Foldable Container Hinge Locking Assembly for Reduced Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable containers face issues with the hinge device, including difficulty in ensuring proper locking, jamming of the locking assembly, complex structure, and high processing costs due to intricate design features, which pose safety hazards and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A hinge device with a locking assembly that includes a movable hinge, a fixed hinge, and a flipping pedal, allowing for easy operation and secure locking without additional mechanisms, simplifying the structure and reducing maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking block is movably clamped in the bracket to enable smooth operation, then the locking assembly can be operated smoothly, but the structure becomes complex and processing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex movable clamping mechanism from the bracket design. Instead of having the locking block movably clamped in the bracket with arc-shaped surfaces, the locking block is simplified to be directly rotatable on the bracket pin shaft, removing the intermediate clamping structure and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining operational smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional locking mechanism by making the locking block rotatable rather than translational. Instead of moving the locking block in and out along a track, it rotates on the pin shaft, fundamentally changing the motion mode from linear to rotational, which simplifies the bracket structure and reduces processing requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the locking block is movably clamped in the bracket with arc-shaped surfaces, then the locking block can be operated smoothly, but processing cost and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the arc-shaped receiving groove features from the bracket design. The locking block is simplified to a basic rotational component that interfaces with a simple pin shaft, eliminating the need for complex arc-shaped surfaces and reducing manufacturing steps, tooling requirements, and processing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a simpler, more economical locking block design that prioritizes functional effectiveness over complex precision features. The rotational mechanism uses basic cylindrical geometry rather than precision-machined arc surfaces, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining sufficient operational smoothness for the application.
3Ease of operation
If the pivot shaft is located away from the end frame, then the end frame can stand in opening position for operator access, but the bolt is difficult to locate and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual differentiation to the locking block by providing it with a different color than the bracket. This color contrast makes the locking block easily distinguishable and locatable when the end frame is in the opening position, solving the visibility issue without requiring the pivot shaft to be relocated. The color change principle allows operators to quickly identify and operate the locking mechanism.
4Ease of operation
If the locking assembly is provided with a pull ring directly pivoted on the locking block, then the locking assembly can be moved to releasing position, but the locking block becomes jammed and cannot flip around itself
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pull ring component entirely from the design. Instead of having a pull ring pivoted on the locking block, the locking block itself is made rotatable on the pin shaft, eliminating the intermediate pull ring component that caused jamming. This extraction of the problematic component resolves the reliability issue while maintaining the ability to move the locking assembly to the releasing position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the operational mechanism by making the locking block rotatable rather than requiring it to flip through a complex path with a pull ring. The rotational motion on the pin shaft provides a simpler, more reliable path to the releasing position without the jamming issues associated with the pull ring mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A hinge device and a foldable container are provided. The hinge device comprises a fixed hinge, a movable hinge, a flipping pedal and a locking assembly pivotally connected to the fixed hinge between locking and releasing positions. The locking assembly comprises a bracket and a locking block movably clamped therein. The locking block in the locking position is pushed by the movable hinge when it pivots from a horizontal position to a vertical position relative to the fixed hinge, so that the movable hinge in the vertical position is at least partially located below the locking block in the locking position. The movement of the movable hinge is blocked by the locking block when the movable hinge pivots from the vertical position to the horizontal position. The locking assembly can be driven to pivot from the locking position to the releasing position by operating the flipping pedal.