Sliding Door Fitting With Locking Element For Stable Guide Rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding fittings for doors and windows have limited load-bearing capacity due to flexible materials and lack of longitudinal locking, making them prone to breakage under heavy loads and allowing for displacement during use.

Innovation Solution

A fitting with a stop element secured to the guide rail and a movable securing element that encloses the holder, preventing movement in three spatial directions, ensuring stable attachment and high load-bearing capacity while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flexible fastening flaps are used to secure the track, then the installation is simplified, but the load-bearing capacity is limited and the fastening elements can break under heavy loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting is divided into separate functional components: flexible fastening flaps for simplified installation and rigid locking elements for high load-bearing capacity. The locking element with locking protrusions and receptacles acts as an independent reinforcement that engages with the guide rail and holder, allowing each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting combines flexible material (for the fastening flaps) with rigid material (for the locking element and locking protrusions). This composite approach allows the flexible flaps to provide easy installation while the rigid locking protrusions provide high load-bearing capacity and resistance to breaking under heavy loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If only flexible fastening elements are used, then the structure is simple, but the track is not locked in the longitudinal direction and can be displaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidpositioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element is designed to be movable along the guide rail in the longitudinal direction, allowing it to engage with different positions on the holder. This dynamic locking mechanism provides reliable longitudinal locking while maintaining a relatively simple structure that can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element acts as an intermediary component between the guide rail and the holder, providing the locking function without requiring direct complex integration between the guide rail and holder. This mediator approach simplifies the overall structure while ensuring reliable positioning stability through the locking protrusions and receptacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the guide rail is secured with multiple retaining elements, then the positioning is improved, but the forces on the fastening tabs increase and can cause breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidfastening tab durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining function is segmented between the flexible fastening flaps (for initial positioning) and the rigid locking element with locking protrusions (for final secure locking). This segmentation allows the fastening tabs to handle only light positioning forces while the locking protrusions bear the heavy loads, preventing breakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element serves as an intermediary that transfers and distributes the forces from the guide rail to the holder through multiple locking protrusions. This mediator function protects the fastening tabs from excessive forces by redirecting the load through the stronger locking mechanism, thereby improving fastening tab durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3256677B1Fitting for at least one linearly movable leaf and furniture
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 HETTICH HEINZE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3256677B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3256677B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3256677B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A fitting for at least one sliding door (3, 4), in particular for furniture, comprises a guide rail (10) which can be fastened on a carcass via at least one holder (6), wherein the holder (6) and the guide rail (10) can be brought positively into engagement at least in certain regions, and a stop element (9) is fastened directly or indirectly on the guide rail (10) and secures the guide rail (10) in the direction of movement (Y) of the leaf (3, 4). Furthermore, a movable securing element (7) can be guided on the holder (6), which securing element can be moved from a mounting position into a securing position and secures the guide rail (10) on the holder (6) in the securing position. As a result, the guide rail (10) can be mounted straightforwardly on the carcass in a stable manner.