Concealed Furniture Hinge with Independent Soft-Close Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing invisible hinges for furniture doors suffer from noise due to elastic means causing unwanted contact with the furniture body during closure, and deceleration devices are either externally protruding or constrained by rocker shape, limiting movement and applicability.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design with a deceleration device or elastic opening means integrated within the fixed and movable parts, operated independently of the articulation rockers, allowing for a flat, concealed design and versatile operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic means are used to keep the door in closed position, then the door can be kept closed, but the door hits the furniture body causing unwanted noise
Solution Approach 1:
The deceleration device is activated before the door reaches the closed position to reduce the closing speed. The drive member is positioned to engage the movement control device during the closing movement, applying deceleration in advance before impact occurs, preventing the harmful noise while maintaining reliable closing
2Reliability
If an external shock absorber is mounted on the fixed part, then deceleration can be provided, but the overall dimensions of the fixed part increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movement control device is housed completely within the fixed part or movable part of the hinge. The drive member is integrated into the hinge structure, with the actuation portion positioned to engage internally. This nesting approach provides the deceleration function while maintaining the compact, flat conformation of the fixed part suitable for insertion into furniture walls
3Reliability
If the deceleration device is operated by rockers, then deceleration can be achieved, but the shape of rockers is constrained limiting opening movement
Solution Approach 1:
The drive member is extracted from the traditional rocker-based actuation system. Instead of using rockers to operate the deceleration device, the drive member is directly connected to the movable part or fixed part, allowing independent operation of the movement control device without constraining the rocker shapes or limiting the opening movement of the hinge
4Reliability
If the deceleration device is operated by rockers, then deceleration can be achieved, but the solution is not applicable to hinges without rockers
Solution Approach 1:
The drive member is designed with universal applicability to work with both rocker-based and rockerless hinge configurations. The drive member can be connected to the movable part or fixed part directly, and the movement control device is configured to respond to the drive member's movement regardless of whether rockers are present. This makes the deceleration function adaptable to various hinge types including single-axis articulation hinges
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides effective deceleration and opening control without protrusions, maintaining a sleek appearance and unrestricted hinge movement, applicable to various hinge configurations including those without rockers.
Implementation Method 1
a linear decelerator actuated by a movable actuation element connected to a lever of the system of articulated support levers
Implementation Method 2
elastic actuation means connected to the system of articulated levers and configured to generate a rotation torque in order to lift the leaf
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The hinge (1) for furniture comprises a substantially flat-shaped fixed part (2) conformed to be inserted in a seat (3) within the thickness of a horizontal wall (4) of the piece of furniture, and a movable part (5) connectable to a door (7); the hinge (1) comprises a movement control device (25, 32, 39, 43, 47, 55) within said fixed part (2) or movable part (5) of the hinge for controlling the closing/opening movement of the hinge (1) and a drive member (26, 33, 40, 44, 48, 56) for the movement control device (25, 32, 39, 43, 48, 55), movably supported by the other of fixed part (2) and movable part (5) of the hinge and operatively connected with the same hinge part (2, 5), said drive member (26, 33, 56) cooperating with the movement control device (25, 32, 55) independently from the articulation device (11-14, 54) of the hinge.