Sliding-pivoting mechanism of a shelf of a piece of furniture or of a domestic appliance, piece of furniture, and domestic appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing sliding and pivoting mechanisms in furniture and household appliances, such as dishwashers, often fail to reliably lock the shelf in the raised position, especially when heavily loaded, leading to instability during loading and unloading.

Innovation Solution

A sliding and pivoting mechanism with swivel arms, a guide rail, and a locking mechanism where a stationary support element interacts with a guide bevel of the activator to secure the shelf in the raised position, and a bolt system with locking grooves ensures precise coordination and secure locking, preventing the shelf from being pushed further than intended.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the shelf is heavily loaded, then the shelf can carry more weight, but the locking mechanism fails to reliably lock in the raised position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf load capacityVSAvoidlocking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A stationary support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the activator and the shelf. This support element provides a stable reference surface that ensures the activator correctly guides the locking mechanism into the locking groove, maintaining reliable locking even when the shelf is heavily loaded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support element is pre-positioned on the swivel arm to establish the correct geometric relationship between the activator and locking mechanism before the locking action occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the shelf is raised, the activator automatically engages the locking groove at the correct position, preventing locking failure under heavy loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the shelf is pulled out too far before reaching the raised end position, then the user can access the shelf easier, but the locking mechanism cannot engage properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf accessibilityVSAvoidlocking engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stationary support element acts as a mediator that defines the precise geometric relationship between the activator and the locking groove. It ensures that the activator's guide bevel correctly engages the locking groove at the raised end position, preventing improper engagement when the shelf is pulled out too far.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support element establishes fixed geometric parameters for the locking mechanism's position and orientation. By maintaining these parameters, the system ensures that the locking groove and activator align correctly only at the proper raised end position, preventing premature or incorrect locking engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the locking mechanism is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the locking reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking mechanism complexityVSAvoidlocking security
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stationary support element is a simple intermediary component that provides a stable reference surface for the activator. This simple addition ensures reliable locking without requiring complex mechanisms, maintaining locking security while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is designed to be self-aligning through the support element and activator geometry. When the shelf is raised, the activator automatically guides itself into the locking groove via the support element's reference surface, eliminating the need for complex alignment mechanisms while ensuring reliable locking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 mechanism provides a reliable and safe locking system that prevents the shelf from being pushed too far, ensuring it reaches the raised end position securely, enhancing user convenience and stability, especially when loaded.

Implementation Method 1

During the raising or lowering movement of the sliding/pivoting mechanism, the bolt is guided along a guideway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the locking mechanism has a web that is pivotably and resiliently held on one of the swivel arms

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3151700B1Sliding-pivoting mechanism of a shelf of a piece of furniture or of a domestic appliance, piece of furniture, and domestic appliance
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3151700B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3151700B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3151700B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a sliding-pivoting mechanism of a shelf (34) of a piece of furniture or of a domestic appliance for pulling out and raising the shelf (34) from a body of the piece of furniture or from a useful space of the domestic appliance, in particular a dishwashing appliance, comprises a first pivot arm (15), which is fastened to at least one of the side walls of the body or of the useful space by means of a first end in such a way that the first pivot arm can be rotated parallel to the plane of the side walls, a second pivot arm (16), which is fastened to the at least one of the side walls of the body or of the useful space by means of a first end in such a way that the second pivot arm can be rotated parallel to the plane of the side walls, wherein the pivot arms (15, 16) are arranged parallel to each other at a distance from each other, wherein a guide rail (22) is fastened to second ends of the pivot arms (15, 16) in such a way that the guide rail can be pivoted parallel to the plane of the side walls and that the guide rail (22) can be pivoted from a lower position inside the body or the useful space to a raised, upper position at least partially outside the body or the useful space, and at least one running rail (1), which can be moved linearly in the guide rail (22) and to which the shelf (34) is fastened, wherein the sliding-pivoting mechanism comprises a locking mechanism for preventing a pivoting motion of the sliding-pivoting mechanism in a raised and a lowered end position, which locking mechanism is arranged on the guide rail (22) and on one of the pivot arms (15, 16) and can be actuated by means of an activator (6) fastened to the running rail (1), wherein a supporting element (60) that interacts with a guide slope (29) of the activator (6) is arranged on the first pivot arm (15) in a stationary manner, by means of which supporting element the locking mechanism can be moved into a locking position securing the raised end position when the sliding-pivoting mechanism is raised, wherein an end of the guide slop (29) of the activator (6) that is at the front in a pull-out direction (A) is designed as a stop (35). The invention further relates to a piece of furniture having a sliding-pivoting mechanism and to a domestic appliance having a sliding-pivoting mechanism.