Furniture Hinge Opening Mechanism With Adjustable Spring Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hinges for furniture doors are optimized for specific weights and dimensions, making it difficult to adapt to doors with different characteristics, leading to excessive opening forces and reduced reliability.

Innovation Solution

A hinge with adjustable elastic opening means, featuring a slider and spring mechanism that allows for easy adjustment of opening force through mechanisms like adjustable members, retention elements, and transmission cams, enabling adaptation to various door weights and dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the spring configuration is optimized for specific door weight and dimensions, then the hinge provides effective opening force for those specific doors, but the hinge cannot be easily adapted to doors with different weight and dimension characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of hingeVSAvoidadaptability to different door characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the spring configuration adjustable rather than fixed. The spring can be repositioned along the oscillation path of the rocker arm, allowing the hinge to adapt to different door weights and dimensions. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between reliability for specific doors and adaptability to different door characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements Parameter changes by allowing modification of the spring's position parameter along the rocker arm's oscillation path. By changing this positional parameter, the opening force characteristics of the hinge can be adjusted to match different door specifications, thereby achieving both reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the spring configuration is modified to adapt to different door weights and dimensions, then the adaptability of the hinge improves, but the life of the springs is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different door characteristicsVSAvoidlife of springs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the Dynamics principle to create an adjustable spring positioning system that allows optimization for each specific door application. Instead of modifying the spring itself (which would reduce its life), the system dynamically adjusts the spring's position to achieve the desired opening force, thereby maintaining spring longevity while providing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent appliesParameter changes by adjusting the positional parameter of the spring along the rocker arm rather than changing the spring's physical properties. This approach allows adaptation to different door characteristics without subjecting the spring to additional stress or modification that would reduce its service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If the spring applies excessive opening force to accommodate heavier doors, then the hinge can handle heavier doors, but the engagement devices may not be capable of holding the doors arrested in the closed position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening force of springVSAvoidability to hold door in closed position
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implementsParameter changes by allowing precise adjustment of the spring's opening force through positional adjustment along the rocker arm's oscillation path. This enables optimization of the opening force parameter to match the actual door weight, preventing excessive force that would compromise the engagement devices' ability to hold the door closed, while still providing sufficient force for proper door operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Ensures effective and reliable door opening with adjustable force, maintaining high reliability and ease of assembly across different door configurations.

Implementation Method 1

at least one spring element (37) which generates a force in the opening direction of the door at least near the closure position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3662125B1Hinge with opening device for pieces of furniture
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 ARTURO SALICE SPA
  • EP3662125B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3662125B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3662125B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A hinge (10, 30, 50) for assembling a door on a piece of furniture comprises a first hinge element (11, 31, 51) fastenable to a fixed part of the piece of furniture, a second hinge element (12, 32, 52) fixable to a door of the piece of furniture and swingably connected to the first hinge element (11, 31, 51), and at least one spring element (19, 37, 57) for generating a force in the opening direction for the door at least near the closing position of the door; the at least one spring opening element (19, 37, 57) is housed in an opening device (16, 35, 55) disposed in or on one of the first and second hinge elements (11, 31, 51; 12, 32, 52), wherein the opening device (16, 35, 55) is conformed and arranged for exerting said opening force directly or indirectly on the other of said first and second hinge elements (1 1, 31, 51; 12, 32, 52).