Motorized Furniture Foot Adjustment Tool for Precise Leveling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adjustment tools for base feet of furniture, such as kitchen cabinets, are difficult to handle due to small toothed surfaces and require two-handed operation, making precise adjustments challenging, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Innovation Solution

An adjustment tool with an electric motor drive connected to a measuring and control device that automatically adjusts the angle of inclination, allowing one-handed operation and preventing decoupling, featuring a larger gear coupling area and optional dual gear wheels driven by a worm wheel for enhanced precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a manual adjustment tool with a small gear wheel is used, then the tool can be simple in structure, but the toothed surface is very small causing easy decoupling and requiring two-handed operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidhandling difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation system with an automated electromechanical system. An electric motor drive unit with a motor shaft replaces the need for manual two-handed operation, converting rotational motion to adjust the base foot height automatically. This substitution eliminates the handling difficulty while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment tool is designed to perform the adjustment operation autonomously once activated. The electric motor automatically executes the height adjustment without requiring continuous manual intervention or two-handed operation. The system serves itself by converting electrical energy to mechanical motion independently, freeing the user from direct operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Volume of moving object

If the gear wheel has a small toothed surface, then the device remains compact, but even small handle movements cause decoupling from the adjustment part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool compactnessVSAvoidcoupling stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the mechanical coupling between a small gear wheel and the adjustment part by replacing it with an electric motor drive system. The motor directly or indirectly drives the adjustment mechanism through controlled rotational motion, removing the need for manual handle operations that cause decoupling. This substitution maintains compactness while dramatically improving coupling stability through precise motor control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If manual two-handed operation is required, then the device can be simple, but precise adjustment is difficult especially in hard-to-reach areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidadjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual two-handed mechanical operation with an electric motor drive system that provides controlled, precise rotational motion. The motor enables accurate height adjustment without requiring the user to physically manipulate handles in hard-to-reach areas. This substitution maintains operational simplicity through remote or automated control while achieving high adjustment precision through motor control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If an electric motor drive is added to enable automatic adjustment, then adjustment precision can be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electric motor drive unit to replace manual mechanical operation, achieving precise automatic height adjustment. The motor converts electrical energy to controlled rotational motion for accurate positioning. While this adds some complexity, the design mitigates it through modular integration, using the motor shaft directly to drive the adjustment mechanism, thereby maintaining relatively simple overall device structure while gaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Simplifies the adjustment process by enabling automatic height leveling, reducing operator effort and minimizing the risk of tool decoupling, while allowing for precise alignment with tools like spirit levels, and can be produced using inexpensive components.

Implementation Method 1

an electric motor drive (6) arranged in the receiving space (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a gear wheel (7, 8), which can be driven by another gear wheel (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 3

The common gear wheel can in turn be connected via a further gear wheel to a worm wheel, which in turn is driven by the electric motor drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWorm drive: Worm Drive

Data Source

PatentEP3738472B1Adjusting tool for adjusting parts of especially feet for furniture
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 KUNST NEHL
  • EP3738472B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3738472B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3738472B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an adjustment tool 1 for, in particular, toothed adjustment parts V of base feet for furniture such as kitchen cabinet furniture or the like, comprising a headpiece 4 with a receptacle 5 for the adjustment part V and at least one driveable gear 7, as well as a handle 2 connected to the headpiece 4. To further improve this adjustment tool, it is provided that an electric motor drive 6, supplied with electrical energy by a battery or accumulator, is arranged in a receiving space 3 of the handle 2 and/or the headpiece 4, by which the gear 7 of the headpiece 4 can be set into rotational movements to adjust the adjustment part V. (Fig. 1)