Adjustable Glass Panel Hinge for Watertight Shower Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hardware for securing glass panels in bathroom installations, such as shower stalls, lacks flexibility and adjustability, making it difficult to achieve a precise and watertight seal, especially when panels are not perfectly aligned or when traditional drip channels interfere with the door's operation.
Innovation Solution
A hinge structure with adjustable pivot pins and a clamping system that allows for independent positioning of glass panels, enabling precise alignment and eliminating the need for traditional drip channels by allowing vertical motion during panel opening, along with a clamping arrangement that securely attaches panels to walls regardless of their orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fixed hinge structures are used to secure glass panels, then the structure is simple and stable, but the panels cannot be precisely aligned and adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure incorporates adjustable components that allow the hinge position to be dynamically modified during installation and maintenance. The adjustable hinge includes movable adjustment mechanisms that enable precise positioning of glass panels relative to each other, transforming a static fixed hinge into a dynamic adjustable system that achieves precise alignment while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fixed parameters of traditional hinges by introducing adjustable parameters. The hinge assembly includes adjustable spacing, adjustable height, and adjustable angular positioning capabilities, allowing installation personnel to modify hinge parameters to achieve precise panel alignment and accommodate variations in panel dimensions and installation environments
2Reliability
If glass panels are secured with rigid fixed positioning, then the structure is stable, but water sealing is compromised when panels are misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates flexible sealing elements such as gaskets and seals that can deform and adapt to minor misalignments between glass panels. These flexible sealing components are integrated into the hinge assembly and panel edges, allowing them to conform to variations in panel positioning while maintaining a continuous watertight barrier, thus ensuring reliable water sealing even when panels are not perfectly aligned
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable hinge mechanism allows for dynamic adjustment of panel positions during installation to achieve optimal alignment for sealing. The hinge can be adjusted to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and installation variations, enabling the sealing surfaces to properly engage and form effective watertight joints
3Reliability
If traditional drip channels are used to prevent water leakage, then water sealing is achieved, but they interfere with door operation and aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the traditional separate drip channel component from the system. Instead of using external drip channels that protrude and interfere with door operation, the water sealing function is integrated directly into the hinge assembly and panel edges through built-in sealing mechanisms, removing the harmful element while preserving the beneficial water leakage prevention function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the water sealing function with the hinge structure itself. The sealing elements are integrated into the hinge assembly, combining the mechanical connection function of the hinge with the water sealing function in a single unified component, thereby eliminating the need for separate drip channels and improving both aesthetics and door operation
4Reliability
If precise panel cutting is required for proper installation, then the seal is watertight, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable hinge assembly changes the installation parameters by introducing tolerance compensation mechanisms. The hinge can be adjusted in position and orientation to accommodate variations in panel dimensions and cutting precision, allowing standard panels with normal manufacturing tolerances to be installed effectively without requiring高精度 cutting, thus maintaining watertight sealing while simplifying manufacturing and installation
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a hinge for movably connecting a first panel to a second panel, the hinge comprising first and second spaced apart hinge members, each hinge member being connectable to the respective first and second panels; and a connector located between the hinge members, the connector having a pin member which connects the hinge members together to permit selective movement of the first panel relative to the second panel about multiple axes.