Laterally Retracting Furniture Door Rocker Support for Stable Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for laterally retracting doors in furniture face challenges such as space occupation, stability issues due to weight, aesthetic concerns, and complexity, particularly when dealing with large or heavy doors, and often fail to provide effective damping during motion.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a sliding upright with longitudinal guides and oscillating rockers, connected by a load distribution bar, allows for balanced and quiet operation of laterally retracting doors, enabling them to cover lateral edges and optimize internal space while maintaining durability and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a sliding door wing is translated parallel to the side wall using front and depth guides, then space occupation is minimized, but vertical stability deteriorates due to door weight acting on the guides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate upright element that acts as a mediator between the door and the guiding mechanism. This upright is supported by rockers that oscillate on pivots fixed to the shoulder, transferring the door weight to the rockers rather than directly to the front and depth guides. The upright slides within the depth guide while the rockers provide stable support, thus maintaining vertical stability while minimizing space occupation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a pantograph arrangement is used to support the upright, then the door can be supported, but the compartment volume is substantially reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex pantograph mechanism and replaces it with a simplified rocker-based support system. The rockers oscillate on fixed pivots and support the upright through a much more compact arrangement. This extraction of the unnecessary pantograph structure allows the compartment to retain its full volume while still providing adequate door support through the streamlined rocker mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the door is translated using front and depth guides, then the door can move, but the operation becomes noisy and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static guiding system into a dynamic one by introducing oscillating rockers. Instead of the door sliding directly along fixed guides, the rockers oscillate on their pivots as the door moves, providing dynamic adaptation to the motion. This dynamic mechanism absorbs shocks and irregularities, resulting in quieter and more stable operation compared to rigid guide systems.
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
The solution enables the use of large and heavy single-panel doors without folding, ensuring stable, quiet, and durable operation, while also providing effective damping and improved aesthetic and spatial utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of rockers (60), each rocker being rendered able to oscillate on a respective pivot
Implementation Method 2
the arm of such arms that is not slidingly engaged with the vertical upright is instead connected to the corresponding arm of the other rocker, by means of a load distribution bar (66)
Implementation Method 3
the upright being rendered able to slide in depth, along the outer surface of the shoulder of the internal space of the piece of furniture
Implementation Method 4
being provided with longitudinal guides, which are integral with the shoulder, for the vertical sliding of one of the two ends of a pair of rockers
Data Source
AI summary
A device to be applied at least between a side wall of the internal space of a piece of furniture and an adjacent door thereof, in order to render it laterally retracting during the opening of the internal space, comprising a pivoting upright interposed along the side of the door that is to be rendered laterally retracting of a piece of furniture, and provided with longitudinal guides for the vertical sliding of one of the two ends of a pair of rockers, each rocker being able to oscillate on a respective pivot, which is integrally pivoted to the same shoulder of a compartment, and is formed by a pair of arms which converge and are mutually integral.