Synchronized Drawer Guide Rails for Stable Off-Center Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide devices for furniture parts, such as drawers, require complex and costly assembly on both the furniture body and the drawer, which can be difficult and expensive, especially for heavy or wide furniture, and often fail to stabilize the running behavior effectively.

Innovation Solution

A guide device with a coupling mechanism that synchronizes the movement of running rails via a toothed rack and gear system, allowing for assembly without additional components on the furniture part or body, stabilizing the running behavior by converting linear movement into rotary and back into synchronized linear movement between guide units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a toothed rack and gear wheel coupling device is integrated into the guide device, then the running behavior of the furniture part is stabilized and synchronization is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverunning behavior stabilityVSAvoidguide device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device is merged with the guide device by integrating the toothed rack and gear wheel directly into the existing guide rail structure. The toothed rack is arranged on the pull-out rail while the gear wheel is mounted on the center rail, combining the guiding function with the synchronization function in a single integrated assembly, thereby stabilizing running behavior without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical guidance for the furniture part, stabilizes the running behavior through the toothed rack and gear wheel mechanism, and synchronizes the movement of running rails independently of the furniture part. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate stabilization components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If assembly is performed on both the side wall of the drawer box and the drawer, then the coupling device can be installed, but the assembly effort and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly effortVSAvoidcoupling device installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device components are extracted from the furniture body structure and integrated directly into the guide device assembly. The toothed rack and gear wheel are mounted on the running rails themselves rather than requiring separate installation on the furniture body and drawer, eliminating the need for difficult accessibility work on drawer box side walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device performs self-assembly of the coupling mechanism during its own installation process. The toothed rack and gear wheel are integrated into the rail assembly, allowing the guide device to be installed as a complete unit without requiring separate assembly steps on the furniture body and drawer, thereby reducing overall assembly effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If additional components are added to stabilize running behavior, then the synchronization improves, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesynchronizationVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization function is merged with the existing guide rail components. The toothed rack and gear wheel are integrated into the pull-out rail and center rail assembly rather than being separate additional components, achieving synchronization without proportionally increasing the number of discrete parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing guide rail structure is designed to serve dual purposes: providing mechanical guidance and enabling synchronization through the integrated toothed rack and gear wheel mechanism. This multi-functionality allows synchronization to be achieved using components that are already part of the guide device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 simplifies assembly, reduces costs, and effectively stabilizes the running behavior of furniture parts by synchronizing the movement of running rails, preventing tilting and ensuring proper operation even with off-center actuation, thus enhancing the reliability of the guide system.

Implementation Method 1

at least one toothed rack is arranged on the pull-out rails, which meshes with at least one toothed wheel arranged on the transmission shaft and mounted on the middle rail so that it can rotate with it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP2636340B1Guiding device for guiding a mobile furniture part relative to a furniture body
Publication Date: 2014.12.24 GRASS GMBH
  • EP2636340B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2636340B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2636340B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The guide device (11) has two guide units (12) that are provided with carcass rail portions (13). Guide rails (18,19) are arranged slidably with respect to the carcass rail portions. A coupling element (22) is provided to connect the guide rail of one guide unit with the guide rail of the other guide unit for transmitting motion. A transmission gear box (23) is provided with a rotary drivable transfer shaft.