Door hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower door hinge assemblies are difficult to install and can detract from the appearance of shower cubicles, lacking a frameless design that provides a smooth and aesthetically pleasing rotation axis.
Innovation Solution
A door hinge assembly with a first hinge portion attached to the side edge of the shower door panel and a second hinge portion attached to a support, featuring a pin and socket system with a retainer member, allowing rotation adjacent to the side edge and between the front and rear faces of the panel, and optionally incorporating multiple hinge portions for enhanced stability and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the hinge assembly uses a traditional side-mounted design, then the installation is simpler, but the appearance is compromised and the rotation axis is not aesthetically pleasing
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into two separate hinge portions: a first hinge portion attached to the shower door panel and a second hinge portion attached to the support. This segmentation allows the rotation axis to be positioned between the front and rear faces of the panel, achieving the desired aesthetic appearance while maintaining manageable installation complexity through modular components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional side-mounted hinge (positioned at the edge) to a center-mounted hinge (positioned between front and rear faces). This dimensional repositioning of the rotation axis creates a frameless appearance and smoother aesthetic while the pin-and-socket mechanism with retainer member manages the structural complexity
2Shape
If the hinge assembly is designed with a frameless appearance, then the aesthetics are improved, but the installation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge portions are designed with pre-positioned mounting features: the first hinge portion has a mounting plate with holes for attaching to the panel, and the second hinge portion has a socket with a retainer member. These preliminary preparations enable straightforward installation while maintaining the frameless aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The pin protruding from the first hinge portion fits into the socket of the second hinge portion, with the retainer member nesting within the socket to secure the connection. This nested structure achieves the frameless appearance while simplifying installation through a straightforward insert-and-secure process
3Shape
If the rotation axis is positioned between the front and rear faces, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hinge into two portions positioned on opposite sides of the rotation axis, the invention achieves the desired aesthetic positioning while keeping each portion structurally simple. The first hinge portion contains the pin and mounting plate, while the second hinge portion contains the socket and retainer member, distributing the structural complexity across manageable components
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the hinge mechanism on the side edge of the panel, the invention inverts the conventional approach by positioning the rotation axis between the front and rear faces. This inversion is achieved through the pin-and-socket arrangement where the pin protrudes from one face and receives the socket from the other face, creating the aesthetic positioning with manageable complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~3
AI summary
This invention provides a hinge assembly (110; 112) for a shower door panel (102) having a front face, a rear face and a side edge between the front and rear faces, the door hinge assembly comprising a first hinge portion (112; 122) arranged, in use, to be attached to the side edge of the shower door panel (102), and a second hinge portion (114; 124) arranged, in use, to be attached to a support (104) and to cooperate with the first hinge portion so that the shower door panel can hinge between an open position and a closed position about an axis of rotation. The first and second hinge portions are arranged, in use, such that the axis of rotation is adjacent to the side edge of the shower door panel (102) and substantially between the front and rear faces of the shower door panel (102).