Telescopic Ejector Lever for Stable Furniture Part Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ejector mechanisms for furniture parts require multiple lever designs for varying applications, leading to increased production costs and potential buckling or kinking issues due to fixed lever lengths, which affects the ejection path and torque transmission.

Innovation Solution

A variable-length ejector lever system with a telescopic design and mechanical adjusting device, allowing the lever to change length during the ejection process, ensuring stable operation and efficient torque transmission without kinking, and accommodating different furniture designs with a single lever type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-length ejection lever is used, then the structure is simple, but the ejection process cannot be optimized for different applications and requires multiple lever designs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different applicationsVSAvoidlever design variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection lever is designed with variable length capability through a telescopic structure with at least two lever parts that can shift relative to each other. This dynamic adjustment allows the same lever to adapt to different ejection paths and torque requirements across various applications, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-length lever designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lever length parameter is made changeable during operation. By allowing the lever parts to shift relative positions, the effective length of the ejection lever can be adjusted to optimize performance for different furniture applications, from drawers to furniture flaps, while using a single lever design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed-length ejection lever is used, then manufacturing is simple, but production costs increase due to multiple lever types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A single ejection lever design with variable length capability serves multiple furniture applications. Instead of manufacturing different fixed-length levers for different applications, one universal lever with adjustable length can be produced in larger quantities, reducing per-unit costs and simplifying the supply chain.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic structure with shiftable lever parts allows a single lever design to replace multiple fixed-length lever types. This dynamic capability enables one lever to perform the functions of several different levers, reducing manufacturing variety and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If a telescopic ejection lever is used, then space requirement is reduced, but the lever may buckle during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace requirementVSAvoidlever stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lever parts are designed to shift relative to each other in a controlled manner during the ejection process. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the lever maintains optimal structural integrity and resistance to buckling while achieving compact retraction. The shifting mechanism is synchronized with the ejection motion to prevent instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Length of moving object

If the ejection lever length is increased, then the ejection path is improved, but the torque requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection pathVSAvoidtorque
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The variable-length ejection lever allows optimization of the ejection path by extending the lever length when needed, while the system can adjust the lever length to manage torque requirements. The dynamic length adjustment enables the lever to provide longer ejection paths when higher torque is available, and shorter effective lengths when torque is limited.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2560520B1Ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part
Publication Date: 2015.01.14 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP2560520B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2560520B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2560520B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c

AI summary

The invention relates to an ejector (100) for ejecting a movable furniture part (102) from a closed end position in or on a furniture body (101), comprising an ejection lever (1) that can be driven by an electrical drive unit, in particular an electric motor, wherein the ejection lever (1) has a first ejection lever part (11) and a second ejection lever part (12) that can be moved relative to the first ejection lever part, wherein an adjusting device (2) is provided, which causes the length of the ejection lever (1) to change during the ejection process as a result of the two ejection lever parts (11, 12) sliding relative to each other.