Adjustable Damping Device for Furniture Hinges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damping devices for furniture do not offer adjustable damping-stroke options through a mechanism involving a first and second fastening member for precise control of damping effects during the closure of movable objects.

Innovation Solution

A damping device comprising a damper with a blocking member and an adjusting member, where the blocking member is movable relative to the damper and adjusted transversely by the fastening members to change its position, allowing for different damping effects by abutting against various abutting parts on the damper, thereby providing customizable damping strokes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a damping device is designed with fixed damping characteristics, then the structure is simple, but it cannot meet different market requirements for adjustable damping-stroke options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable damping-stroke optionsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking member is designed to be movable relative to the damper along the longitudinal direction, allowing the damping stroke to be dynamically adjusted. The adjusting member enables the blocking member to move between different positions, changing the damping characteristics from fixed to variable, thus providing adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The damping device is segmented into distinct functional components: the damper, the blocking member with multiple abutting parts, and the adjusting member. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of damping parameters without redesigning the entire system, providing versatility while keeping each component relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If an adjusting mechanism with multiple fastening members is introduced, then adjustable damping control is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping control precisionVSAvoidadjusting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting mechanism is divided into a first fastening member and a second fastening member that work together but can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows precise control of the blocking member's position while keeping each fastening member's structure relatively simple, achieving measurement precision without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking member acts as an intermediary element between the adjusting member and the damper. It translates the adjustment actions of the fastening members into precise positioning relative to the damper, enabling accurate damping control while simplifying the overall adjusting mechanism structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3173563B1Hinge and damping device
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP3173563B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3173563B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3173563B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A damping device (34) is applicable to a hinge (20). The damping device (34) includes a damper (36) and a blocking member (38). The damper (36) includes a first movable member (40) and a second movable member (42) movable relative to each other. The first movable member (40) has a first abutting part (48) and a second abutting part (50). The first abutting part (48) and the second abutting part (50) are located at different longitudinal positions on the first movable member (40). The blocking member (38) is movable relative to the damper (36) and configured to abut against one of the first abutting part (48) and the second abutting part (50) of the first movable member (40).