Guide rail, guide system and furniture item
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide rail systems for furniture items, such as drawers, face challenges in achieving a compact design while supporting high mechanical loads and requiring material-saving configurations.
Innovation Solution
A guide rail system featuring a rail body with a fastening element made from angled sheet metal, incorporating a reinforcing arch mechanism that enhances mechanical stability without additional material, achieved through shaping and deformation of the sheet metal during production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a guide rail system uses a compact design with minimal material, then material usage is reduced, but mechanical stability and load-bearing capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming an arch shape from the sheet metal fastening element. This arch structure provides mechanical reinforcement and load-bearing capacity while using minimal material. The curved geometry distributes stresses more effectively than flat configurations, achieving both material efficiency and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening element transitions from a two-dimensional flat sheet metal piece to a three-dimensional arched structure. This dimensional change adds structural rigidity and load-bearing capacity without proportionally increasing material usage, as the reinforcement is achieved through geometric transformation rather than material addition.
2Quantity of substance
If the fastening element is made from thin sheet metal to save material, then material usage is reduced, but the ability to support high mechanical loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet metal fastening element is formed into an arch shape, which provides structural reinforcement. This curvature allows thin sheet metal to support high mechanical loads by distributing stresses along the curved geometry, eliminating the need for thick material while maintaining load-bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the fastening element by forming it into an arch structure. This parameter change transforms a simple flat piece into a load-bearing component capable of supporting high forces, demonstrating how geometric transformation can compensate for reduced material thickness.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional reinforcing elements are added to the fastening structure, then mechanical stability is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening function and the reinforcement function into a single integrated arch-shaped element. The arch structure simultaneously provides attachment capability and structural reinforcement, eliminating the need for separate reinforcing elements and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The arch-shaped fastening element performs multiple functions: it attaches the guide rail to the furniture wall and simultaneously provides structural reinforcement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated reinforcement components, maintaining simplicity while achieving high mechanical stability.
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 high mechanical stability and a compact design, allowing the guide rail system to support heavy loads while minimizing material usage, with the arch mechanism reinforcing the fastening element to ensure secure attachment to furniture walls.
Implementation Method 1
The edge portion is connected by the flat surface of the front face to the surface side on the rail body by cohesive bonding, for example, is laser welded.
Data Source
AI summary
A guide rail including a rail body and a fastening element having a narrow front edge portion abutting the rail body, and configured as a bracket element from an angled sheet metal material with limbs oriented at an angle and connected along a bending edge, and a horizontal limb forming the flat material portion with the upper side and with the underside of the flat material portion with the edge portion. A horizontal limb of the bracket element has an inner limb portion adjoining the bending edge and an outer limb portion adjoining the inner limb portion via a longitudinally extending shoulder. The outer limb portion includes the edge portion and a reinforcing mechanism is provided on the fastening element as an arch extending along the shoulder over a partial region of the outer limb portion and over the shoulder and over part of the inner limb portion.