Furniture Opening Mechanism With Adjustable Ejection Travel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing opening devices for movable furniture parts require precise installation to achieve an attractive panel image, making them difficult to assemble and uncomfortable to use due to excessive ejection and clamping forces.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable opening and closing device with a limiting element that allows for optimal adaptation to different uses, featuring a plug-in design with adjustable stops and a magnet for transmitting forces, enabling easy assembly and comfortable handling by adjusting the travel distance and force requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the opening device is designed with fixed ejection and retraction forces, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot be adapted to different furniture parts and requires precise installation for attractive panel image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different furniture partsVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the limiting element adjustable rather than fixed. The limiting element can be positioned at different locations along the guideway to change the travel distance of the driver, thereby adapting the ejection and retraction forces to different furniture parts and applications without requiring a completely different device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of travel distance by allowing the limiting element to be positioned at different locations. This parameter change directly affects the ejection and retraction forces, enabling the same device to work with different furniture parts by simply adjusting the limiting element position rather than changing the entire device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Force

If the travel distance of the ejection device is increased to provide sufficient ejection force, then the ejection force is adequate, but the clamping distance becomes excessive and requires user to apply forces over a long distance which is perceived as annoying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection forceVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the parameter of travel distance by allowing adjustment of the limiting element position. This enables finding an optimal balance where sufficient ejection force is achieved while keeping the clamping distance short enough for comfortable user operation, avoiding the annoyance of excessive travel distance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the opening device is designed without adjustable limiting element, then the device structure is simple, but the closed position cannot be precisely controlled and panel image becomes unattractive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosed position precisionVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the limiting element adjustable rather than fixed. This adjustable limiting element can be positioned to precisely control the closed position of the movable furniture part, ensuring attractive panel image while avoiding the need for extremely precise installation of the entire device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device ensures smooth operation by allowing adjustment of ejection and retraction forces, reducing user discomfort and enabling easy installation, while maintaining stability in the closed position without requiring precise alignment.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet is arranged on the ejection stop, which can be coupled to a metallically fixed activator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

the energy accumulator can be designed as a spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2654504B1Opening and closing device for movable furniture parts
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2654504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2654504B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2654504B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an opening and closing device for movable furniture parts, in particular drawers (3), comprising a pull-in device (40) and a push-out device (6), wherein the push-out device (6) has a carrier (26) pre-tensioned by an energy store (29) which can be locked in an end position of a guideway (22) and coupled to a carriage (15). The device further comprises an adjustable limiting element (23) in order to limit the path of the carrier (26) in the opening direction.