Box Body Hinge Assembly with Elliptical Rail to Reduce Door Collision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing box devices, such as refrigerators, face interference and collision issues between the door body and the installation environment due to the door body exceeding the outer sidewall during rotation, particularly in embedded installations.

Innovation Solution

A box device with a hinge assembly featuring a first sliding shaft connected to a first sliding rail and a second sliding shaft connected to a second sliding rail, where the second sliding rail extends along an ellipse, ensuring the door body moves towards a target side of the box body during opening, reducing the extent of overlap with the outer sidewall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the door body is rotated relative to the box body using a conventional hinge, then the door body can be opened and closed, but the door body exceeds the outer sidewall of the box device causing interference with the installation environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening and closingVSAvoidinterference and collision with installation environment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly incorporates sliding shafts and sliding rails that enable the door body to move not only in the rotational dimension but also in the translational dimension (inward toward the box body). This two-dimensional movement trajectory prevents the door body from exceeding the outer sidewall while maintaining opening functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge assembly transforms from a static rotational connection to a dynamic system where the door body undergoes a compound motion sequence: sliding inward along the rails during opening, rotating about the hinge axis, and sliding back during closing. This dynamic adjustment of the door trajectory eliminates interference with the installation environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the door body is designed to not exceed the outer sidewall during rotation, then interference with the installation environment is reduced, but the door body cannot be properly opened and closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference with installation environmentVSAvoiddoor opening and closing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door movement is segmented into distinct phases: initial sliding inward along the sliding rails, followed by rotation about the hinge axis, and finally sliding back during closing. This segmentation allows each phase to serve its specific function while collectively achieving both non-interference and proper operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a simple hinge structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the door body trajectory cannot be controlled to prevent exceeding the outer sidewall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge structureVSAvoiddoor body exceeding outer sidewall
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding rails act as intermediary elements between the door body and the hinge axis. These rails guide the door body's initial inward movement before rotation, serving as a mechanical mediator that controls the trajectory without requiring complex active control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4417911B1Box body apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP4417911B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4417911B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4417911B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A box body apparatus. A hinge assembly (40) of the box body apparatus is provided with a first sliding rail (421) and a second sliding rail (422); the first sliding rail (421) linearly extends, and the second sliding rail (422) extends along an ellipse; moreover, when a door body (30) blocks an opening (22), the first sliding rail (421) is perpendicular to a plane where the opening (22) is located, and the portion of the second sliding rail (422) far away from a box body (20) is far away from a pivot side (23) relative to the first sliding rail (421), so that the door body (30) moves towards a target side (24) of the box body (20) in the process of opening the door body (30) from the state of blocking the opening (22) relative to the box body (20). Therefore, the degree of the door body (30) exceeding the outer sidewall of the box body (20) is reduced, and the risk that the door body (30) interferes and collides with an external structure during rotation can be reduced.