Foldable Guitar Hinge Assembly with Reinforced Strike Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stringed musical instruments are cumbersome for travel and storage due to their rigid construction, which makes them difficult to fold or compact for convenient transportation while maintaining playability and tuning quality.
Innovation Solution
A 3-part hinge assembly with a locking system that allows the neck to be folded approximately 180 degrees for storage and transportation, featuring reinforced strike plates to prevent deformation and ensure structural integrity, along with an adjustable mechanism for optimizing the locking strut's movement and playability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid construction is used for stringed instruments, then playability and tuning quality are improved, but portability and ease of storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The neck is divided into multiple segments connected by hinge assemblies, allowing the instrument to be folded into compact configurations for transport while maintaining the structural integrity needed for playability when assembled
2Ease of operation
If a folding hinge assembly is used to improve portability, then ease of storage is improved, but structural integrity and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly incorporates reinforced abutments made from composite or reinforced materials that can withstand repeated folding and unfolding cycles while maintaining the structural strength necessary to support the instrument during play
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge components are pre-reinforced with strengthened abutments and contact surfaces before assembly, ensuring that the structural integrity is built-in from the start rather than requiring additional strengthening measures after the folding mechanism is implemented
3Volume of moving object
If a folding hinge assembly is used to enable compact configuration, then volume for storage is reduced, but durability against deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly includes pre-positioned reinforced abutments and protective features at critical contact points that cushion and distribute stresses from repeated folding operations, preventing deformation and extending the durability of the moving parts
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
Enables convenient folding and unfolding of the instrument's neck, maintaining structural integrity and playability, and allowing for compact storage and transportation without compromising the instrument's quality or ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The locking assembly includes an elongated locking strut coupled to an actuation system. The actuation system enables a user to selectively translate or otherwise longitudinally move the locking strut relative to the 3-part hinge.
Implementation Method 2
The middle link is rotatably coupled to both the base and upper link such that the overall hinge structure may be selective straightened or articulated approximately 180 degrees
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly having reinforced abutment surfaces for use in a neck of a foldable fretted instrument. Multiple strike plates are mounted to the hinge assembly, which are made from stronger and more robust materials than the underlying hinge such that the strike plates bear the loads (vs. the underlying hinge material) to prevent deformation of the hinge components during use over time. An elongated locking strut is dimensioned to be slidably advanced into the hinge assembly to selectively lock and unlock the neck of the foldable fretted instrument.