Continuous Hinge with Integrated Locking and Weather Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Folding door assemblies often require additional machining for surface-mounted hinges and weather seals, which complicates installation and increases costs, while existing locking systems may not provide adequate security and sealing in closed positions.
Innovation Solution
A continuous hinge assembly with integrated locking and weather seal features that can be secured to door panels without additional machining, featuring a locking assembly with shoot bolts and a latch mechanism, and a weather strip for sealing, allowing for adjustment of panel gaps and secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If surface-mounted hinges and locking hardware are used, then installation is simplified, but additional machining of door panels is required
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly integrates the hinge mechanism, locking hardware, and weather seal into a single combined unit. The hinge leaves include integrated locking features (shoot bolts, latches) and weather sealing elements, eliminating the need for separate surface-mounted components and their associated machining requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous hinge assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the hinge pivot function, incorporates locking capability through integrated shoot bolts and latches, and includes weather sealing through integrated seals. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate locking hardware and weather seal installations.
2Reliability
If separate locking hardware is mounted on panel edges, then locking function is achieved, but panel edges require machining for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the hinge leaves themselves. The shoot bolts and latches are integrated into the hinge leaf structure, allowing the hinge to provide both pivoting and locking functions without requiring separate locking hardware mounted on panel edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking features are pre-integrated into the hinge assembly during manufacturing. The shoot bolts, latches, and associated mounting features are built into the hinge leaves before installation, eliminating the need for field machining of panel edges to accommodate locking hardware.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If weather seals are attached to panels with mounting slots, then sealing is achieved, but panels require additional machining
Solution Approach 1:
The weather seal is integrated into the hinge assembly structure. The seal is incorporated as part of the hinge leaf or associated components, allowing it to seal the gap between door panels without requiring separate mounting slots to be machined into the panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly acts as an intermediary component that provides the weather sealing function. Rather than attaching seals directly to the panels, the integrated hinge assembly serves as the mounting medium for the seal, eliminating the need for panel machining.
4Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for hinge, lock, and seal, then functional requirements are met, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge, locking mechanism, and weather seal are merged into a single integrated assembly. This allows all three functional requirements to be installed simultaneously as one unit, dramatically reducing installation time and labor costs compared to installing separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated hinge assembly provides multiple functions (pivoting, locking, sealing) in a single component package. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate installations while maintaining all required functional performances.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable hinge includes a first body, a second body, and an adjustment mechanism. The first body and the second body are each configured to secure to a mounting edge of a door panel. The first and second bodies are pivotally coupled to each other. The adjustable hinge has a closed position in which the first body and the second body are configured to support the first and second door panels such that an inside face of each door panel is coplanar with the other and an open position in which the inside faces are opposed to one another. The adjustment mechanism is disposed in the first body or the second body and is configured to increase or decrease a gap defined between the mounting edge of the first door panel and the mounting edge of the second door panel when the adjustable hinge is in the closed position.