Bidirectional Hinge Adjusting Screw with Asymmetric Securing Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinges lose adjustability when inverted between a door and a wall or furniture, requiring separate hinges for left-hand and right-hand doors, and their adjustability is affected by gravity, limiting their usability.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design with first and second securing elements that secure the adjusting screw in both rotary directions, allowing the hinge arms to maintain adjustability regardless of orientation, using guide slots and screw threads to ensure the hinge function and adjustability remain functional when mounted upside down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hinge is inverted between door and wall/furniture, then the mounting configuration is flexible, but the adjustability of the intermediate distance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting screw is provided with asymmetric securing elements: a first securing element (e.g., ratchet teeth) that secures the screw in one rotary direction, and a second securing element (e.g., a stop or second set of ratchet teeth) that secures it in the opposite rotary direction. This asymmetric design allows the hinge to maintain adjustability in both normal and inverted mounting positions, resolving the contradiction between mounting flexibility and adjustability.
2Device complexity
If a single hinge design is used for both left-hand and right-hand doors, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adjustability is compromised due to gravity effects
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed with universal mounting bodies that can be attached to either the door or the wall/furniture, combined with bidirectional securing elements on the adjusting screw. This allows a single hinge design to function reliably for both left-hand and right-hand doors, as well as in both normal and inverted orientations, without compromising adjustability. The dual securing elements ensure that gravity does not cause unintended adjustment drift regardless of mounting orientation.
3Ease of operation
If the adjusting screw is allowed to rotate freely in both directions, then the adjustability is maximized, but the hinge loses stability under gravity when inverted
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second securing elements on the adjusting screw provide preliminary anti-action by preventing the screw from rotating in unintended directions due to gravity. The first securing element (e.g., ratchet mechanism) prevents rotation in one direction, while the second securing element (e.g., stop or opposing ratchet teeth) prevents rotation in the opposite direction. This ensures the hinge maintains its adjusted position stably in both normal and inverted orientations while still allowing full bidirectional adjustment during installation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~9
AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge (1) comprising at least one first and a second hinge arm (4, 5) for attachment to a door and a wall or piece of furniture, which are hingedly connected to one another, it being possible to adjust the intermediate distance between the hinge arms (4, 5) in a direction parallel to their common hinge pin (A) by means of an adjusting screw (6), with this hinge (1) being invertible due to being provided with a first (7) and a second securing element (8) for securing the adjusting screw (6) during displacement in a first or a second direction with respect to one another, respectively.