Hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for shower doors, particularly glass doors, are limited in their functionality as they can only be used for lifting and lack versatility to serve as both lifting and bearing functions, restricting their universal application and adaptability for both left-hand and right-hand doors.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design that incorporates a pivot bearing with a lifting body and a lifting element, allowing the hinge to function both as a lifting hinge and a pure bearing hinge, with interchangeable components for use in the lower and upper areas of the door, and adaptable for both left-hand and right-hand installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge is designed specifically for lifting function, then it can effectively lift the shower door when opened, but it cannot be used universally for both lifting and bearing functions
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge base body is designed with a receptacle that can accommodate different components: a lifting element with bearing bush for lifting function, or a simple bearing pin for pure bearing function. This allows the same hinge structure to serve multiple purposes - either as a lifting hinge or as a standard bearing hinge depending on what component is installed in the receptacle.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is divided into separable components: the base body with receptacle, the lifting element with bearing bush, and the bearing pin. These components can be independently selected and assembled, allowing the lifting element to be removed and replaced with a simple bearing pin when lifting function is not needed, thus reducing complexity for specific applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If different hinges are used for lifting and bearing functions, then each function can be optimized, but it increases the number of parts and reduces ease of installation
Solution Approach 1:
The base body with receptacle serves as a universal component that can work with either a lifting element or a simple bearing pin. This universal design means manufacturers and installers only need to stock and handle two types of components (base body and either lifting element/bearing pin) rather than multiple specialized hinge assemblies, reducing inventory complexity and installation time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge is designed for left-hand or right-hand specific installation, then it provides proper sealing and operation, but it reduces adaptability for different door orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle in the base body is designed with an asymmetric shape that can accommodate both left-hand and right-hand door configurations. The lifting element and bearing pin are also designed with asymmetric features that allow proper installation orientation while maintaining the same basic component design, eliminating the need for separate left-hand and right-hand hinge variants.
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 the hinge to perform dual functions, providing effective sealing and easy installation on both left-hand and right-hand doors, ensuring proper sealing and operation regardless of the door's orientation, enhancing versatility and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the lifting element (39) has a central continuous bearing bush (40) and is suitable with its bearing bush (40) on the bearing pin (15) of pivot bearing (12) to be slid on and non-rotatably connected
Data Source
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AI summary
A hinge (1) is provided which is suitable for pivotally attaching a door leaf, in particular a glass door (63) of a shower enclosure, either to a fixed wall, in particular a glass wall, or to a house wall or a wall rail (73), which has a pivot bearing (12) suitable for attachment to the door leaf and a bearing pin (15), and which has a hinge head (2) suitable for attachment to the fixed wall (64) or the house wall and has a base body (3) with a central bore (14) for receiving the bearing pin (15). This hinge (1) is characterized in that the base body (3) of the hinge head (2) is equipped on one of its sides with a receptacle (10) and either i) the hinge head (2) is a component of a lifting hinge, the receptacle (10) is suitable for a rotationally fixed, but also releasable, connection with a lifting element (23),the lifting body (23) has a central through bore (29) which, when connected to the base body (3), is aligned with the bore (14) in the base body (3); a lifting element (39) is provided which has a central through bearing bushing (40) and which is suitable for being slid onto the bearing pin (15) of the pivot bearing (12) with its bearing bushing (40) and for being rotationally fixed to the pivot bearing (12), but also for being separated from the pivot bearing (12), and is suitable for raising or lowering the door element attached to it together with the lifting body (23) when pivoting the pivot bearing (12); or i) the hinge head (2) is a component of a hinge without a lifting function and the base body (3) is suitable,The hinge according to the invention is designed to support the bearing pin (15) of the pivot bearing (12) in the central bore (14) of the base body (3) from the receptacle (10). It functions as a lifting hinge and can be used, in particular, in the lower part of a door, especially a glass door. However, it can also be used as a purely bearing hinge and is particularly suitable for use in the upper part of such a door. Furthermore, it allows for both left-hand and right-hand door openings.