Plate Spring Guide Apparatus for Increased Holding Force Under Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide apparatuses for tables, drawers, and cabinets fail to maintain a predetermined position effectively under unexpected forces or when the load is heavy, due to insufficient holding force.
Innovation Solution
A guide apparatus featuring a pair of plate spring portions on a first member that sandwich an engagement body, where both end portions of the plate spring portions are supported by the first member, allowing for increased spring force and holding force by bending and deforming to maintain the position of a second member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a rotary latch with torsion spring is used as position holding mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the holding force is insufficient when unexpected force is large or load is heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The position holding mechanism is segmented into multiple plate spring portions (first plate spring portion and second plate spring portion) that work together to provide enhanced holding force. Each plate spring portion independently contributes to the overall holding capability, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while increasing force through modular composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism uses composite elastic deformation of multiple plate spring portions made from elastic materials to achieve high holding force. The combination of multiple elastic elements working in parallel creates a composite effect that significantly increases the total holding force while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Volume of moving object
If plate spring portions are made compact to reduce size, then the device becomes compact, but the spring force may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compact design is achieved by segmenting the spring mechanism into multiple thin plate spring portions that can be arranged in a compact configuration. The first plate spring portion and second plate spring portion are positioned to work together in a limited space, maintaining high spring force through their combined elastic deformation while keeping the overall mechanism compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate spring portions utilize out-of-plane deformation (bending in the vertical direction) to generate holding force, rather than extending linearly. This dimensional approach allows the springs to achieve high force output within a compact footprint by exploiting the third dimension for elastic deformation.
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
This configuration enhances the holding force, enabling the apparatus to securely hold the second member at a predetermined position, even under heavy loads or unexpected forces, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of plate spring portions placed on the first member in such a manner as to sandwich the engagement body, wherein the pair of plate spring portions bends
Implementation Method 2
holds the inner rail by the friction force produced between the rotary latch and the inner rail
Data Source
AI summary
A guide apparatus is provided which can increase a holding force that holds a table, a drawer, a cabinet, a device, or the like at a predetermined position. An engagement body (43) is placed on a second member (42b). A pair of plate spring portions (44a and 44b) is placed on a first member (41) in such a manner as to sandwich the engagement body (43). The pair of plate spring portions (44a and 44b) bend in such a manner that a minimum dimension between the pair of plate spring portions (44a and 44b) is smaller than a dimension (length) of the engagement body (43). In a state where the engagement body (43) has gone beyond a minimum dimension position (53) between the pair of plate spring portions (44a and 44b) and the second member (42b) is being held at a predetermined position on the first member (41), the minimum dimension between the pair of plate spring portions (44a and 44b) is smaller than the dimension (length) of the engagement body (43), and both end portions (44a1, 44a3, 44b1, and 44b3), in a length direction, of the plate spring portions (44a and 44b) are supported by the first member (41).