Pivoting Drawer Closing Catch for Low Opening Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closing devices for drawers require significant user effort to charge energy storage means, particularly due to the linear spring tensioning mechanism, which increases the force needed to open the drawer.

Innovation Solution

A pivoting catch piece that moves along a guide track, allowing the energy storage means' energy to be progressively transmitted, reducing the user's required effort by pivoting over more than 20% of the displacement path, with the guide track sloping from horizontal to vertical, enabling automatic holding without additional force application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a linear spring tensioning mechanism is used to charge the energy storage means, then the closing function is achieved, but the user effort required to open the drawer increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effort to open drawerVSAvoidopening force required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track is designed with a curved geometry that transitions from horizontal to vertical orientation. This curvature allows the catch piece to pivot smoothly while progressively redirecting the spring force vector, reducing the horizontal component that the user must overcome and enabling easier drawer opening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution introduces a vertical dimension to the force transmission through the curved guide track. By pivoting the catch piece along a curved path, the spring's linear force is transformed into a component that acts increasingly in the vertical direction, reducing the horizontal force burden on the user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the catch piece is held locked at the end of the displacement portion, then the drawer remains closed, but significant force is required to maintain this state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawer closed position stabilityVSAvoidforce to maintain closed state

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The curved guide track acts as a mechanical counterweight system, where the geometry of the track provides a reactive force that balances the spring tension at the locked position. This allows the drawer to remain securely closed without requiring additional holding force from the user or structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Ease of operation

If the catch piece pivots over a path of more than 20% of the displacement portion, then the user effort is reduced, but the complexity of the mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effort to charge springVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track combines multiple functions into a single component: it guides the pivoting motion of the catch piece, defines the curved path for force transformation, and provides the geometric constraint that enables the progressive redirection of spring force. This merging reduces overall mechanism complexity while achieving the desired force reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution significantly reduces the effort needed to charge the energy storage means, allowing the catch piece to be automatically held in the end position, decreasing the opening force required to near zero, enhancing user experience by reducing the force needed to open the drawer.

Implementation Method 1

the guide track sloping from horizontal to vertical, enabling automatic holding without additional force application

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy transmission through inclined plane: Inclined Plane

Data Source

PatentUS10028583B2Closing device, extension runner having a closing device as well as furniture item having an extension runner

Publication Date: 2018.07.24 GRASS GMBH

AI summary

A closing device for closing a movably mounted drawer relative to a furniture carcass, including a catch piece releasably couplable with an entrainment mechanism of the drawer and mounted to be movable along a displacement portion, and an energy storage mechanism which is chargeable by a displacement movement of the catch piece. The catch piece includes a hold state at the end of and at the beginning of the displacement portion and the catch piece is locked in the hold state at the end of the displacement portion, holds the energy of the energy storage mechanism and allows the drawer to be decoupled. The catch piece is pivotable and carries out a pivoting movement along the displacement portion between the two holding states over a path of more than 20% of the displacement portion when the catch piece is displaced.