A retraction device includes a housing and a driving element guided in the housing between a parked position and an end position. A first end of a spring energy accumulator is connected to the housing. The spring energy accumulator is loaded to a maximum operating value when the driving element is in the parked position and is unloaded to a residual energy value when the driving element is in the end position. A second end of the spring energy accumulator can either be fixed to the housing or coupled to the driving element by means of a bistable coupling. The coupling has a blocking element that can be moved between the housing and the driving element.

A retraction device includes a housing and a driving element guided in the housing between a parked position and an end position. A first end of a spring energy accumulator is connected to the housing. The spring energy accumulator is loaded to a maximum operating value when the driving element is in the parked position and is unloaded to a residual energy value when the driving element is in the end position. A second end of the spring energy accumulator can either be fixed to the housing or coupled to the driving element by means of a bistable coupling. The coupling has a blocking element that can be moved between the housing and the driving element.

A self-retracting device for a furniture part which can be extracted from a furniture carcass in an extraction direction by a telescopic drawer slide is provided. The self-retracting device comprises: a carriage slidably supported; a retraction spring loading the carriage into a basic position, the carriage being slidable, by being coupled to a driver; and a damping unit for damping the sliding movement of the carriage from a standby position into a basic position. The carriage is coupled to a movable part of the damping unit by way of an arm which can pivot relative to the carriage about a first pivot axis and relative to the damping unit about a second pivot axis. When the carriage is slidingly moved by the retraction spring over a retraction path, at least in an end portion of the retraction path, the arm is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the extraction direction.

A self-retracting device for a furniture part which can be extracted from a furniture carcass in an extraction direction by a telescopic drawer slide is provided. The self-retracting device comprises: a carriage slidably supported; a retraction spring loading the carriage into a basic position, the carriage being slidable, by being coupled to a driver; and a damping unit for damping the sliding movement of the carriage from a standby position into a basic position. The carriage is coupled to a movable part of the damping unit by way of an arm which can pivot relative to the carriage about a first pivot axis and relative to the damping unit about a second pivot axis. When the carriage is slidingly moved by the retraction spring over a retraction path, at least in an end portion of the retraction path, the arm is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the extraction direction.

A retraction device for movable furniture parts has a driver movable along a first guide path, which is movable between a retracted position and a parked position and is directly or indirectly pretensioned into the retracted position by an energy storage device. The driver can be coupled to an activator in order to move the movable furniture part into a closed position. A method uses the driver for opening and closing the movable furniture part and tensioning and releasing a retraction device.

A retraction device for movable furniture parts has a driver movable along a first guide path, which is movable between a retracted position and a parked position and is directly or indirectly pretensioned into the retracted position by an energy storage device. The driver can be coupled to an activator in order to move the movable furniture part into a closed position. A method uses the driver for opening and closing the movable furniture part and tensioning and releasing a retraction device.

A self-close drawer mechanism includes a housing, a slidable self-close latch selectively positionable within the housing, a rotatable cam element in the housing, a flexible link system extending around the cam element, and a spring applying stored force to the sliding self-close latch through the flexible link. Dual cam surfaces in the cam elements realize a decreasing pull force as the user opens the drawer and provides smoother opening and closing operations with an improved user experience.

A self-close drawer mechanism includes a housing, a slidable self-close latch selectively positionable within the housing, a rotatable cam element in the housing, a flexible link system extending around the cam element, and a spring applying stored force to the sliding self-close latch through the flexible link. Dual cam surfaces in the cam elements realize a decreasing pull force as the user opens the drawer and provides smoother opening and closing operations with an improved user experience.

Provided is a refrigerator having an opening/closing device with an improved structure which allows a storage box to be automatically inserted and withdrawn according to the opening and closing of a door and allows the storage box to be further pushed backward while the door is closed. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber having a front side that is open, and provided at an inside with a storage box that is movable in a front-rear direction, a door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close the storage chamber, and provided at a rear surface with a pusher that protrudes in a direction toward the storage chamber, and an opening and closing device provided at one side of the storage box, and formed to allow the storage box to be moved in the front and rear direction according to the opening and closing of the door, wherein the opening and closing device includes a rack gear configured to move in a front and rear direction according to the opening and closing of the door, a locking member rotatably coupled to the rack gear to be locked with and released from the storage box, the locking member configured to move in the front and rear direction together with the rack gear, and a catcher configured to rotate to be caught with and released from the pusher according to the opening and closing of the door, wherein the catcher is rotated to be caught with the pusher when the door is a closed state to push the rack gear such that the rack gear is moved backward.

Provided is a refrigerator having an opening/closing device with an improved structure which allows a storage box to be automatically inserted and withdrawn according to the opening and closing of a door and allows the storage box to be further pushed backward while the door is closed. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber having a front side that is open, and provided at an inside with a storage box that is movable in a front-rear direction, a door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close the storage chamber, and provided at a rear surface with a pusher that protrudes in a direction toward the storage chamber, and an opening and closing device provided at one side of the storage box, and formed to allow the storage box to be moved in the front and rear direction according to the opening and closing of the door, wherein the opening and closing device includes a rack gear configured to move in a front and rear direction according to the opening and closing of the door, a locking member rotatably coupled to the rack gear to be locked with and released from the storage box, the locking member configured to move in the front and rear direction together with the rack gear, and a catcher configured to rotate to be caught with and released from the pusher according to the opening and closing of the door, wherein the catcher is rotated to be caught with the pusher when the door is a closed state to push the rack gear such that the rack gear is moved backward.