Detent-Based Rotating Hinge for Adjustable Sneeze Guard Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sneeze guards lack flexibility and adjustability, requiring custom design for each application and being unable to seamlessly transition between attended and self-service areas, as well as accommodating varying food service line configurations and item heights.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable hinge assembly with a rotatable arm and detent mechanism that allows for 360° rotation without the need for screws or nuts, featuring ball pins and compressible springs to lock at specific angles, enabling easy adjustment and secure positioning of sneeze guard panes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support frame with stationary support posts is used, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of adjustment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly enables dynamic adjustment of the transparent pane between multiple angular positions (including horizontal and vertical orientations) while maintaining structural stability through the detent mechanism that locks the pane securely at each position. This resolves the contradiction by making the structure adaptable without sacrificing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly provides multi-functionality by supporting the transparent pane in various configurations suitable for both attended stations and self-service areas, allowing a single structure to serve multiple purposes and adapt to different food service scenarios.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support frame with stationary support posts is used, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation and installation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly allows easy manual rotation and adjustment of the transparent pane between different angular positions without requiring tools or complex procedures, while the detent mechanism ensures stable locking at each position. This resolves the contradiction by enabling easy operation without compromising structural stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed configuration sneeze guard is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly creates a universal sneeze guard structure that can be manufactured once and then adapted to multiple applications including attended stations, self-service areas, and different food service configurations, eliminating the need for custom manufacturing for each application while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable hinge mechanism allows a single manufactured structure to dynamically adapt to different application requirements through angular adjustment, providing versatility without requiring multiple custom-manufactured variants.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable hinge mechanism with screws and nuts is used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly extracts and eliminates screws, nuts, and complex fastening mechanisms from the adjustment system, replacing them with a simple detent-based locking mechanism that provides adequate adaptability while significantly reducing device complexity and installation difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent mechanism provides automatic locking and positioning without requiring additional fastening components or complex assembly procedures, allowing the structure to self-lock at adjusted positions and simplifying both the device design and installation process.
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 adjustable hinge assembly provides a flexible and easy-to-install solution for sneeze guards, allowing for customizable positioning and secure locking without the need for tightening, enhancing protection and usability across various food service scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible spring within the ball pin housing to render each ball pin compressible
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustable hinge assemblies for partially or completely rotating an object joined thereto about an axis in specific, pre-determined increments defined by the interaction of ball pins and detents permit the adjustable hinge to retain an attached object in specific rotational positions until sufficient force is applied in the plane of rotation to overcome this interaction. In certain cases the object may be a door, window, baffle, or airfoil. Preferably, the adjustable hinges may be used as part of a sneeze guard assembly to hold a main sneeze guard pane whose angle can be adjusted to protect food from airborne contamination, such as in airborne saliva or mucus droplets. An optional tuck-away hinge pane prevents contamination of food from the ends of the sneeze guard assembly.