Pull-Out Guide Stop Unit With Oblique Track Auto-Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceiling pull-out guides for cupboards lack an efficient mechanism to automatically adjust and ensure the stop unit is effectively locked in place during assembly, leading to potential misalignment and ineffective stopping of the pull-out rail.

Innovation Solution

A ceiling pull-out guide with a stop unit featuring a spring-elastic element and oblique guide tracks allows for automatic resetting of the stop section from an open to a blocking position, ensuring proper alignment and locking, and includes adjustable latching elements for precise control of the stop position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the stop section is manually brought into the locked position during assembly, then the stop unit becomes effective to limit pull-out, but the installation process becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of stop unitVSAvoidinstallation process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stop unit is designed to automatically lock itself during the assembly process. When the pull-out rail is inserted into the guide rail, the stop section autonomously engages with the counter-stop through the oblique guide track mechanism, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The spring-elastic element provides the necessary force to ensure automatic engagement, making the installation process simpler and more reliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The oblique guide track is pre-configured in the pull-out rail to guide the stop section into the correct locked position before the pull-out rail is fully inserted. This preliminary positioning ensures that the stop unit is already prepared and will automatically engage with the counter-stop during assembly, preventing misalignment and ensuring effective stopping from the outset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the stop unit is designed without automatic resetting mechanism, then the structure is simpler, but the stop section may remain in open position leading to ineffective stopping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of stop unitVSAvoidlocking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-elastic element integrated into the stop unit provides automatic resetting functionality. When the stop section is displaced from the locked position, the spring-elastic element stores energy and automatically returns the stop section to its locked position, ensuring the stop unit is always ready to function. This self-service mechanism maintains reliability without requiring external intervention or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-elastic element changes the physical state of the stop section by providing elastic restoring force. This parameter change ensures that the stop section automatically returns to its original locked position after being displaced, maintaining the reliability of the stopping function while keeping the structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the stop position is fixed, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the adaptability to different pull-out positions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing of stop unitVSAvoidadjustability of stop position
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stop unit is designed with adjustable characteristics, allowing the stop position to be modified according to different requirements. The oblique guide track mechanism enables the stop section to be positioned at different locations along the pull-out rail, providing adaptability to various pull-out positions while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through standardized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 design simplifies the installation of the stop unit, ensures it is always effectively locked, and allows for adjustable stopping positions, preventing misalignment and enhancing the functionality of the ceiling pull-out guide.

Implementation Method 1

a spring-elastic element, by which the stop section located in its open position can be displaced into its blocking position or one of its blocking positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring-elastic element: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2520197B1Pull-out guide for front cover
Publication Date: 2014.01.29 FULTERER GES
  • EP2520197B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2520197B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2520197B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The cover pulling-out guide has a guide rail (17) which is directly connected with an inner side of a cover of a furniture body or over a body rail, from which the guide rail is pulled-out. The body rail is fixed at the inner side of the cover. A pulled-out rail (18) is provided with a guide track (30,31) that stands partially obliquely to a pulled-out direction (4). A stop portion (29a) of a stop unit (29) is guided for adjustment between a locking position and the passing position along the guide track.