Cushioned Coupling Hinge With Elastic Damping for Smooth Seat Closing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling hinges for toilet seats and lids are complex, expensive, and bulky due to the need for water-tight chambers with viscous liquids, and they provide constant friction that slows down the lifting motion even when the seat/lid is in a vertical open position.
Innovation Solution
A compact cushioned coupling hinge with an elastic element made of resilient material, such as polyurethane, positioned between two cylindrical elements, which cushions the return movement of the seat or lid only during the closing phase, housed within a standard-sized hinge, eliminating the need for large housing spaces and avoiding constant friction during lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If viscous liquids are placed inside special chambers to achieve cushioning effect, then cushioning performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to water-tightness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid cushioning mechanism and replaces it with a solid elastic element (spring). The spring is directly integrated into the hinge structure without requiring separate liquid-containing chambers, thereby eliminating water-tightness requirements while maintaining cushioning functionality. This resolves the contradiction by removing the complex liquid chamber system while preserving the essential cushioning effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the liquid-based cushioning system with a solid mechanical spring element. The spring provides elastic resistance through its inherent mechanical properties, replacing the need for viscous liquid damping. This substitution eliminates the complexity of liquid containment chambers while achieving the desired cushioning effect through pure mechanical means.
2Reliability
If viscous liquids are used in cushioning chambers, then cushioning effect is achieved, but hinge size and volume increase making the hinge bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bulky liquid-filled chambers from the hinge structure and replaces them with a compact solid spring element. The spring achieves the same cushioning function in a much smaller volume, directly resolving the contradiction between cushioning effectiveness and hinge compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the cushioning medium from liquid to solid spring material. This parameter change allows the cushioning function to be achieved with significantly reduced volume, as the solid spring can be compacted into a small space while maintaining its elastic cushioning properties throughout the hinge's operational range.
3Reliability
If cushioning system acts constantly on hinge movement, then cushioning is provided throughout the range, but lifting speed is reduced due to continuous friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic cushioning system where the spring's resistance varies with the hinge's angular position. The spring is positioned and pre-loaded such that it engages primarily during the closing phase when cushioning is needed, while allowing free or low-resistance movement during the lifting phase. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by providing cushioning coverage when required while maintaining high lifting speed when cushioning is not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning force is applied periodically rather than continuously - specifically during the closing motion when the spring compresses, and released during the lifting motion when the spring expands or disengages. This periodic application of cushioning force ensures protection during the critical closing phase while eliminating continuous friction that would impede lifting speed.
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 cushioning during the descent of the seat or lid while allowing smooth lifting without additional friction, resulting in a compact, cost-effective, and efficient hinge mechanism that conserves space and energy.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element (50), made of resilient material, preferably polyurethane, positioned between the first element (20) and the second element (30)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A cushioned coupling hinge (1) comprises a first element (20) and a second element (30) rotatable with each other and an, elastic element (50), placed between the first element (20) and the second element (30). The first element (20) comprises a body (21) provided with a chamber (23) suitable to house within it the elastic element (50) and, at least partially, the second element (30). The body (21) comprises a tooth (24) protruding towards the inside of the chamber (23). The second element (30) comprises a body (31) suitable for inserting in the chamber (23) comprising a tab (34), projecting outwards, and suitable for engaging with the tooth (24). The elastic element (50) is housed in the chamber (23) between the tooth (24) and the tab (34), and is suitable to oppose resistance by compression between the tooth (24) and the tab (34), so as to slow down the rotation of the first element (20) in relation to the second.