Pull-Out Guide Depth Adjustment Wheel Parallel to Longitudinal Axis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pull-out guides for furniture are cumbersome, difficult to adjust, and occupy excessive space due to complex designs that require awkward access and long, expensive displacement rods, making them inefficient and hard to use.

Innovation Solution

A pull-out guide with a depth adjustment wheel aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis, mounted on the drawer rail, and a drive device attached to the cabinet rail, allowing for easy adjustment and reduced space usage, featuring a detachable stop element and a user-friendly design with a snap-in mechanism for precise depth control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a depth adjustment mechanism is provided to adjust the relative position between cabinet rail and drawer rail, then the aesthetic consistency of furniture fronts is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic consistency of furniture frontsVSAvoidcomplexity of depth adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The depth adjustment mechanism is nested within the existing drawer guide structure. The adjustment wheel (73) is integrated into the drawer rail (5), and the stop element (72) interacts with components already present in the guide mechanism. This nesting approach allows depth adjustment functionality to be added without requiring separate external adjustment devices, thereby improving aesthetic consistency while minimizing additional complexity and space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The stop element (72) serves multiple functions: it limits the travel of the drawer rail during normal operation and serves as the adjustment point for depth control. The adjustment wheel (73) integrates the adjustment function into the existing movable structure rather than requiring a separate fixed adjustment mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, resolving the contradiction between achieving aesthetic consistency and minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the adjustment wheel rotates around a pivot axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the drawer rail, then the adjustment mechanism is compact, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to awkward access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompactness of adjustment mechanismVSAvoidease of adjusting depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the adjustment wheel around a transverse pivot axis as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the orientation by rotating the wheel around a pivot axis (D) that is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drawer rail. This inversion changes the direction of rotation from side-to-side to front-to-back, allowing users to access and operate the adjustment mechanism from the front of the drawer where it is easily reachable, thereby dramatically improving ease of operation while maintaining compact integration within the drawer rail structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the drive device is fixed to the furniture cabinet, then the stability of the drive mechanism is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as the adjustment components become difficult to reach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of drive mechanismVSAvoidaccessibility of adjustment components
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional arrangement by fixing the drive device (ejection device or retraction device) to the cabinet rail (4) rather than to the movable drawer rail (5). This inversion places the stable, fixed components where they provide structural support, while the adjustment components (adjustment wheel and stop element) remain accessible on the drawer rail side. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining drive mechanism stability through fixed mounting while preserving ease of operation through accessible adjustment components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The drawer guide system is segmented into two distinct functional parts: the drive device fixed to the cabinet rail for stable force application, and the depth adjustment mechanism on the drawer rail for easy user access. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned for its specific function - the drive device where stability is needed and the adjustment mechanism where accessibility is needed - thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If the stop element constantly contacts the drive device to maintain position, then the positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to constant contact mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision of drawer railVSAvoidcomplexity of constant contact mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of constant contact, the stop element (72) engages with the drive device periodically - specifically at the closed position of the drawer to establish the reference point for depth adjustment, and when the adjustment wheel (73) rotates to move the stop element. During normal drawer operation and when not being adjusted, the stop element remains positioned but does not require continuous contact forces. This periodic engagement maintains positioning precision while significantly reducing the complexity of constant contact mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The stop element is preliminarily positioned by the adjustment mechanism at the desired depth before normal operation begins. Once positioned, it maintains this position through its fixed location on the drawer rail rather than through constant active contact with the drive device. The drive device provides the reference surface that the stop element contacts at key moments (closed position and during adjustment), eliminating the need for complex continuous contact and control mechanisms while preserving positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4146041B1Pull-out guide for a movable furniture part
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 JULIUS BLUM GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a pull-out guide (1) for a furniture part (2) which is movable relative to a furniture carcass (3), in particular for a drawer, comprising a carcass rail (4) to be connected to the furniture carcass (3), a drawer rail (5) which is movably mounted on the carcass rail (4), which drawer rail can be connected to the movable furniture part (2) and has a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the drawer rail (5) is movable along the longitudinal axis (L) in the opening and closing direction (OR, SR) of the movable furniture part (2), a drive apparatus (6) for moving the drawer rail (5) and the movable furniture part (2) that can be connected thereto at least in a partial region of the movement path between a closed position (SS) and an open position (OS) and a depth adjustment device (7) for adjusting the closed position (SS) of the drawer rail (5) relative to the carcass rail (4), wherein the depth adjustment device (7) has a carrier (71), a stop element (72) which is movable relative to the carrier (71) along the longitudinal axis (L) and a depth adjustment wheel (73), mounted rotatably about a rotation axis (D) on the carrier (71), for moving the stop element (72) along the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the rotation axis (D) of the depth adjustment wheel (73) is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (L), the drive apparatus (6) is mounted on the carcass rail (4), the carrier (71) of the depth adjustment device (7) is mounted on the drawer rail (5) and, when in the closed position (SS), the stop element (72) contacts a stop-counterpart piece (60) of the drive apparatus (6) and, during the movement path from the closed position (SS) to an open position (OS), is releasable by the stop-counterpart piece (60).