Rotary-to-Linear Drawer Stop Adjuster for Uniform Front Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for adjusting the depth position of drawers on furniture lack simplicity and intuitive operation, leading to uneven alignment of drawer fronts when vertically offset rail guides are used, resulting in an unattractive and non-continuously level front image.

Innovation Solution

A device with a rotatably mounted adjusting element that allows for linear adjustment of the stop position, enabling intuitive depth adjustment of drawers by converting rotary movement into linear displacement, which can be fixed in various positions to limit the drawer's sliding movement, ensuring uniform alignment of drawer fronts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing adjusting devices are used for drawer depth adjustment, then the drawer depth can be adjusted, but the operation is not intuitive and the design is complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintuitive operationVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting element is designed as a wheel with a curved rotating perimeter that engages with a helical engagement profile on the sliding element. This curved mechanical interface converts simple rotational motion into linear displacement of the stop, providing intuitive operation without complex mechanisms. The user simply rotates the wheel to adjust the stop position along the drawer rail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If vertically offset rail guides are used for multiple drawers, then space is optimized, but the drawer fronts become unevenly aligned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment adjustment capabilityVSAvoidfront image uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting device with the rotatable wheel and sliding stop is designed as a universal adjustment mechanism that can be applied to any drawer with a rail guide, regardless of the rail's vertical position. Each drawer can independently adjust its stop position to compensate for vertical offsets in the rail guides, ensuring that all drawer fronts align uniformly with the furniture facade even when the rail guides are at different heights.

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

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 device allows for easy and intuitive adjustment of drawer depth, ensuring a uniformly flush front image on furniture by allowing the stop to be set in different positions, addressing the issue of uneven drawer fronts when rail guides are vertically offset.

Implementation Method 1

The adjusting element and a sliding element of the device coupled to the adjusting element are designed in such a way that the sliding element can be linearly adjusted by a rotary movement of the adjusting element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3689184B1Device for adjusting a closing position of a drawer, body rail, drawer guide and drawer
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 GRASS GMBH
  • EP3689184B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3689184B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3689184B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A device (1) for adjusting a closing position of a drawer (38) is proposed, wherein the device (1) is designed for attachment to a cabinet rail (21) such that the closing position of the drawer (38) is adjustable with respect to a direction of movement of the drawer (38) provided by the rail guide (2), wherein the device (1) comprises a rotatable adjusting element (4).According to the invention, when the device (1) is mounted on the furniture (32), a stop (6) of the device (1) can be moved into different adjustment positions on the device (1) by rotating the adjusting element (4), wherein the stop (6) determines the closing position of the drawer (38), wherein the adjusting element (4) and a sliding element (8) of the device (1) coupled to the adjusting element (4) are designed such that the sliding element (8) can be linearly adjusted by a rotational movement of the adjusting element (4), wherein the stop (6) is present on the sliding element (8).