Furniture Hinge Cup Layout for Harmonic Linear Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hinges with external actuating elements suffer from unfavorable force distribution, high wear, increased installation complexity, and susceptibility to dirt ingress due to external geometry and manual assembly, leading to anharmonic damping and limited rotational-to-linear movement conversion.

Innovation Solution

The actuating element is predominantly arranged inside the hinge cup, allowing for a compact design that facilitates easy installation and flexible adaptation of rotational movement to piston rod transmission, with internal support surfaces and guides minimizing wear and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the actuating element is arranged outside the hinge cup, then the linear damper can be easily accessed and installed, but the force distribution becomes unfavorable causing anharmonic damping and high wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of linear damperVSAvoiddamping performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element is nested inside the hinge cup, with the linear damper positioned within the internal space of the hinge cup. This nesting arrangement ensures that the force from the articulated lever acts directly on the actuating element in the direction of the hinge cup base, eliminating unfavorable force distributions and anharmonic damping while maintaining compact integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the actuating element is arranged outside the hinge cup, then the linear damper is more accessible, but the installation complexity increases due to precise geometric adaptation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of linear damperVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element is merged with the internal structure of the hinge cup, forming an integrated assembly where the articulated lever, actuating element, and linear damper work together within the hinge cup's internal space. This integration eliminates the need for precise external geometric adaptations and simplifies installation while maintaining damping functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a large hinge cup opening is provided for external actuating element, then the actuating element can be properly positioned, but dirt particles can enter the hinge cup reducing functionality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning of actuating elementVSAvoiddirt contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the actuating element outside the hinge cup and opening it to the external environment, the actuating element is inverted to be positioned inside the hinge cup. This inversion allows the hinge cup to maintain its protective enclosure while the actuating element operates within the sealed internal space, preventing dirt contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Volume of moving object

If the actuating element is arranged outside the hinge cup, then the installation space is increased, but the conversion of rotational movement to linear movement is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidmovement conversion flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element utilizes the internal three-dimensional space of the hinge cup, transitioning from external two-dimensional positioning to internal three-dimensional arrangement. This dimensional change enables flexible conversion of rotational movement from the articulated lever to linear movement of the piston rod within the constrained internal space, overcoming external positioning limitations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design ensures harmonic damping, reduced wear, simplified installation, and minimized contamination, while enabling a compact hinge suitable for narrow applications with improved force transmission and reduced installation time.

Implementation Method 1

At least one damping device is provided for damping a relative movement between the attachment part and the hinge cup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentUS12618277B2Hinge

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 JULIUS BLUM GMBH

AI summary

A hinge includes an attachment part to fasten the hinge to a fixed furniture part, an articulated lever, and a hinge cup pivotably arranged on the attachment part via the articulated lever. The articulated lever is mounted with the hinge cup via a hinge pin, and the hinge cup can be fastened to a movable furniture part. A damping device dampens a relative movement between the attachment part and the hinge cup between an open position and a closed position of the hinge, and the damping device has a linear damper with a piston and a translationally movable piston rod. The linear damper is arranged at least in certain regions outside the hinge cup, and the translationally movable actuating element can actuate the damping device. The actuating element is arranged for the most part within the hinge cup.