Hinge for grill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grill hinge assemblies experience non-smooth movement due to interference between translation and rotation, and they often incur increased costs from complex mechanisms and additional components.

Innovation Solution

A hinge design featuring two bent metal leaves with specific terminal and middle portions, connected by a fastener, allowing smooth pivoting without translation interference, and utilizing a minimal number of elements to maintain a low-cost structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional hinge assemblies with multiple hinge arms and slots are used, then the cover can be moved between closing and opening positions, but the movement is not smooth due to translation interfering with rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoothness of cover movementVSAvoidcomplexity of hinge mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly is divided into two separate hinges, each independently connecting the cover to the base. Each hinge consists of hinge arms connected by rivets, creating modular units that simplify the overall mechanism and eliminate the complex slot-and-rivet system while maintaining the cover's mobility between closing and opening positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple hinge arms and connecting elements with slots are used, then the cover can pivot relative to the base, but additional components increase the cost of the grill

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot capability of coverVSAvoidmanufacturing cost of hinge assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The complex slot mechanism and connecting elements are extracted and removed from the design. The pivot capability is achieved through simpler hinge arms connected by rivets, eliminating unnecessary components and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving the essential rotational functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The functions of multiple hinge arms and connecting elements are merged into a simpler two-hinge configuration. Each hinge integrates the connection and pivot functions that were previously distributed across multiple separate components, reducing part count and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If translation and rotation movements are both incorporated in the hinge mechanism, then the cover can change position relative to the base, but the movement is not smooth because translation interferes with rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motion of coverVSAvoidsmoothness of motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of incorporating both translation and rotation movements through slots and movable rivets, the design inverts the approach by using fixed hinge points that allow only rotation. The cover's position change is achieved purely through rotational movement around fixed pivot points, eliminating translation interference and ensuring smooth motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9896869B2Hinge for grill

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 CHUNG KIOSKY

AI summary

A hinge is used to connect a cover to a bowl of a grill so that the cover is pivoted relative to the bowl between a closing position and an opening position. The hinge includes two leaves and a fastener. The first leaf includes a first terminal portion connected to the bowl, a second terminal portion, and a middle portion formed between the first and second terminal portions. The second leaf includes a first terminal portion connected to the cover, a second terminal portion, and a middle portion formed between the first and second terminal portions thereof. The fastener connects the second terminal portion of the first leaf to the second terminal portion of the second leaf.