Furniture Hinge Automatic Opening Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oscillating door mechanisms for furniture require complex and expensive automatic reloading systems, which are aesthetically undesirable and require additional operations for mounting, often obstructing the closing action of spring hinges and necessitating manual assistance for re-closing.
Innovation Solution
An integrated automatic reloading mechanism for oscillating doors, comprising an expulsion organ and a reloading mechanism operatively connected to the hinge, allowing selective engagement during the opening movement to facilitate automatic recharging without obstructing the closing action, and can be applied between the fixed and mobile parts of the hinge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If complex automatic reloading mechanisms are used, then automatic opening function is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the opening device with the hinge assembly, integrating the expulsion organ and reloading mechanism into the hinge structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate complex reloading mechanisms while achieving automatic opening functionality through the coordinated interaction of the expulsion organ, ratchet mechanism, and hinge spring.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly performs multiple functions: it provides the closing force through its spring, enables automatic opening through the integrated expulsion organ, and allows manual operation. The expulsion organ serves both as an opening mechanism and as a component that interacts with the hinge spring for automatic reloading, eliminating the need for dedicated separate reloading components.
2Ease of operation
If opening devices are applied on the opposite side to hinges, then opening function is provided, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates and mounting operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The opening device is merged with the hinge assembly and applied on the same side as the hinge. The expulsion organ, ratchet mechanism, and reloading components are integrated into the hinge structure, eliminating the need for separate opening devices on the opposite side and maintaining clean aesthetic appearance with minimal visible components.
3Extent of automation
If reclosing device provides greater closing force than opening springs, then automatic reclosing is achieved, but subsequent opening using springs becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: In the first mode, the hinge spring provides closing force and the expulsion organ enables opening. In the second mode, the expulsion organ is reloaded by the hinge spring during closing, and then provides the opening force. The ratchet mechanism dynamically engages and disengages to control the direction of force application, allowing the system to adapt between automatic reclosing and spring-assisted opening based on the operational phase.
4Device complexity
If supplementary manual push is required for re-closing, then opening device can be simple, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge spring serves dual purposes: it provides the closing force for automatic reclosing and simultaneously acts as the reloading mechanism for the expulsion organ. During the closing movement, the hinge spring automatically recharges the expulsion organ, eliminating the need for supplementary manual pushes while maintaining device 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
The solution provides a simple, effective, and aesthetically minimal automatic opening and closing system that requires fewer operations for mounting, ensuring smooth operation without obstructing the spring hinge's closing action, thus eliminating the need for manual assistance.
Implementation Method 1
hinges with a spring acting during opening, generally known as a push spring
Implementation Method 2
the reloading mechanism comprises a plurality of elastic means and cursors which interact with each other
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3d
AI summary
An opening device for a door (16) of an article of furniture supported oscillatingly with respect to a body of the article of furniture by means of at least a hinge having elastic automatic closing means (14) comprises an expulsion organ (11) for the door (16) and a reloading mechanism of the expulsion organ (11), and is conformed such as to be applicable to a part from between the fixed part or the mobile part of the hinge, the reloading mechanism being operatively connected to one from between the expulsion organ and an element of the hinge which is mobile with respect to the reloading mechanism and being operatively and selectively connectable to another between the expulsion organ and the element of the hinge which is mobile with respect to the reloading mechanism during at least a part of the opening movement of the door (16) such as to cause a reloading movement of the expulsion organ (11).