Concealed Five-Pin Hinge for Dual-Position Scooter Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable scooters and bicycles lack a concealed hinge that can reliably lock in both closed and opened positions, with the hinge mechanism being partially visible and not fully integrated into the frame, leading to inefficient space utilization during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A concealed hinge mechanism with a five-pin design, featuring insets with wedges and locking rings, levers, and a locking shaft with an activation button, allowing 0-180° folding and secure locking in both positions, with optional dust and mud protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a standard visible hinge with locking mechanism is used, then the hinge can lock in open and closed positions, but the hinge remains partially visible and increases the folded scooter height to approximately 1/3 of initial height
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is nested within the frame structure itself. The hinge body is integrated into the tube walls, with locking rings and wedges positioned inside the frame tubes, making the hinge completely concealed while maintaining all locking functions
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is divided into separate functional components (locking rings, wedges, levers, pins) that are distributed within the frame structure. Each component performs a specific function and can be independently positioned within the tube walls to achieve concealment
2Volume of moving object
If the hinge is completely concealed within the frame structure, then the folded height is reduced to approximately 1/5 of unfolded height, but the hinge requires a complex five-pin mechanism with multiple locking components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hinge functions (folding, locking in open position, locking in closed position, dust protection) are merged into a single integrated mechanism. The five-pin mechanism combines all these functions in one compact unit that fits within the frame structure
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables folding motion, provides locking in both open and closed positions, protects against dust and mud, and maintains structural strength. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components
3Reliability
If locking means are added to the concealed hinge, then the hinge can be locked in both extreme positions, but the hinge structure becomes more complex with additional locking rings and wedges
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is self-actuating through spring-loaded locking rings that automatically engage with the frame at extreme positions. The springs provide the locking force without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The locking rings are designed to be dynamic, moving between engaged and disengaged states based on the hinge position. The springs allow the locking rings to flex and automatically lock when the hinge reaches extreme angles, providing reliable locking without complex mechanisms
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A concealed hinge (100) for a foldable vehicle, where the said hinge (100) comprising two insets (10, 20) with their wedges (11, 12) to be inserted in the vehicle's frame interior. The insets (10, 20) are connected via the set of levers (31, 32) which forms a five-pin hinge mechanism, where two pins are fixed in the said insets (10, 20), two pins are sliding pins within the wedges (11, 12), and one pin is a pivot pin which connects the levers in their central portion. The locking mechanism is designed to lock the insets (10, 20), via their respectable locking rings (13, 23), in the closed and opened position. In the preferred embodiment, the concealed hinge is used to enable the side folding of electric scooters and minimize their transportation volume.