Articulated Board Joints Without Separate Hinges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for connecting boards at specific angles require additional hinge elements, increasing cost, weight, and time, while also limiting flexibility in structural design.
Innovation Solution
A board structure with articulated joints, featuring holding slots and articulated arms that allow boards to be bent and positioned at various angles without the need for additional hinge elements, enabling the formation of three-dimensional objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional hinge elements are used to connect two boards at a specific angle, then the connection strength and stability are improved, but the weight, cost, and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of separate hinge elements into the board structure itself by integrating articulated arms and holding slots directly into the boards. This eliminates the need for additional external hinge components while maintaining the articulation function, thereby reducing weight and device complexity while preserving connection strength and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the hinge functionality from separate components and embeds it within the board structure. By taking out the need for external hinge elements and incorporating the articulation mechanism directly into the boards through articulated arms and holding slots, the design reduces overall weight while maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If additional hinge elements are used to connect two boards, then the connection stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the articulation function previously requiring separate hinge elements into the board structure itself. The articulated arms and holding slots are integrated features of the boards, eliminating the need for additional components and simplifying the overall device while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The board structure serves its own articulation needs through integrated articulated arms and holding slots, eliminating the need for external hinge elements. The boards self-containedly provide the articulation function, reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining connection stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional hinge elements are used to connect boards, then the articulation function is achieved, but the time required for connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the articulation function into the board structure itself through integrated articulated arms and holding slots. This eliminates the need for separate hinge elements that would require additional assembly steps, thereby reducing connection time while maintaining full articulation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated arms and holding slots are pre-integrated into the board structure during manufacturing. This preliminary incorporation of articulation features eliminates the need for separate hinge installation steps during assembly, significantly reducing connection time while preserving articulation adaptability.
4Reliability
If additional hinge elements are used to connect two boards, then the connection reliability is improved, but the overall cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hinge function into the board structure itself through integrated articulated arms and holding slots. This eliminates the need for separate hinge components, reducing the number of parts to manufacture and assemble, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The board structure provides its own articulation function through integrated features, eliminating the need for external hinge elements. This self-contained approach reduces the bill of materials and assembly complexity, lowering manufacturing costs while preserving connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A board structure having articulated joints and a splice object having articulated joints are provided. The board structure includes a first board and a second board. The first board has a first holding slot and a first articulated arm, and the second board has a second holding slot and a second articulated arm. The first articulated arm is L-shaped or T-shaped and is accommodated in the second holding slot. The second articulated arm is L-shaped or T-shaped and is accommodated in the first holding slot. An articulated seam is formed between the first board and the second board, and the first board and the second board are positioned at various angles relative to each other along the articulated seam. The splice object includes multiple ones of the first boards and second boards.