Modular Sliding Door Fitting Kit for Different Guide Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door fittings are not adaptable to different guide profiles or sliding elements of varying thicknesses, requiring multiple fitting variants to be stocked, and cannot be easily converted or retrofitted.

Innovation Solution

A kit that includes a holding device with interchangeable guide elements, such as rotating rollers or sliding elements, and adjustable supports, allowing flexible adaptation to various guide rail geometries and door thicknesses, enabling modular conversion of the sliding door fitting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a guide part is designed as a sliding element adapted to the contour of the guide profile, then the guide quality is improved, but the fitting cannot be converted to different guide profiles or sliding elements of different thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide qualityVSAvoidconvertibility to different guide profiles
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide part is divided into a sliding element and a separate guide section. The guide section can be removed and replaced with different guide sections adapted to different guide profiles, while the sliding element remains. This segmentation allows conversion between different guide profiles without replacing the entire guide part, resolving the contradiction between guide quality and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holding device is designed to allow vertical displacement of the guide section relative to the sliding element. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the guide section to adapt to height differences and different guide profiles, maintaining guide quality while providing convertibility to different configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple fitting variants are created to accommodate different guide profiles and sliding element thicknesses, then adaptability is improved, but the number of components to be kept in stock increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different guide profilesVSAvoidnumber of fitting variants
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding element is designed as a universal component that can work with different guide sections. The holding device provides a standardized interface for mounting various guide sections. This universality allows a single sliding element to serve multiple functions across different guide profiles, reducing the number of fitting variants needed while maintaining broad compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating different fitting variants for different parameters (guide profile contours, sliding element thicknesses), the invention allows parameter changes by swapping guide sections while keeping the core sliding element unchanged. This approach reduces complexity by maintaining constant core dimensions while adapting only the guide section geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the guide part is designed with fixed geometry, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the fitting cannot be adapted to different sliding door thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide section geometryVSAvoidadjustability to door thicknesses
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device enables vertical displacement of the guide section relative to the sliding element, providing dynamic adjustability to accommodate different sliding door thicknesses. The fixed geometry of individual guide sections maintains manufacturing precision, while the dynamic mounting system provides the necessary adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4413225B1Kit for a sliding door fitting, furniture and method for retrofitting a sliding door fitting
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 HETTICH HEINZE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4413225B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4413225B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4413225B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The invention relates to a kit for a sliding door fitting comprising a guide rail (6) that can be mounted on a furniture body (2) and a mounting plate (30) that can be mounted on a sliding door (3, 4), on which a support (8, 8', 9, 9', 9") is moveably retained, wherein a retaining deice (10) is provided on the support (8, 8', 9, 9', 9"), on which a guide element that can be engaged with the guide rail (6) is fixed in order to guide the sliding door (3, 4) along the guide rail (6), wherein the kit comprises a sliding element (20) and a rotatable wheel (11) as the guide element, which can be optionally and detachably mounted on the retaining device (1). The invention also relates to a method for retrofitting a sliding door fitting.