Synchronized Drawer Ejector Layout to Prevent Skewed Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture fitting systems face issues with misalignment and uneven ejection of movable furniture parts due to independent ejection forces and lack of synchronization, leading to potential wedging and space constraints.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of synchronized unlockable ejection devices with rotatable synchronization rods and heart-shaped link paths ensures even pressure distribution and simultaneous unlocking, using a gear or belt drive mechanism to convert linear carriage movement into rotary motion, maintaining alignment and secure ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If independent ejection devices are used on both sides of the drawer, then the drawer can be locked and ejected, but misalignment and uneven ejection occur due to independent ejection forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoiddrawer alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two independent ejection devices into a synchronized system where both ejection devices are coupled to a common synchronization rod. This ensures that the ejection forces from both sides act simultaneously and evenly on the drawer, preventing misalignment and crooked ejection while maintaining reliable locking on both sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization rod acts as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates the ejection forces from both sides. By coupling both ejection devices to this common rod, the system ensures synchronized movement and force distribution, eliminating the misalignment problems that occur with independent ejection devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If furniture fittings are arranged behind the drawer, then locking and ejection can be achieved, but the drawer cannot reach all the way to the end of the furniture body due to space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking functionVSAvoiddrawer pull-out distance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection devices and synchronization rod are nested within the furniture body structure itself, utilizing the existing space between the drawer and the furniture back panel. This nested arrangement allows the locking and ejection mechanism to function without protruding behind the drawer, enabling the drawer to reach the full end of the furniture body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If a torsion bar is used to transmit movement across the drawer, then locking elements can be synchronized, but the triggering path becomes very long and twisting can occur with wide drawers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization of locking elementsVSAvoidtriggering path length
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a torsion bar that transmits rotational movement across the drawer (which creates long triggering paths and twisting), the patent inverts the approach by using a linear synchronization rod that directly couples the ejection devices. This linear coupling provides a shorter, more direct transmission path that eliminates twisting issues while maintaining synchronization.

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

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

This solution prevents skewing and ensures secure, simultaneous unlocking and ejection of drawers, maintaining alignment and reducing space requirements by synchronizing ejection forces across both sides, allowing for tool-free assembly and secure attachment.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic element, in particular a spring (16), which acts on the guide carriage (17) in the opening direction (OR) and is charged during the closing movement (SR) of the movable furniture part (5), wherein the guide carriage (17) together with the ejector (13) is moved in the opening direction (OR) by discharge of the spring (16) so that the holding element (12) of the movable furniture part (5) is ejected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy storage and release: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2429339B1Ejector for a movable furniture element
Publication Date: 2013.03.13 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP2429339B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2429339B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2429339B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement for locking and ejecting a movable furniture part (5), comprising two unlockable ejection devices (1, 2) arranged on both sides of a furniture body (3) or on the movable furniture part (5), and spring-loaded ejectors (13), wherein the unlockable ejection devices (1, 2) comprise a catch element (18) mounted on a linearly displaceable carriage (17), the catch element (18) engaging into a slotted guide path (10) having the shape of a heart curve and by which the movable furniture part can be held in a closed latching position (E) via a locking element (4). According to the invention, this latching position (E) can be released by overpressing the movable furniture part (5) towards the interior, wherein the linearly displaceable carriages (17) of the two unlockable ejector devices (1, 2) are motionally coupled via a rotatable synchronization rod.