Two-Phase Flap Fitting for Compact Wall Unit Movement Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flap fittings for furniture lack an efficient mechanism to control the movement of furniture parts from a closed to an open state and back, particularly in wall units, often resulting in cumbersome designs and limited compactness.
Innovation Solution
A flap fitting with guide means that facilitates a two-phase movement process, where the furniture part first moves horizontally away from the furniture body and then pivots about a single axis, allowing for a compact and elegant motion control system with overlapping or simultaneous disengagement and pivoting movements, utilizing displacement guide means and a coupling mechanism for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the furniture part is moved directly from closed to open state using a single pivoting movement, then the structure is simple, but the pivoting radius is limited and the movement is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The opening movement is segmented into two distinct phases: a first phase with a larger pivoting radius for initial disengagement, and a second phase with a smaller pivoting radius for final positioning. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, improving overall movement smoothness while managing complexity through structured guidance means.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance means introduces an additional dimensional aspect to the movement by implementing a two-phase pivoting mechanism with different radii. The first phase operates with a larger radius to achieve greater clearance, while the second phase transitions to a smaller radius for precise positioning, effectively adding a temporal-dimential sequence to the spatial movement.
2Volume of moving object
If guide means are designed to create a two-phase movement with larger pivoting radius, then the movement becomes more balanced and compact, but the guidance mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance means merges two pivoting phases into a single integrated mechanism. The first phase with larger radius and the second phase with smaller radius are combined in one continuous guidance system, allowing the furniture part to transition smoothly between phases without requiring separate mechanisms, thus achieving compact displacement while managing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance means employs dynamic characteristics by allowing the pivoting radius to change during the opening process. The mechanism transitions from a larger radius in the first phase to a smaller radius in the second phase, creating a dynamic movement pattern that optimizes both displacement volume and mechanism compactness.
3Productivity
If overlapping movement phases are implemented, then the opening process becomes more efficient and compact, but the control mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The first phase of the opening process performs preliminary disengagement with a larger pivoting radius, creating initial clearance and preparing the furniture part for the second phase. This preliminary action with the larger radius facilitates a smoother and faster transition into the second phase, improving overall opening efficiency while managing control complexity through structured sequencing.
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 enables a compact and balanced movement of furniture parts, allowing for efficient opening and closing of furniture flaps with a significantly larger pivoting radius compared to the initial movement phase, ensuring stable guidance and adaptability to different weights through prestress and spring cartridges.
Implementation Method 1
The guide device (4) comprises a spring force package (5), a sliding movement unit (6), and a rotary unit (7)
Implementation Method 2
The coupling mechanism (8) couples the rotary unit (7) to a linear motion unit (6) for linear displacement
Implementation Method 3
The coupling mechanism (8) comprises a toggle lever arrangement (9) with lever arms (9a, 9b)
Implementation Method 4
A cam (11) of a guide piece (12) of the linear motion unit (6) moves along the bearing pin (10a)
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for controlling the movement of a furniture part (2) which is movably mounted on a furniture carcass (1), the device comprising guide means (4) acting between the furniture carcass (1) and the furniture part (2) and by means of which the furniture part (2) can be moved from a closed state relative to the furniture carcass (1), in which the piece of furniture assumes a position in which it can been moved toward a front face of the piece of furniture, to an open state of the furniture part (2) relative to the furniture carcass (1) and back to the closed state. According to the invention, the guide means (4) are designed to move the furniture part (2), during an opening process, out of the closed state such that, in a first movement phase of the opening process, a horizontal distance between the furniture part (2) and the front face of the furniture carcass (1) increases, and in a second movement phase of the opening process, the furniture part (2) is swiveled about an axis (15) by way of a single-axis swiveling movement.