Pull-Out Guide Driver Mounting for Horizontal Retrofit Installation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Retrofitting drivers in pull-out guides installed on furniture bodies is complicated due to limited space, especially in vertical directions, requiring time-consuming removal and reassembly.

Innovation Solution

A pull-out guide design that allows for a fastening movement primarily in the horizontal plane, with optional vertical components, enabling easy and quick installation of drivers without removing the guide, using a driver with pivotability and connecting pieces for secure attachment to the rail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the driver is retrofitted to a pull-out guide that is already mounted on the furniture body, then the driver can be attached to the rail, but the limited space especially in the vertical direction makes the retrofitting process complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of retrofittingVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the primary fastening movement from vertical to horizontal direction. The driver is designed to be fastened to the rail by moving in the horizontal plane (transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail), rather than requiring vertical movement. This dimensional change allows retrofitting to be performed easily even when the pull-out guide is already mounted, as horizontal movement is not restricted by the limited space between the furniture body and the mounted guide.

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

2Ease of manufacture

If the pull-out guide is pre-assembled on the furniture body, then the guide is ready for use, but retrofitting the driver requires removal and reassembly of the guide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of retrofittingVSAvoidretrofitting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the fastening operation from the pull-out guide assembly. The driver is designed with connecting pieces that can be independently attached to the rail without affecting the pull-out guide's mounting to the furniture body. This segmentation allows the driver to be retrofitted as a separate component, eliminating the need to disassemble the pre-mounted guide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the fastening movement requires vertical components, then the driver can be secured to the rail, but there is insufficient space for such movements when the guide is already installed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidaccessibility during installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the space constraint by changing the fastening movement to occur in the horizontal plane rather than vertically. The connecting pieces engage with the rail through horizontal movement, which is unrestricted by the limited vertical clearance between the furniture body and the mounted pull-out guide. This maintains secure attachment while eliminating the accessibility problem.

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

4Productivity

If the driver is designed for horizontal plane fastening movement, then retrofitting becomes simple and quick, but the vertical attachment capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidattachment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by designing the connecting pieces and counterpart connections to work effectively with horizontal fastening movement. The U-shaped bracket with opening facing laterally and the corresponding connecting pieces create a attachment system that is optimized for horizontal movement while still providing secure and reliable fastening. This specialized design maintains versatility for retrofitting applications without requiring vertical movement capability.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3189749B1Pull-out guide for a movable furniture part
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3189749B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3189749B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3189749B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

Pull-out guide (1) for a movable furniture part (2), with at least one rail (3), which is horizontally aligned in the installed position, and a driver (4) for a drive device (5) for the movable part, which can be fastened, in particular detachably, to the rail (3). Furniture part (2), wherein the driver (4) can be brought from a release position (L) into a fixing position (F) with the rail (4) by a fastening movement (B) of the driver (4), the fastening movement (B) in a horizontal plane (H).