Angle-Adjustable Hinge Lock Recovery With Floating Wedge Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional angle-adjustable hinges for sofas face issues with lock recovery, particularly when excessive load is applied or obstacles are present, leading to loosening or deformation, and inability to maintain the locked state during oscillation from the lock-releasing to lock recovery positions.
Innovation Solution
An angle-adjustable hinge design featuring a first member with a disc body and a second member connected via a non-circular shaft, incorporating a floating wedge member and a gear portion, along with a recovery mechanism that includes a ring member, oscillating member, and press-fit frictional member to ensure easy lock recovery and maintain the desired posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hinge uses a conventional lock mechanism that requires returning to a predetermined lock recovery position, then the locked state can be maintained at the final position, but the locked state cannot be recovered at middle positions during oscillation from lock-releasing to lock recovery position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static lock recovery position into a dynamic one. The recovery position is no longer fixed but can be set at any desired position during oscillation. This is achieved by allowing the user to manually move the first member to any position and activate the lock, making the system adaptable to different operational needs rather than requiring return to a single predetermined position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lock recovery process into independent steps. Instead of requiring a continuous oscillation to a single recovery position, the system allows the user to stop at any position during oscillation, activate the lock, and complete the adjustment. This segmentation enables flexible lock recovery at multiple positions rather than a single fixed endpoint.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge allows free oscillation from lock-releasing position, then angle adjustment is possible, but excessive load causes loosening of attached portions or plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling the user to set the lock at any position during oscillation before excessive load can cause damage. By allowing intermediate locking positions, the system prevents the accumulation of excessive load that would occur if the user had to continue oscillating to a fixed recovery position, thereby protecting the attached portions from loosening and plastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by allowing the user to stop and lock the hinge at any position during oscillation. This prevents the scenario where the hinge must continue oscillating under excessive load to reach a predetermined recovery position, thereby cushioning against potential structural damage before it occurs.
3Reliability
If the hinge requires returning to a predetermined lock recovery position, then the locked state can be recovered, but obstacles may prevent reaching the recovery position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the lock recovery position dynamic rather than fixed. Instead of requiring return to a single predetermined position that may be blocked by obstacles, the system allows the user to select any position during oscillation as the lock recovery position. This dynamic approach enables the user to adapt to obstacle locations and complete the locking process at an accessible position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the oscillation path into multiple potential lock recovery points. Rather than treating the oscillation as a continuous movement to a single endpoint, the system allows the user to stop and lock at any segment point during the oscillation, providing flexibility to overcome obstacles that may block the predetermined recovery position.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the hinge uses a complex mechanism to enable lock recovery at any position, then flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service by utilizing the existing oscillation motion of the hinge to enable lock recovery at any position. The system does not require additional complex mechanisms to generate new motion; instead, it leverages the natural oscillation movement already present in the hinge, allowing the user to simply stop the oscillation at any desired position and activate the lock using the existing locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing locking mechanism is made universal by enabling it to function at any position during oscillation, not just at a predetermined recovery position. This multi-functional use of the existing lock mechanism provides flexibility without requiring additional specialized components, thereby avoiding increased device complexity while achieving adaptability.
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 allows for easy recovery of the locked state at any position during free oscillation, ensuring the hinge maintains the desired inclination angle and prevents deformation, even under excessive load or with obstacles, by using a spring-loaded mechanism to re-engage the floating wedge member with the gear portion.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic portion (14) which pushes the ring member (12) in an axial inner direction
Implementation Method 2
the frictional force with the elastic portion (14) by which the press-fit frictional member (15) rotates the ring member (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A first member (1) holding a disc body (16) having a non-circular through hole (23) as to freely rotate around an oscillation axis (C), a non-circular shaft portion (20) to be inserted to the through hole (23), and a second member (2) fixed to an end of the non-circular shaft portion (20), are provided; the first member (1) and the second member (2) are pivoted as to relatively oscillate by insertion of the shaft portion (20) to the through hole (23), a gear portion (4) is formed on a peripheral edge portion of the disc body (16) ; a floating wedge member (6), of which one side is a toothed face (7) engaged to the gear portion (4) and another face is a contact face (9) to contact a wedge face (8) formed on the first member (1) side, is provided; and a recovery means (10), which recovers the floating wedge member (6) from a retreat state to an engaged state with the gear portion (4) by a return action (M2) of a predetermined small angle (θ) in a direction (A) on way of free oscillation (M1) in which the first member (1) and the second member (2) are relatively oscillated in a direction (B) from a lock-releasing position (P0), is provided.