Adjustable Hinge With Curved Elastic Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable hinges face challenges such as difficult installation, undesirable correlation between adjustments in different directions, complex construction, high manufacturing costs, and instability of selected adjustments, requiring multiple readjustments in small increments to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in furniture.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable hinge fixture with a base plate and a connecting plate assembly featuring a U-shaped cross-section, an adjustment screw, and an elastic curved region that allows the lower and top portions to move relative to each other, along with a linkage mechanism for interconnecting door-related parts, enabling precise adjustment and alignment between the hinge and the furniture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional adjustable hinges are used to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, then adjustment capability is provided, but installation difficulty increases and multiple readjustments are required
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into distinct functional segments: a base plate with mounting holes for initial attachment, a connecting plate assembly with curved regions for adjustment, and a door-related part. This segmentation allows the hinge to be installed in stages, with the base plate fixed first, then the connecting plate adjusted independently to compensate for tolerances without requiring complete disassembly and reassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting plate assembly incorporates curved regions that allow dynamic adjustment of the hinge position and orientation. The curved geometry enables the connecting plate to be positioned at multiple angles and locations along the curve, providing continuous adjustment capability rather than fixed discrete positions, thereby eliminating the need for multiple readjustments in small increments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment directions are provided to compensate for tolerances, then adjustment versatility improves, but adjustment stability deteriorates due to correlation between adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
Different adjustment directions are segmented into independent adjustment mechanisms: the curved region of the connecting plate handles positional adjustment, while the elongated slot with movable element handles orientational adjustment. This segmentation decouples the adjustments, allowing each to be optimized independently without causing correlated instability in the other direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved region geometry is designed to provide self-aligning properties during adjustment. As the connecting plate is positioned along the curve, the geometry naturally guides the alignment, reducing the need for precise manual coordination between multiple adjustment directions and thereby improving adjustment stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise adjustment capability is implemented, then manufacturing tolerance compensation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting plate assembly incorporates curved regions instead of straight edges, allowing precise positional adjustment through the geometry of the curve. The curved shape provides a continuous range of adjustment positions with inherent mechanical guidance, achieving precise tolerance compensation without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting plate assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural connection between the base plate and door-related part, enables positional adjustment through its curved region, and allows orientational adjustment through its elongated slot. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precise adjustment capability.
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
The solution simplifies the adjustment process, reduces the gap between furniture pieces, minimizes the overall hinge length, and stabilizes adjustments, addressing the complexities and costs associated with current hinge technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The curved region is elastically deflectable to permit the lower and top portions to move relative to each other
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable hinge fixture that includes a base plate for adjustable fixation to an article of furniture, a connecting plate assembly including a generally U-shaped cross-section formed by a top portion and a pair of spaced apart side walls, and an adjustment screw operable to move the connecting plate assembly relative to the base plate about a curved region of the connecting plate assembly. The connecting plate assembly has a projection through a curved region to a lower portion of the projection positioned between the side walls and generally parallel to the top portion. The curved region is elastically deflectable to permit the lower and top portions to move relative to each other. The lower portion is adjustably connected to the base plate.