Furniture Hinge with Adjustable Spring Lever for Closing Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture hinges require multiple spring types for different door weights and dimensions, leading to performance drops due to wear and increased stock requirements, as they are not easily adjustable for optimal opening and closure.
Innovation Solution
A hinge with a mechanism featuring a lever, rocker arm, and adjustable spring placement via a drawer system, allowing for regulation of the closing force by varying the distance of the spring from a pivot pin, using a screw to change the lever arm length and thus the closing force, with an optional shock absorber for smoother closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hinges are calibrated with specific spring forces for different door types, then optimal closing force is achieved for each door, but multiple spring components must be kept in stock and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the closing force to be dynamically modified by the user. A regulation device with a movable element can change the spring's effective length or leverage ratio, enabling a single hinge to adapt to different door weights and dimensions. This eliminates the need for multiple pre-calibrated spring types while maintaining optimal performance for various door configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the spring system through mechanical adjustment. By modifying the spring's effective length, pre-compression, or leverage arm length via the regulation device, the closing force parameter can be continuously adjusted. This allows one hinge design to cover a range of door types that would otherwise require multiple specialized spring components.
2Reliability
If multiple spring types are maintained in stock for different door specifications, then optimal performance for various doors is ensured, but inventory requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed with universal adaptability through its regulation mechanism. A single hinge model can serve multiple door types by adjusting the closing force parameter, making the hinge multi-functional. This universality reduces the need to maintain separate inventory of specialized spring components for different door specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic adjustment capability allows one hinge design to adapt to various door specifications, replacing the need for multiple static spring types. The regulation device enables users to optimize the closing force for each specific door application, making the hinge system versatile without requiring extensive inventory.
3Ease of manufacture
If hinges use fixed spring calibration, then manufacturing is simpler, but performance drops occur due to wear and inability to adjust for different door types
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation device introduces a simple mechanical adjustment mechanism that allows users to compensate for wear and optimize performance over time. This dynamic element, such as a movable lever or adjustable spring compression, adds minimal manufacturing complexity while significantly improving long-term reliability and performance consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge enables end-users to perform their own optimization and maintenance through the adjustment mechanism. Users can regulate the closing force themselves without requiring specialized tools or expertise, allowing them to compensate for wear and adapt to different doors independently. This self-service capability maintains reliability while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple.
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
This design allows for a single hinge type to accommodate various door weights and dimensions, maintaining performance over wear by simple adjustments, reducing stock requirements and optimizing opening and closure functions.
Implementation Method 1
spring means (20) acting on a pusher that exerts a thrust force
Implementation Method 2
The hinge may moreover comprise a shock absorber acting on the lever
Data Source
AI summary
Hinge for furniture including a fixed part housed in a seat of a horizontal plane of the furniture structure, and a moving part housed in a seat of a door of the furniture, to operate the door in opening and closing by a movement mechanism including at least one lever connecting a pin placed on the fixed part of the hinge and a pin placed on the moving part, wherein the closing force of the door is determined by a spring acting on a pusher that exerts a thrust force on a rocker arm, against which the lever of the door movement mechanism acts, wherein a unit are provided apt to vary the distance of the spring from a pivot pin of the rocker arm, in order to vary the lever arm and consequently the reaction force of the movement lever and therefore the closing force of the door.