Furniture Hinge Leaf Spring Width Variation for Closing Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges with leaf springs struggle to generate sufficient closing torque due to narrow designs, complex mounting, and increased space requirements, limiting their use in compact applications like thin doors.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a leaf spring with two portions of different widths, where the narrower portion passes through a center recess of the hinge arm and the wider portion is fixedly held by a transverse pin, allowing for simpler and more economical mounting, and utilizing a rib for reinforcement to absorb large forces without microbreaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the leaf spring is made narrow to reduce the width of the hinge arm, then the hinge arm width is reduced, but the closing torque generated by the leaf spring is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The leaf spring is designed with non-uniform width distribution, featuring a narrow region for passing through the hinge arm and a wide region for generating closing torque. This local variation in geometry allows the spring to maintain compact dimensions while producing sufficient force in the closing region.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring transitions from a two-dimensional narrow configuration to a three-dimensional structure with varying width sections. The wider portion extends in the width dimension to provide leverage arm, while the narrower portion maintains compact profile, utilizing spatial dimensionality to resolve the torque-width contradiction.
2Force
If the leaf spring is made wide to generate larger closing torque, then the closing torque is increased, but the hinge cup requires more space and compact embodiments are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The leaf spring concentrates its width in a localized wide region that is pressed against the hinge cup base, rather than maintaining uniform width throughout. This localized expansion allows sufficient torque generation in a compact overall volume, as the narrow regions minimize space consumption in the hinge cup cavity.
Solution Approach 2:
The narrow portion of the leaf spring passes through the center recess of the hinge arm, nesting within the existing hinge structure. This nested configuration allows the spring to occupy minimal space within the hinge cup while still providing adequate leverage for torque generation in the closing region.
3Reliability
If the leaf spring is fixedly held by complex mounting structures, then the spring is securely attached, but the manufacturing and mounting process becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting function is extracted from complex multi-component structures and consolidated into a simple transverse pin that passes through the hinge cup base and engages the wide portion of the leaf spring. This extraction of the essential mounting function reduces complexity while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The wide portion of the leaf spring serves dual functions: it provides the leverage arm for torque generation and simultaneously acts as the mounting element itself. The spring's own geometry provides the mounting interface, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or complex fastening structures.
4Device complexity
If the leaf spring acts on the control edge in a small region of movement, then the hinge arm design is simplified, but the lever effectiveness is reduced due to limited movement range
Solution Approach 1:
The leaf spring's wide region extends in the width dimension to provide a longer lever arm, compensating for the limited angular movement range. This dimensional extension allows the spring to maintain effective leverage even when the control edge engagement region is small, as the extended width provides additional mechanical advantage.
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
The design enhances the hinge's ability to generate a larger closing torque while maintaining the spring's properties, improving the hinge's strength and service life, and simplifying the manufacturing and mounting process.
Implementation Method 1
a leaf spring whose one end region is held at the pivotable hinge part and which generates a closing torque in the closing region
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge, preferably a furniture hinge, comprising a hinge arm which is pivotably supported on a joint axle which is non-displaceably held in a cup-shaped hinge part and which is provided with a tongue projecting beyond the joint axle or with a cam eccentric with respect to the joint axle or with a control edge which slide on a leaf spring whose one end region is held at the pivotable hinge part and which generates a closing torque in the closing region. In accordance with the invention, the leaf spring has at least two portions of different widths, with the at least one narrower portion of the leaf spring passing through a center recess of the hinge arm, with a tongue being cut from the lower edge of said recess. The at least one wider portion of the leaf spring is pressed against the base of the hinge cup by a transversely extending pin and thus fixedly held by a transversely extending pin.