Slide Rail Locking Gap Structure for Torsional Stress Relief

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slide rail locking devices for drawers in appliances are prone to weakened locking force, deformation, and detachment due to consistent movement and torsional stress, requiring complex structures and increased manufacturing and installation costs, especially when attached to a single supporting bar.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail locking device is designed with a gap between the locking device and the vertical supporting bar, utilizing an upper and lower locking plate, connection plate, extended plate, and inclined plate to distribute force and reduce torsional stress, allowing easy attachment and detachment while maintaining locking force, and can be fixed to a single supporting bar.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the slide rail locking device is mounted to the supporting bar in a forcible fitting manner, then the locking force is initially strong, but the locking force becomes weak due to consistent movement and the device is deformed or detached

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking forceVSAvoidlocking reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is divided into multiple functional components: a locking plate with locking protrusions, a connection plate, and an extended plate. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing concentrated wear that would weaken the locking force over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection plate acts as an intermediary element between the locking plate and the extended plate, providing a flexible linkage that accommodates movement while maintaining the locking engagement. This intermediary structure absorbs the stress from consistent drawer movement, preventing direct wear between the locking protrusions and the supporting bar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the slide rail locking device is mounted to a single supporting bar, then the structure is simplified and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the device experiences increased torsional stress and is prone to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidresistance to torsional stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is divided into multiple functional components: a locking plate with locking protrusions, a connection plate, and an extended plate. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing concentrated wear that would weaken the locking force over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection plate provides a flexible linkage that allows the locking device to dynamically adjust to torsional stresses from drawer movement. This dynamic structure absorbs the stress through controlled movement and deformation of the connection plate itself, rather than transmitting all stress to the rigid mounting point on the single supporting bar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the slide rail locking device is mounted to a single supporting bar, then installation cost is reduced, but much force is required for attachment and the device may not be properly coupled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation costVSAvoidease of attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forcing the locking device onto the supporting bar, the design allows the extended plate to be inserted first, followed by the locking plate that engages with the supporting bar. This inverted assembly sequence reduces the attachment force required, as the locking plate can be engaged after positioning rather than forcing the entire assembly on at once.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection plate provides a flexible linkage that allows the locking device to dynamically adjust to torsional stresses from drawer movement. This dynamic structure absorbs the stress through controlled movement and deformation of the connection plate itself, rather than transmitting all stress to the rigid mounting point on the single supporting bar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3401607B1Apparatus comprising a main body and a slide rail locking device

Publication Date: 2021.12.08 SEGOS

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a slide rail locking device which comprises: an upper locking plate coupling a supporting bar mounted on an inside wall of a main body and a slide rail fixed to a side or bottom surface of a drawer, located above the supporting bar, and locked into the slide rail; a lower locking plate located below the supporting bar; a connection plate connecting the upper locking plate and the lower locking plate; and an extended plate formed by being bulged down from the lower locking plate to face the upper locking plate. According to the present invention, a gap is formed between the slide rail locking device and a vertical supporting bar, whereby undesired movement of the slide rail locking device generated by a drawing motion of the drawer being drawn out of and retracted into the main body may be offset.