Sliding Guide Interface for Folding-Sliding Door Leaf Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide systems for movable door leaves in furniture are complex to assemble, particularly when the furniture components are long and access is difficult, requiring mounting from above.

Innovation Solution

The guide system allows for the receiving device to be attached to the support by a horizontal sliding movement, eliminating the need for mounting from above, and includes features like U-shaped guides and play-compensating elements to ensure precise alignment and secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the receiving device is mounted from above onto the support, then the attachment is secured, but the assembly becomes complex and requires large ceiling height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of mounting the receiving device from above onto the support, the invention inverts the mounting direction by sliding the receiving device horizontally onto the support from the front. This is achieved through a sliding interface with guide rails that enable front-to-back attachment, eliminating the need for overhead positioning and complex ceiling-height requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the receiving device is mounted from above onto the support, then the attachment is secured, but large ceiling height is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidceiling height requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from vertical mounting (requiring ceiling height) to horizontal mounting along the longitudinal axis of the support. The receiving device slides onto the support in the longitudinal direction through a sliding interface, changing the mounting dimension from vertical to horizontal and eliminating ceiling height requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If the support is of considerable length with difficult access, then the guide system can span large distances, but mounting becomes relatively complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport lengthVSAvoidmounting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is divided into separable components: the support (beam) and the receiving device are designed as separate building units that can be attached to each other. This segmentation allows the support to be installed first on difficult-to-access locations, followed by the simpler front-to-back attachment of the receiving device, reducing overall mounting complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4077850B1Guide system for guiding a movably mounted door leaf
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP4077850B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4077850B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4077850B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a guide system (5) for guiding at least one movably mounted door leaf (3a, 3b), particularly a folding-sliding door, relative to a stationary piece of furniture (13b), comprising: at least one carrier (11) for movably supporting the at least one door leaf (3a, 3b), at least one guide rail (17, 18) to be fastened to the stationary piece of furniture (13) for guiding the at least one carrier (11), at least one guide device (14) for slidably supporting the at least one carrier (11) along the guide rail (17, 18), at least one carriage (6), which can be coupled to the at least one door leaf (3a, 3b), at least one receiving device (15) for receiving the at least one carriage (6), wherein the at least one receiving device (15) and the at least one carrier (11) are formed as separate structural units from one another and can be fastened to one another, wherein the at least one carrier (11) has an interface (23) for fastening the at least one receiving device (15), the interface (23) being designed in such a way that the at least one receiving device (15) and the at least one carrier (11) can be fastened to one another by being pushed on in a sliding direction (SR) parallel to the at least one guide rail (17, 18).