and the lever assumes a standby position in which cancelling of the standby position of the lever is blocked by the locking member.