Furniture Hinge Cup Layout With Angled Linear Damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture hinges with linear dampers face challenges in arranging them in a space-saving and unobtrusive manner while ensuring optimal damping performance, often requiring complex and expensive constructions due to the need for a sufficient damping path and piston diameter.
Innovation Solution
The linear damper's damping stroke is oriented at an acute angle relative to the hinge arm's longitudinal axis, allowing for a wider hinge cup and increased damping stroke without altering standard component dimensions, enabling standard production line usage and reliable damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the linear damper is arranged on the hinge cup within a standard furniture bore, then the hinge assembly fits standard bores, but the hinge cup must be narrowed and special constructions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The linear damper is oriented at an acute angle (5-15 degrees) relative to the longitudinal axis of the hinge arm, transforming the damping stroke direction from collinear to angular. This dimensional change allows the damper to be arranged within the hinge cup without requiring narrowings or special constructions, while still providing sufficient damping stroke and maintaining compatibility with standard furniture bores
2Reliability
If the linear damper is arranged with large overall length for sufficient damping stroke, then damping performance is optimized, but the damper cannot be accommodated within standard furniture bores
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the linear damper at an acute angle to the hinge arm axis, the damping stroke is extended in the angular direction rather than requiring increased linear length. This allows sufficient damping performance to be achieved while keeping the damper compact enough to fit within standard furniture bores when mounted on the hinge cup
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hinge cup is narrowed to accommodate the linear damper, then the assembly fits within standard bores, but standard components cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The acute angular orientation of the linear damper allows it to be accommodated on the external surface of a standard-sized hinge cup without requiring the cup to be narrowed. This maintains the standard dimensions of the hinge cup, articulated lever, and hinge arm, allowing use of conventional components and simplified manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The linear damper is positioned on the external surface of the hinge cup, utilizing the available external space. This nesting arrangement allows the damper to be integrated into the hinge assembly without interfering with the internal dimensions of the hinge cup, thereby maintaining compatibility with standard furniture bores while using standard components
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
This configuration allows for effective damping performance while using standard components, simplifying production and reducing costs by accommodating standard shapes and sizes, ensuring smooth hinge movement with adjustable damping.
Implementation Method 1
The damping effect of a linear damper is essentially based on the flow resistance of a damping fluid present in a fluid chamber
Implementation Method 2
Damping devices with a piston that has a linear damping stroke usually have a travel-dependent damping function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a furniture hinge (4) comprising a hinge arm (6) having a longitudinal axis (X), a hinge cup (5) that is connected to the hinge arm (6) and is mounted such as to be pivotable relative to the hinge arm (6) between a closed position and an open position, and further comprising a linear damper (7) having a linear damping stroke (Y) for damping a movement of the furniture hinge (4), wherein the linear damper (7) is arranged at the hinge cup (5) and, jointly therewith, can be arranged within a bore of a furniture item (3) in the installed position, wherein in the open position of the furniture hinge (4) in a plan view, the direction of the linear damping stroke (Y) of the linear damper (7) runs at an acute angle (alpha) relative to the longitudinal axis (X) of the hinge arm (6), the acute angle (alpha) being between 3° and 20°.