Anti-pinch Hinge with Dynamic Linear Guide Gap Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges fail to effectively prevent finger pinching injuries due to misalignment, as they require high forces to adjust the gap when fingers are caught, and often result in the door not returning to its desired position, causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A hinge with a linear guide that adjusts the gap between furniture parts based on their pivoting position, ensuring the gap remains small enough to prevent finger penetration by linearly adjusting the pivot bearing, maintaining functionality and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring force is used to adjust the hinge gap, then the hinge can automatically adjust when a finger is caught, but the force required increases significantly when hinge parts are misaligned, potentially causing finger injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the hinge automatically adapts its gap size based on the detected condition. When misalignment is detected, the system dynamically adjusts the gap to a larger safe position, and when properly aligned, maintains a smaller operational gap. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by making the force requirement conditional rather than constant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of the hinge gap size based on the alignment state. When misalignment is detected, the gap parameter is increased to a safe value that reduces the force required for adjustment. When aligned, the gap returns to its normal smaller operational size. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both safety and force requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hinge is designed to adjust against spring force, then finger injury can be prevented, but the door is no longer held in its desired position after release, causing damage from striking walls or objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the hinge alignment and gap size. When the hinge is properly aligned, the system detects this state and maintains the door in its desired position. When misalignment or pinch conditions are detected, the feedback triggers an adjustment to a safe gap position. This feedback loop ensures both pinch protection and position stability are maintained appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action to prevent harmful effects by detecting potential pinch conditions before they cause injury. When misalignment is detected, the hinge proactively adjusts to a safe gap position before any finger can be caught. After the threat is eliminated and alignment is confirmed, the door returns to its normal position, preventing the harmful effect of striking walls or objects.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the hinge gap is kept small to prevent finger penetration, then safety is improved, but the hinge requires high force to adjust when misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge implements dynamic gap adjustment rather than maintaining a constantly small gap. During normal operation, the gap remains small for safety. When misalignment is detected, the system dynamically increases the gap to a larger position that reduces the force required for adjustment. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain small gaps for safety while occasionally using larger gaps to reduce adjustment forces.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge with two securing parts (20, 30) for directly or indirectly securing to two furniture parts (11, 12) which can be pivoted relative to each other, wherein the securing parts (20, 30) are pivotally connected together via a connection assembly (23, 40). A linear guide element (23, 33) is arranged on each of the two securing parts (20, 30), said linear guide elements interacting in order to form a linear guide, and the hinge has a guide device (40) which is designed to adjust the linear guide depending on the interrelated pivot positions of the securing parts (20, 30). The invention further relates to a method for adjusting a first securing part (20) of such a hinge relative to a second securing part (30) in an articulated manner. The hinge and the method allow a pivotal connection between furniture parts with an at least reduced risk of injury.