Lift Cabinet Flap Control to Prevent Finger Pinching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture designs with motorized flaps and inner bodies pose safety risks due to the risk of fingers getting caught during relative movement and are not user-friendly for operation.
Innovation Solution
Coordinated control of the flap motor and body motor using sensors to detect height and position, allowing for sequential and controlled movement to prevent pinching, and a one-switch operating mode for ease of use, with optional dual switches for enhanced control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flap and inner body move independently without coordinated control, then the structure is simpler, but safety risks increase due to finger pinching hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control of the flap motor and body motor into a single coordinated control system. The control device receives signals from sensors detecting both flap position and inner body height, then simultaneously controls both motors to move in a coordinated manner, eliminating safety hazards while maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to detect the position of the flap and height of the inner body, then feeding this information back to the control device. The control device uses this feedback to adjust motor commands in real-time, ensuring coordinated movement and preventing finger pinching hazards during operation.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors and coordinated control are implemented, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed as a multi-functional unit that performs multiple tasks: it controls both the flap motor and body motor, processes signals from multiple sensors, implements safety interlocks, and coordinates movement sequences. This universal control approach consolidates multiple functions into a single device, improving safety without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is programmed with preliminary action logic that prevents dangerous movements before they occur. By detecting sensor signals and anticipating potential hazards, the control device pre-adjusts motor commands to ensure the flap and inner body move in a safe coordinated sequence, eliminating finger pinching risks before they can manifest.
3Reliability
If the inner body is raised before the flap closes, then safety is improved by preventing pinching, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the closing operation where the sequence of movements is optimized in real-time. The control device coordinates the flap closing and inner body raising movements to occur simultaneously at optimized speeds, rather than sequentially. This dynamic coordination reduces total operation time while maintaining the safety benefit of preventing finger pinching throughout the movement.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a piece of furniture (1) having an outer construction (15), an inner body (3) that can be raised and lowered in relation to the outer construction (15) via a body motor (2), and a leaf (5) that is movable via a leaf motor (4) for covering the front face of the raised inner body (3), wherein the leaf (5) is articulated on the outer construction (15), wherein an electronic control means (6) operable by way of at least one operating switch (S, S2) for co-ordinated actuation of the leaf motor (4) and the body motor (2) is provided, wherein starting from a position with the leaf (5) open and the inner body (3) lowered, the inner body (3) first moves at least partially upwards before the leaf (5) closes in order to close the piece of furniture (1).