Pull-Out Guide Stop Mechanism With Adjustable Locking Positions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceiling pull-out guides for cupboards lack the ability to adjust the stop position of the pull-out rail when it is pulled out, and manual adjustment during assembly can be forgotten, leading to ineffective stop unit operation.

Innovation Solution

A ceiling pull-out guide with a pivot axis that can be displaced relative to the pull-out rail, allowing for adjustable stop positions through engagement elements that pivot about a pivot axis, enabling automatic adjustment from an open position to a locked position using a spring-elastic element, ensuring the stop section is secured at different blocking positions.

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 adjustment can be forgotten and the stop unit will not be effective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of stop unitVSAvoidmanual adjustment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stop unit is designed to automatically perform the locking function without requiring manual intervention. The spring element automatically pushes the stop section into the locked position after the pull-out rail is inserted, ensuring the stop unit becomes effective without forgetting manual adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element is pre-loaded to automatically push the stop section into the locked position before any pull-out operation occurs. This preliminary automatic locking action ensures the stop unit is effective from the moment the pull-out rail is inserted, eliminating the need for subsequent manual adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the stop position is fixed during assembly, then the assembly process is simple, but the stop position cannot be adjusted when the pull-out rail is pulled out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidadjustability of stop position
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot axis is designed to be displaceable relative to the pull-out rail, allowing the stop section to dynamically change its position between different blocking positions. This dynamic capability enables adjustment of the stop position during pull-out operation while maintaining simple assembly with the fixed pivot axis guide

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stop unit is segmented into the stop section and the pivot axis, which can move independently relative to each other. The pivot axis can be displaced along the pull-out rail to different positions, allowing the stop section to engage at different locations along the pull-out path, providing adjustable stop positions without complicating the overall assembly structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If several blocking positions are provided for the stop section, then the stop position can be adjusted to different extents, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of blocking positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of stop unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing multiple fixed blocking positions with complex mechanical structures, the invention uses a dynamic pivot axis that can be displaced to different positions. This single dynamic element replaces what would otherwise require multiple complex fixed positioning mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while providing the same adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position of the pivot axis is changed as a continuous parameter rather than through discrete mechanical configurations. By displacing the pivot axis to different locations along the pull-out rail, different blocking positions are achieved without requiring complex mechanical structures for each position, simplifying the overall device design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables simple adjustment of the stop position during assembly and operation, ensuring the pull-out rail is effectively limited in its extension, preventing accidental over-extension and enhancing assembly efficiency by automating the stop unit's locking mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

an automatic adjustment of the stop section of the stop unit from an open position to a blocked position is provided. For this purpose, the stop unit having the stop section is designed as a lever that can be pivoted against the force of a spring element.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring-elastic element: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2526824B1Pull-out guide for front cover
Publication Date: 2014.01.22 FULTERER GES
  • EP2526824B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2526824B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2526824B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A ceiling extension guide for a cabinet section (2) that can be pulled out from a furniture carcass comprises a guide rail (17) and an extension rail (18) that can be extended relative to the guide rail (17) in an extension direction (4). The extension of the extension rail (18) from the guide rail (17) is limited by a stop unit (29) held on the extension rail (18), which has a stop section (29a) that can be pivoted about a pivot axis to adjust between a locking position, in which it interacts with a counter-stop (24) of the guide rail (15) and limits the extension of the extension rail (18) from the guide rail (17), and a clearance position, in which the counter-stop (24) can pass the stop section (29a).The pivot axis (32) is slidably guided relative to the extension rail (18), and the stop section (29a) is adjustable between several locking positions, whereby the extension rail (18) can be extended from the guide rail (17) to different distances in the various locking positions of the stop section (29a). (Fig. 13).