Transport Case Hinge Coupled to Stiffening Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for transporting delicate or expensive items lack a hinge solution that maintains mechanical strength and hermetic sealing while allowing for easy opening and display, as traditional hinges compromise these characteristics when installed.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system comprising two articulated elements that rotate about a common axis, coupled to the stiffening ribs of the container without mechanical machining, ensuring stability and display convenience without compromising mechanical strength or hermetic sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional hinge is installed on the container, then the container can be opened and closed, but the mechanical strength and hermetic sealing are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system uses the stiffening ribs as an intermediary structural element. Instead of directly attaching the hinge to the container walls (which would compromise strength and sealing), the hinge elements are coupled to the existing stiffening ribs that are already integrated into the container structure. This intermediary approach allows the hinge to be attached without creating holes in the container walls, thereby preserving both mechanical strength and hermetic sealing while still enabling opening and closing functionality
2Ease of manufacture
If holes are provided in the shells for hinge coupling, then the hinge can be attached, but the hermetic seal and mechanical strength are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with stiffening ribs that are preliminarily integrated into the shell structure during manufacturing. These pre-existing ribs serve as ready-made attachment points for the hinge, eliminating the need to create holes in the shells later. This preliminary action ensures that the hermetic seal and mechanical strength are never compromised, as the hinge attachment points were already part of the original structural design
3Strength
If separate shells are constructed without hinges, then mechanical strength is maintained, but the container cannot be easily opened for display
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening ribs serve multiple functions: they provide structural reinforcement to maintain mechanical strength, and they simultaneously serve as attachment points for the hinge system. This multi-functionality allows the container to maintain its structural integrity while also enabling easy opening and closing capabilities, resolving the contradiction between strength and operational ease
Data Source
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AI summary
A hinge (1) for transport cases (A), trunks, suitcases and the like, comprising two elements (2, 3) which are mutually articulated about a common axis and are both able to rotate with respect to the common axis. Each element (2, 3) is delimited by two parallel walls (4) and has a total width that is equal to the width of the channel (5) delimited between the stiffening ribs (6) of the transport case (A), suitcase or trunk on which it will be installed. Each element (2, 3) is associable with the stiffening ribs (6) of the respective transport case (A), once it is inserted between the ribs, without requiring any mechanical machining of the surfaces (7) of the case (A).