Furniture Hinge with Intermediate Body for Solo Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of hinges for furniture leaves that swing about a horizontal axis is complex and often requires two persons, especially for massive leaves, due to the difficulty in engaging anchoring elements with fixing elements during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a supporting body with an intermediate body that supports the oscillating lever, equipped with a cam screw for vertical adjustment, elastic means for motion support, a braking device, and lateral adjustment mechanisms, allowing for snap-fitting engagement and simplified assembly by a single person.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional hinge assembly methods are used with anchoring elements and fixing elements, then the hinge can support massive leaves, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires two persons
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into three main segments: a fixed part attached to the furniture frame, an intermediate part with oscillating levers, and a movable part attached to the leaf. This segmentation allows each component to be assembled independently and then connected through simple engagement mechanisms, enabling one-person assembly even for massive leaves.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate part acts as a mediator between the fixed part and the movable part. It contains oscillating levers that connect to both the fixed mounting structure and the leaf-mounted anchoring elements, facilitating easy engagement through its special geometry that guides the anchoring elements into place during assembly.
2Reliability
If anchoring elements are fixed to the leaf before assembly, then proper engagement can be achieved, but the assembly process becomes difficult for massive leaves requiring two persons
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate part is prepared in advance with oscillating levers that have specific geometric features designed to guide and receive the anchoring elements. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the anchoring elements are engaged, they automatically follow the guided path into the correct position, achieving reliable engagement without requiring additional personnel to hold or position components during assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the hinge includes spring-loaded actuation devices and adjustment systems, then the leaf can be supported during oscillating motion, but the hinge becomes complex and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating lever mechanism combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides the oscillating motion support, incorporates the connection interface for anchoring elements, and includes the geometric features for easy assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate spring-loaded actuators and adjustment systems, achieving leaf support capability while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 straightforward and solo assembly of furniture leaves that can be opened upwardly or downwardly, reducing assembly complexity and time while maintaining reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate body (7) is provided with a cam screw (8) for vertically adjusting the position of the leaf
Implementation Method 2
elastic means for motion support
Implementation Method 3
a braking device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A hinge (1) for furniture leaves that swing about at least one horizontal axis, which comprises a supporting body (2) which is adapted to be applied inside a piece of furniture, at least one oscillating lever (4) adapted to be connected to the supporting body (2) at one end and, at the opposite end, to an anchoring element (5) which is fixed to a leaf (6), the at least one lever (4) being applied so as to oscillate to an intermediate body (7) that is separate from the supporting body (2).