Telescopic Drawer Guide With Offset Latching for Safe Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing telescopic guides for furniture parts face challenges in assembly safety due to the insertion limiter's shearing surface, which can hinder the assembly process, and require optimization to ensure secure coupling between the running rail and the furniture part.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates two offset latching lugs and recesses on the running rail, allowing the first latching lug to engage during initial assembly and disengage when inertial force exceeds frictional force, enabling safe and easy sliding, with a damped self-closing mechanism for secure coupling, eliminating the need for an insertion limiter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an insertion limiter with a shearing surface is used to block the running rail during assembly, then assembly safety is improved, but the shearing surface creates a ridge that hinders the assembly process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly safetyVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the insertion limiter component entirely and replaces it with a latching element that has two latching lugs. This extraction eliminates the problematic shearing surface and ridge that hindered assembly, while maintaining assembly safety through the alternative latching mechanism with offset recesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The latching element is segmented into two distinct latching lugs positioned at different locations. The first latching lug engages with a first recess during initial assembly, while the second latching lug engages with a second recess after the drawer is pulled out and pushed back in. This segmentation allows the system to provide safety at different stages without requiring a blocking insertion limiter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the drawer is pushed in with high inertial force to overcome friction, then the first latching lug disengages and the second latching lug engages for optimal positioning, but this requires sufficient force that may seem contradictory to easy assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesliding and positioningVSAvoidinertial force required
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The latching mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The first latching lug provides initial engagement that is sufficient for pre-assembly safety. When the drawer is pulled out and pushed back in with moderate force, the system dynamically transitions from the first latching position to the second latching position, achieving optimal positioning without requiring excessive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The first latching lug provides preliminary engagement during initial assembly, securing the drawer in a safe pre-assembly position. This preliminary action allows the assembly to proceed safely, and the subsequent pull-out and push-in action completes the transition to the final optimal position where the second latching lug engages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration ensures high assembly safety and secure coupling of the drawer to the side frame, preventing detachment until the final locking position, where the second latching lug engages, facilitating easy and safe assembly and operation.

Implementation Method 1

damped self-closing mechanism arranged on the telescopic guide for preferably spring-assisted retraction of the drawer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

damped self-closing mechanism arranged on the telescopic guide for preferably spring-assisted retraction of the drawer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

If the inertial force of the drawer when it is being pushed in - for example when hitting a damper - is at least briefly greater than the frictional force of the locking lug in the recess

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP1956943B1Telescopic guide for a furniture part arranged displaceably in a furniture carcass
Publication Date: 2012.05.02 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP1956943B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1956943B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1956943B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A telescopic guide (1) for a furniture part, such as a drawer (9), arranged displaceably in a furniture carcass (3) comprises an extension means, with a running rail (2) which can be latched to the furniture part via a latching element (7), which can be fixed on the furniture part, and with at least one guide rail (4), which can be fixed on the furniture carcass, and preferably with a central rail (5) which increases the extension length and is arranged between guide rail (4) and running rail (2), wherein the latching element (7) has two latching lugs (7d, 7e) and the running rail (2) has two or more cutouts (8, 9) arranged offset with respect to each other in the insertion direction of the drawer. The latching lugs (7d, 7e) and cutouts (8, 9) are arranged in such a manner that either only the first latching lug (7d) engages in the first cutout (8) or the second latching lug (7e) engages in the second cutout (9), thus simplifying the installation.