Door Hinge Holding Structure Using Sandwich Lock at Full Open
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door body holding structures, such as those using elastic members, face challenges in maintaining the open position of a door body in automatic icemakers due to increased weight and complexity, leading to increased operational burden and costs.
Innovation Solution
A door body holding structure featuring a fixed-side hinge, a movable-side hinge, a sandwiched portion, and a holding portion with a sandwiching portion that reduces the gap between the fixed-side hinge and the holding portion, allowing the door body to be securely held at the open position using a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic member with gear-like shape is used to mesh with a bearing portion to hold the door body at the open position, then the door body can be held at arbitrary angle positions, but the elastic force required increases proportionately with the door body weight, increasing the operational burden and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elastic member from the hinge device, removing the complex meshing mechanism between elastic member and bearing portion. The door body is simply rested against the cabinet front surface at the open position without requiring elastic force to maintain the position, thereby eliminating the operational burden while maintaining reliable door body holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the door body holding function from the hinge device. Instead of integrating the elastic member and meshing mechanism into the hinge, the door body is held by being rested against the cabinet front surface, dividing the support function into a separate gravitational balance mechanism.
2Reliability
If an elastic member with gear-like shape is used to mesh with a bearing portion to hold the door body at the open position, then the door body can be held at arbitrary angle positions, but the configuration becomes complicated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the elastic member and meshing mechanism from the design, simplifying the manufacturing process. The door body is held at the open position by being rested against the cabinet front surface, eliminating the need to manufacture complex elastic components and their corresponding bearing portions.
3Device complexity
If the door body is simply placed at the open position relying on gravity center positioning, then the configuration remains simple, but the door body may pivot to the closed position when moving away from the cabinet due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the cabinet front surface as a physical barrier that counteracts the gravitational force pulling the door body toward the closed position. When the door body is rested against the cabinet front surface, this contact provides a reaction force that prevents unintended pivoting due to vibrations or operational movements.
Data Source
AI summary
A door body holding structure that can hold a door body at an open position by using a simple configuration. A projecting portion 40, which projects toward a containing wall 38 side, is provided on an outer surface of a bearing portion 32 of a fixed-side hinge at a position facing the containing wall 38 where the projecting portion 40 does not come into contact with an inner surface of a guide portion 34 when the door body 18 is at a closed position but the projecting portion 40 comes into contact with the inner surface of the guide portion 34 when the door body 18 is at the open position. A separation dimension between a projecting end of the projecting portion 40 and the containing wall 38 is set to be smaller than a thickness dimension of the guide portion 34. That is, when the inner surface of the guide portion 34 reaches the position at which it comes into contact with the projecting portion 40 by pivoting movement of the door body 18 from the closed position toward the open position, the guide portion 34 is sandwiched and held between the projecting portion 40 and the containing wall 38, thereby holding the door body 18 at the open position.