Hinge Assembly with Aligned Slots for Connector Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hinge assemblies, such as hollow and winding types, face challenges in size limitations for connectors and assembly difficulties, as well as wear issues between flexible printed circuits and the hinge assembly, especially in modern compact electrical devices.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly comprising an inner and outer ring with aligned slots and couplers, allowing for easy passage and secure connection of electrical devices, reducing assembly complexity and wear by using outer and inner ring slots and couplers that can be variously structured, such as grooves and protrusions, to facilitate rotation and connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hollow type hinge assembly is used to connect rotating devices, then electrical connections can be provided, but the connector size is limited by the hollow structure
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into separate inner and outer rings with independent slots, allowing the electrical connecting device to pass through aligned slots without being constrained by a hollow cylindrical structure. This segmentation removes the size limitation on connectors while maintaining the rotational connection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional hollow cylindrical hinge structure to a planar slot-based structure. By using slots that can be aligned in a specific dimension, the design allows larger connectors to pass through without increasing the overall footprint of the hinge assembly, effectively utilizing dimensional arrangement to resolve the size constraint.
2Ease of operation
If a winding type hinge assembly is used to connect rotating devices, then flexible printed circuits can be routed, but assembly difficulty increases due to winding complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is segmented into discrete inner and outer ring components with pre-formed slots, eliminating the need for complex winding operations. The electrical connecting device simply passes through the aligned slots during assembly, dramatically simplifying the assembly process compared to traditional winding methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The slots in the inner and outer rings are pre-formed during manufacturing, so that during assembly only the alignment and insertion of the electrical connecting device is required. This preliminary preparation of the slot structures eliminates the time-consuming winding operation entirely.
3Reliability
If a winding type hinge assembly is used, then flexible printed circuits can be connected, but wear occurs between the flexible printed circuit and hinge assembly during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connecting device is extracted from the winding configuration and placed in a straight-through path through the aligned slots of the inner and outer rings. This removes the flexible printed circuit from contact with the rotating hinge surfaces, eliminating friction and wear while maintaining rotational smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The aligned slots in the inner and outer rings serve as intermediaries that guide the electrical connecting device through the hinge assembly. This intermediary structure allows rotation to occur without the flexible printed circuit rubbing against the hinge surfaces, preventing wear while maintaining electrical connection.
4Reliability
If connectors are made larger to accommodate modern electrical devices, then connection reliability improves, but the hinge assembly size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a planar slot arrangement instead of a hollow cylindrical structure, allowing larger connectors to pass through the aligned slots without increasing the overall volume of the hinge assembly. The slot configuration optimizes space utilization in the lateral dimensions while keeping the profile compact.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly includes an inner ring and an outer ring. The outer ring has an outer ring slot penetrating the sidewall of the outer ring and connecting both ends of the outer ring. The inner ring has an inner ring slot penetrating the sidewall of the inner ring and connecting both ends of the inner ring. The inner ring is coaxially connected to the outer ring. When the inner ring slot and the outer ring slot are aligned, an electrical connecting device can pass through the inner ring slot and outer ring slot to stay in the hinge assembly.