Furniture Drive With Offset Articulated Lever for Thin Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture drives face challenges in securing the door-side fitting when mounted beneath a kitchen worktop or on a frame, especially when the door is thin or made of glass, leading to potential detachment and unsuitable fastening options.

Innovation Solution

The articulated lever of the furniture drive is designed with a vertical offset between its sections, creating a desired height offset between fitting parts, allowing secure mounting on the furniture door and frame while maintaining sufficient wall thickness and enabling attachment to glass panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the furniture drive is mounted on a thin door or frame, then the door-side fitting can be attached to the movable furniture part, but the wall thickness becomes insufficient leading to potential detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting capabilityVSAvoidwall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The articulated lever introduces a vertical dimension offset between its sections, positioning the second fitting part lower than the first fitting part. This dimensional change in the vertical direction creates sufficient wall thickness in the horizontal plane, allowing secure mounting on thin doors and frames without compromising structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the furniture drive is mounted beneath a kitchen worktop, then the furniture door can be positioned correctly, but a gap must be provided preventing close fit and smooth pivoting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting smoothnessVSAvoiddoor height
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The articulated lever creates a vertical offset between the two fitting parts, allowing the second fitting part to be positioned lower. This enables the furniture door to clear the kitchen worktop during pivoting while maintaining close fit, eliminating the need for large gaps and ensuring smooth operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the door-side fitting is mounted on a frame with decorative panel, then the frame can accommodate the panel, but no suitable fastening option is available creating gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening optionVSAvoidframe thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The articulated lever positions the second fitting part vertically lower than the first fitting part, creating sufficient engagement length with the frame. This vertical offset enables reliable fastening of the door-side fitting to the frame, eliminating gaps and allowing proper attachment even when the frame is thin or contains decorative panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3990732B1Furniture drive
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3990732B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3990732B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3990732B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a furniture drive (4) for moving a furniture part (3) which is movably mounted relative to a furniture carcass (2), comprising: a first fitting part (5) for securing to the furniture carcass (2); a second fitting part (6) for securing to the moveable furniture part (3); and at least one articulated lever (7) which is connected in an articulated manner to the first fitting part (5) via a first joint axis (A) and to the second fitting part (6) via at least one second joint axis (B); wherein the at least one articulated lever (7) has at least two sections (18a, 18b) which are spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel to the joint axes (A, B) by an offset (ΔΧ), wherein the first fitting part (5) has a first notional central plane (P1) and the second fitting part (6) has a second notional central plane (P2), wherein the central planes (P1, P2) are spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the joint axes (A, B).