Adjustable Hinge Assembly for Cabinet Door Alignment Without Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Built-in household appliances often have hinge mounts that do not align with those of existing cabinet doors, requiring modification of the cabinet door to accommodate the appliance's unique shape and size, which can be inconvenient and damaging.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with adjustable components, including a brace with a rail and sliding hinge plates, allows for repositioning of the hinge plates to align with the appliance's mounts, enabling secure attachment without modifying the cabinet door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the cabinet door is modified by milling or drilling to align hinge locations, then the hinge mounts can be aligned with the appliance, but the cabinet door is damaged and requires permanent modification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (adjustable hinge assembly with positioning mechanism) between the cabinet door and the appliance to bridge the misalignment between predetermined hinge mounts. This intermediary absorbs the positional discrepancy through adjustable elements, eliminating the need to modify either the door or appliance while achieving proper hinge alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly incorporates adjustable parameters including variable positioning along the brace, adjustable hinge plate locations, and configurable mounting positions. These parameter changes allow the hinge system to adapt to different misalignment scenarios without requiring permanent modification of the cabinet door or appliance.
2Ease of manufacture
If predetermined hinge mounts are used on the appliance, then the appliance structure is simplified, but the hinge locations cannot accommodate non-standardized cabinet doors
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly transforms from a fixed, static connection to a dynamic, adjustable system. The hinge plates can be repositioned along the brace, and the entire assembly can be adjusted to accommodate different cabinet door configurations while maintaining a simple predetermined mount structure on the appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable hinge assembly serves multiple functions: it provides a mounting interface for standardized appliance mounts, accommodates various cabinet door hinge locations through adjustment mechanisms, and adapts to different door sizes and configurations. This multi-functionality resolves the conflict between simplified appliance structure and broad cabinet door compatibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge location on the cabinet door is standardized, then manufacturing is simplified, but existing non-standardized doors cannot be used with built-in appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable hinge assembly acts as a mediator between standardized appliance mounts and non-standardized cabinet door hinges. It provides the adaptability needed to work with existing doors while maintaining compatibility with standardized appliance mounting structures, eliminating the need to restandardize the door industry.
4Length of moving object
If the appliance has a shorter height than cabinetry, then the appliance fits standard kitchen spaces, but there is no structure adjacent to typical cabinet door hinge locations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly extends the mounting solution into additional dimensions beyond the appliance face. The brace can extend vertically beyond the appliance height, and the hinge plates can be positioned at various heights and locations, effectively adding dimensional flexibility to compensate for the appliance's shorter height compared to full cabinetry.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cabinet door assembly (30, 130) for a household appliance (10, 110) that couples a cabinet door (20, 120) to the household appliance (10, 110). The cabinet door assembly (30, 130) can include the cabinet door (20, 120) and hinge assembly (32, 132). The hinge assembly (32, 132) can include one or more braces (40, 180) that secure to the cabinet door (20, 120) and repositionable hinges (50, 150). The hinge assembly (32, 132) can secure a first hinge mount (16, 116) of a household appliance (10, 110) to a second hinge mount (24, 124) of a cabinet door (20, 120).