Folding Hinge with Plastic Positioning Plates to Reduce Fastener Wear
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding hinges for table legs suffer from short service life due to wear and misalignment of fasteners between hinge pieces, leading to instability and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A folding hinge design featuring an inner and outer hinge piece with plastic plates and convex portions that align and clamp through a through hole, reducing direct contact and wear, and incorporating a U-shaped structure and injection-molded plastic components for enhanced positioning and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple hinge structure with two hinge pieces is used, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to fastener wear and misalignment after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic positioning plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the two metal hinge pieces. The positioning plate with convex portions fits into凹槽 (grooves) on the hinge pieces, serving as a mediator that guides and maintains the relative positioning of the hinge pieces during folding and unfolding operations, preventing direct metal-to-metal contact and misalignment
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure combines different materials: metal hinge pieces for structural strength and durability, plastic positioning plates for precise positioning and wear resistance. This composite material approach allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties, with plastic providing low-friction positioning surfaces and metal providing structural integrity
2Ease of manufacture
If fasteners are used to connect hinge pieces, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the duration of action deteriorates due to fastener wear resulting in short service life
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic positioning plate acts as a mediator that eliminates direct contact between moving metal surfaces. The convex portions on the positioning plate slide within grooves on the hinge pieces, creating a low-friction interface that prevents wear and maintains positioning accuracy throughout the service life of the hinge
Solution Approach 2:
The design replaces traditional mechanical fastening systems (screws, bolts, rivets) with a geometry-based positioning system using convex portions and grooves. This substitution eliminates the wear and loosening problems associated with threaded fasteners while maintaining secure connection through precise geometric interlocking
3Device complexity
If direct contact between hinge pieces is maintained, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of energy increases due to friction and resistance during folding and unfolding
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic positioning plate serves as a mediator between the metal hinge pieces, providing a low-friction contact surface. The convex portions on the plastic plate slide smoothly within the grooves of the metal hinge pieces, significantly reducing friction and energy loss during repeated folding and unfolding operations compared to direct metal-to-metal contact
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 design significantly extends the service life of the hinge by minimizing abrasion and resistance, ensuring stable folding and unfolding operations while maintaining alignment and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The plastic plates are configured to separate the inner hinge piece and outer hinge piece, which can effectively prevent abrasion between the inner hinge piece and outer hinge piece, reduce resistance force
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a folding hinge comprising an inner hinge piece and an outer hinge piece. Top edges of two side plates of the outer hinge piece are connected together by a connecting piece, and a slot is defined between the two side plates. A first end of the inner hinge piece extends into the slot and is pivotally connected to the outer hinge piece. The inner hinge piece comprises a through hole. An end portion of an inner surface of each of the two side plates respectively comprises a convex portion. The two convex portions are disposed to correspond to the through hole, and the two convex portions are clamped together through the through hole when the inner hinge piece and the outer hinge piece are unfolded. An inner surface of each of the two side plates is disposed with a plastic plate.