Furniture Shutter With Inner Guide Rails and Spring Thrust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shutters for furniture often cannot be partially opened, making it difficult to access items in tight spaces, especially in tall cabinets, and existing mechanisms are complex and require accurate adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A shutter system with inner guide rails and a spring-loaded outward thrusting mechanism allows for partial or full opening without rotating the shutters, enabling items to be accessed from the middle and allowing the furniture to remain half-open, with a simple and maintenance-free mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rotation mechanisms are used for shutters, then the shutter can be opened or closed completely, but it cannot be partially opened to access items in the middle while maintaining a compact configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is divided into multiple independent panels (first shutter part, second shutter part, etc.) that can move relative to each other. Each panel can be positioned independently, allowing partial opening to access specific sections while keeping other sections closed, eliminating the need for complete opening/closing cycles required by traditional rotation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional rotational movement (one-dimensional arc motion) to linear sliding movement along guide rails (one-dimensional linear motion) combined with parallel displacement. This dimensional change enables panels to slide behind one another in a parallel plane, achieving partial opening capabilities that rotation mechanisms cannot provide without complex multi-stage mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If sliding shutters or rotary/sliding mechanisms are used, then partial opening is possible, but the mechanism becomes complex and requires accurate adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails and guide means are designed to automatically guide the shutter panels during sliding motion. The geometry of the guide rails inherently constrains the movement paths, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or precision alignment procedures that would otherwise be required to ensure proper panel alignment and smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails serve as intermediary elements between the shutter panels and the furniture carcass. These guide rails absorb and manage the complexity of the sliding mechanism, providing a simple interface for panel movement while internally handling the coordination required for smooth parallel displacement and positioning.
3Productivity
If the shutter is opened completely in tight spaces, then all items are accessible, but it requires significant space that is often unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shutter into multiple independently movable panels, users can open only the specific section needed to access particular items, rather than requiring complete opening of the entire shutter. This selective access capability maintains full item accessibility while dramatically reducing the space required for operation in tight environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables partial action by allowing users to open only the necessary portion of the shutter (one or more panels) rather than requiring complete opening. This partial opening capability provides sufficient access to frequently used items stored in the middle sections without demanding the excessive space required for full shutter deployment.
4Device complexity
If visible guide rails and connection systems are used for shutter movement, then the mechanism is simple, but the aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails are positioned and configured to be hidden within the furniture structure or behind the shutter panels during normal operation. The connection systems are integrated into the panel assemblies or concealed within the furniture carcass, allowing the simple mechanical mechanism to remain functional while maintaining clean, uninterrupted visual surfaces that preserve aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The aesthetic quality of the shutter surfaces is maintained in the visible areas by concealing the mechanical components. The guide rails and connection systems are strategically positioned in locations where they do not interfere with the visual appearance, such as behind panels or within recessed areas, allowing the shutters to maintain their design integrity while utilizing simple mechanical mechanisms.
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 partial or full opening of furniture in limited spaces without complex adjustments, facilitating access to frequently needed items and maintaining the shutters in a quasi-half-size configuration, suitable for tall cabinets.
Implementation Method 1
an outward thrusting mechanism cooperates with the first shutter part, and the outward thrusting mechanism is movable from a position of repose to an operative position
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a shutter for furniture, cabinets, shelf units and the like, having at least two shutter parts which are arranged next to one another, which shutter parts can be pivoted on the furniture carcass about an axis of rotation, can be transferred by means of an inner guide from a common plane into two mutually parallel planes and can then be slid over one another, wherein the first shutter part, which is furthest away from the axis of rotation, interacts with the second shutter part, which is closer to the axis of rotation, by way of at least two guide means arranged on inner sides thereof, and wherein an outward thrusting mechanism interacts with the first shutter part, wherein the outward thrusting mechanism can be moved from an inoperative position into an operative position.