Soft-Close Drawer Assembly Using Gas Spring Pivot Couplings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer slide mechanisms fail to provide both soft-close and soft-open actions without abrupt stops, and often require complex integration with conventional systems.
Innovation Solution
A soft-close cabinet slide assembly that includes a gas spring with pivotal couplings and a forcing means, such as a mechanical spring or gas spring with a damper, to control the drawer's movement between fully open and fully closed positions, allowing for smooth acceleration and deceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a damping mechanism is integrated with rails in a complicated manner, then soft-close action is provided, but device complexity increases and minimal modifications to conventional drawer-slide rail systems are not allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer system is divided into independent functional modules: conventional drawer-slide rail system for basic sliding, and a separate forcing means (gas spring or mechanical spring with damper) mounted on the drawer body. This segmentation allows the soft-close function to be added without complicating the rail integration, as the spring mechanism operates independently while providing both soft-close and soft-open actions through its mounting configuration.
2Reliability
If a forcing means is positioned to exert extension force on the middle region of the drawer, then both soft-close and soft-open actions are achieved, but the forcing means must be movable between extension and compressed positions
Solution Approach 1:
The forcing means is designed with dynamic positioning capability through pivotal couplings that allow the gas spring or mechanical spring to swing through an arc as the drawer moves between fully open and fully closed positions. The forcing means transitions between extension and compressed positions dynamically, with the rod or piston rod extending beyond the cylinder body at extreme positions and retracting at intermediate positions, enabling both soft-close and soft-open actions without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.
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
Enables smooth drawer operation with reduced operator effort, achieving both soft-close and soft-open actions in a simple and effective manner, by using the gas spring to facilitate speed reduction and acceleration as the drawer approaches fully open or closed positions.
Implementation Method 1
A gas spring can be included in the soft-close cabinet slide assembly having a first end coupled to the cabinet and a second end coupled to the drawer. The gas spring is preferably situated to facilitate a reduction of speed of the drawer as the drawer approaches the fully closed position or the fully open position.
Implementation Method 2
The forcing means can include a mechanical spring, a gas spring, a gas spring with a damper, or other equivalents. The forcing means can be movable between an extension position and a compressed position, with the forcing means being situated to facilitate a reduction of speed of the drawer as the drawer approaches the fully closed position.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft-close cabinet slide assembly permits the soft-close action and/or a soft-open action of a drawer, and thus the reduction of effort by an operator, when the drawer is opening or closing. The cabinet slide assembly includes a cabinet, a drawer, and at least one slide mechanism coupling the drawer to the cabinet to permit movement of the drawer between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A forcing means for exerting an extension force, preferably a gas spring, is also be included in the soft-close cabinet slide assembly having a first end coupled to the cabinet and a second end coupled to the drawer. Preferably, the soft-close cabinet slide assembly also includes a first and second pivotal coupling, which permit the gas spring to swing through an arc as the drawer moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position.