Furniture Hinge with Segmented Lever for Alignment Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hinges for furniture with doors are limited in alignment options, making it difficult to correctly fit the door to the furniture, and can only be installed in the upper and lower areas, lacking versatility in placement along the pivot axis.

Innovation Solution

A hinge design where the hinge pin is firmly connected to the hinge lever, allowing the door to be aligned transversely and longitudinally to the pivot axis, with interchangeable inserts and washers for precise fitting, and a clip mechanism to prevent unintentional unhinging, enabling installation in various positions along the pivot axis, including between the upper and lower areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the hinge pin is inserted through openings in both the hinge bearing and hinge lever, then the hinge structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the door cannot be aligned with respect to the piece of furniture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge lever is divided into a first part (in the piece of furniture) and a second part (in the door), connected by a hinge pin. This segmentation allows independent positioning of each part, enabling alignment adjustment while maintaining simple construction. The hinge pin acts as a separate connector element that facilitates both connection and alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge pin serves as an intermediary element between the hinge bearing and hinge lever. It is inserted through openings in both components and provides both mechanical connection and alignment functionality. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by enabling precise positioning without complex manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the hinge is designed with fixed position openings, then the manufacturing is simple, but the hinge can only be provided in upper and lower areas of the door, limiting placement options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidplacement versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge design with hinge pin and openings creates a universal connection system that can be placed at any location on the door, not just upper and lower areas. The same basic structure serves multiple placement positions, providing multi-functionality and versatility while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the door is hung on the hinge pin, then the hinge structure is simple, but the door can be unintentionally unhinged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsecurity against unintentional unhinging
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded locking element in the hinge bearing provides preliminary anti-action by automatically engaging with the hinge lever to prevent unintentional unhinging. This locking mechanism acts in advance to counteract any forces that might cause the door to detach, while the spring mechanism allows easy manual release when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded locking element provides self-service by automatically engaging and disengaging the door based on its position. When the door is closed, the spring automatically locks it in place; when opened, it automatically releases. This self-acting mechanism provides security without requiring additional complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2157266B1Hinge for a piece of furniture with a door
Publication Date: 2016.05.11 FORSTER KUCHEN & KUHLTECHN
  • EP2157266B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2157266B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2157266B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The hinge (1) has a hinge lever (5), which protrudes over a recess in an opening of a hinge bearing (4) inserted in a door (3). The recess is located at the inner side of the door. The door is inserted in the hinge lever by furniture piece (2) during mounting with the hinge bearing having an opening. Adjusting units are provided for adjusting the door against the furniture piece transverse to the hinge swiveling axis or in direction of the swiveling axis.