Household Appliance Hinge Arm Taper for Wider Door Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance hinges are difficult to manufacture, take up excessive space, and limit the door's opening angle, with previous solutions failing to provide a balance between aesthetics and functional freedom.
Innovation Solution
A hinge element with a support arm that tapers from the mounting section to the pivot axis, featuring two bearing journals that define the pivot axis and allow for a larger opening angle, manufactured from high-strength sheet metal for increased strength and ease of production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional hinge with a visible arm is used, then the door can be mounted and moved, but the arm is visible from the outside which is aesthetically annoying
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge arm is extracted from the visible exterior and relocated to the interior side of the door, where it remains functional but aesthetically hidden. The receiving space in the door body accommodates the arm when the door is closed, effectively removing the visual distraction while preserving the hinge's mechanical function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arm is nested within the door structure by positioning it inside the receiving space. When the door is closed, the arm is contained within the door body's internal cavity, creating a compact nested arrangement that eliminates the need for external visibility while maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the hinge arm is firmly connected to the body, then the hinge is stable, but it restricts the freedom of movement of the door
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge arm is designed with dynamic characteristics by allowing it to articulate within the receiving space rather than being rigidly fixed. The arm can move freely within the confines of the receiving space, providing the door with greater freedom of movement while maintaining stability through its constrained articulation path.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arm's movement parameters are optimized by shaping the receiving space to accommodate a wider range of motion. The receiving space is designed with specific dimensional parameters that allow the arm to move through a larger arc, increasing the door's opening angle while maintaining stable connection to the body.
3Ease of manufacture
If a receiving space with a side slot is provided to hide the arm, then aesthetics are improved, but the side slot is also aesthetically unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The side slot is completely removed from the door surface by extracting the need for any opening. The receiving space is designed as a closed internal cavity that fully accommodates the hinge arm, eliminating the need for aesthetic compromises such as side slots or openings in the door surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arm is completely nested within the closed receiving space, which is integrated into the door body's internal structure. This nested arrangement allows the door surface to remain smooth and continuous without any slots, openings, or aesthetic compromises, while still providing the necessary space for the hinge arm to function.
4Strength
If the hinge arm is made from strong sheet metal and divided into three sections, then strength is improved, but production becomes difficult and it takes up a lot of space
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge arm is segmented into functional zones rather than rigid sections. The arm has a mounting section with specific thickness for attachment, a support arm section that tapers for strength optimization, and a free end section for bearing element accommodation. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining ease of production from sheet metal.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arm exhibits local quality variations in its thickness and cross-section to optimize strength where needed. The mounting section has greater thickness for secure attachment, the support arm tapers to distribute forces optimally, and the free end is shaped to accommodate bearing elements. This localized optimization maintains high strength while simplifying production compared to uniform thick sections.
5Length of stationary object
If the hinge arm is made longer to accommodate bearing elements, then the opening angle is limited to slightly more than 90°, but greater freedom of movement is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing elements are positioned in a different spatial dimension by placing them at the free end of the support arm rather than along its length. The support arm tapers towards the free end, creating vertical space for bearing journals that project in opposite directions. This dimensional arrangement allows the bearing elements to be accommodated without increasing the horizontal length of the arm, thereby enabling a larger door opening angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm's cross-sectional parameters are changed by tapering it towards the free end. This tapering creates the necessary space for bearing elements while minimizing the increase in overall arm length. The bearing journals are positioned to maximize the opening angle, with their projection direction optimized to provide greater freedom of movement compared to conventional hinge designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge element (10) for a door (2) of a household appliance (1), and a housing for a household appliance, and a household appliance, particularly a refrigerator or freezer. The hinge element (10) comprises an mounting segment (11) for mounting on the body (4) of the household appliance, a support arm (12) offset from the mounting segment, and a bearing element (16) disposed at the free end of the support arm (12). The support arm (12) has a lower height than the mounting segment (11) in the direction of the pivot axis (3) at the free end (15) thereof, particularly tapering on at least one side from the mounting segment to the free end thereof in the direction of the pivot axis (3).