Movable Cabinet Storage on Integrated Guide Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kitchen furniture with integrated storage compartments often has poorly accessible areas, particularly in wall cabinets, which are underutilized due to difficulty in accessing upper compartments.

Innovation Solution

The furniture features guide profiles integrated into side walls with movable carriages that allow storage elements to be moved horizontally, vertically, or at an angle, using a cable pull or lifting mechanism, enabling access to previously inaccessible spaces while maintaining a visually appealing design and stable framework.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If storage compartments are integrated into furniture body, then storage capacity is improved, but accessibility to upper compartments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the storage compartment movable rather than fixed. The compartment can be moved along guide profiles from upper inaccessible positions to lower accessible positions, allowing users to easily access stored items while maintaining high storage capacity in vertical wall cabinets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses guide profiles as intermediary elements that enable the storage compartment to move between different positions. These guide profiles act as mediators between the fixed furniture structure and the movable storage compartment, facilitating smooth transitions between accessible and inaccessible zones

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If guide profiles are integrated into side walls, then functionality is improved, but visual appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the guide profiles from the visible exterior surface and integrates them into the side wall structure. The profiles are positioned and designed so they remain functional for moving storage compartments but are hidden from external view, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance while preserving mobility functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If storage elements are made movable, then accessibility is improved, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing stable support only where needed - at the guide profiles integrated into the side walls. The storage compartment is movable in horizontal directions for accessibility but constrained vertically to maintain structural stability. This localized stabilization allows mobility where required while preserving overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2429336B1Item of furniture
Publication Date: 2016.05.18 HETTICH HLDG GMBH & CO OHG
  • EP2429336B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2429336B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2429336B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an item of furniture, in particular for kitchens, comprising a body (1, 1') which has two opposite lateral walls (2) in which respectively at least one guide profile (3) is integrated, said guide profile having an groove (4) which is open towards the inner area of the body. A slide (5), which supports a storage element (6, 6') in a displaceble manner in the furniture body (1, 1'), is guided in each groove (4).