Continuous Hinge Pinch Hazard Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door hinges pose a risk of pinching and injury due to accessible knuckles and gaps between the door and frame, allowing fingers or objects to be crushed when the door opens.
Innovation Solution
A continuous hinge design featuring elongated leaves with interlocking barrels and bearings that prevent access to the pivot pin and minimize gaps between the door and frame, ensuring the door can only open to a limited angle, thereby eliminating the risk of pinching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional discrete hinges are used, then the door can pivot freely, but the knuckles become accessible and create pinching hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete hinge knuckles into a single continuous knuckle structure that extends along the entire door edge. This continuous knuckle prevents access to individual hinge pins while maintaining the pivoting function, thereby eliminating the pinching hazard associated with discrete knuckles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the traditional discrete knuckle structure and extracts the hinge pin accessibility from the system. By using a continuous knuckle design with a recessed pin storage area, the hinge pin is taken out from direct exposure, preventing it from being used as a ligature point or creating pinching hazards.
2Ease of operation
If the door opens fully, then access to the other side is improved, but gaps form between the door and frame allowing fingers to be crushed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a preliminary stop mechanism in the continuous knuckle design that prevents the door from opening beyond a safe angle. This stop is positioned in advance to limit the door's rotation, ensuring that gaps between the door and frame remain too small to allow fingers or objects to be crushed, while still providing adequate access when needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge pin is accessible, then the hinge can be assembled, but the pin can be removed or used as a ligature point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the hinge pin within a recessed cavity in the continuous knuckle structure. The pin is nested inside the knuckle with access provided only through a small opening that can be closed or locked, preventing removal or misuse while maintaining the ability to assemble the hinge during manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous hinge comprises a first leaf and a second leaf each defining a longitudinal channel, a plurality of barrels defining bores open at each end, each of the barrels including a flange configured to be received in the channels of the first leaf or the second leaf, fasteners attaching the flanges of the barrels in the channels of the first and second leafs, wherein the barrels may be placed end-to-end for axially aligning the bores of the barrels, and a pivot pin extending through the bores of the barrels. The pivot pin is coextensive with the barrels for joining the barrels and the first and second leaves for relative pivoting movement about the pivot pin. The barrels attached to the first leaf are interspersed between the barrels attached to the second leaf in alternating relationship.