Angle-Adjustable Hinge Recovery Mechanism for Smooth Sofa Reclining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional angle-adjustable hinges require laborious operation to recover oscillation restricted state from final standing position to horizontally opened state, leading to poor utility and inefficient angle adjustment.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a recovery mechanism using a pressed frictional plate and lever member to pivotally rotate and press the floating wedge member back into engagement with the gear portion, allowing easy recovery of the oscillation restricted state across various positions, enabling swift and smooth angle adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the engagement of the floating wedge member and the gear portion is released at the final standing position, then the second member can be freely oscillated in the inclining direction, but the wedge function cannot be recovered until a horizontally opened state, causing laborious operation and poor utility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime for angle adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The recovery means performs preliminary action by automatically recovering the wedge function through a small return action in the standing direction before full horizontal opening is achieved. The pressed frictional plate and lever member are positioned to immediately engage the floating wedge member when the small return action occurs, restoring the oscillation restricted state without requiring the mechanism to reach the horizontally opened position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism serves itself by using the small return action in the standing direction to trigger the recovery means, which automatically presses the floating wedge member back into engagement with the gear portion. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention or additional complex components to restore the wedge function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the floating wedge member is moved to part from the gear portion to release engagement, then the second member can oscillate freely in the inclining direction, but the oscillation restricted state cannot be easily recovered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangle adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidease of recovering oscillation restricted state
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The recovery means acts as an intermediary mechanism between the floating wedge member and the gear portion. When the small return action occurs in the standing direction, the pressed frictional plate rotates and the lever member presses the floating wedge member back into the gear portion, mediating the recovery of engagement without requiring manual intervention or complex operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism changes the operational parameter by requiring only a small return action in the standing direction (a minor angular change) to trigger the recovery process. This small parameter change is sufficient to activate the pressed frictional plate and lever member, which then restore the oscillation restricted state through the floating wedge member engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the back portion is opened by force with raising the seat portion due to insufficient space behind the back portion, then the horizontally opened state can be achieved, but the operation becomes laborious and utility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidease of opening operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The recovery means performs preliminary action by recovering the wedge function through a small return action before the full horizontal opening is achieved. This allows the mechanism to be in a ready state for subsequent operations without requiring the back portion to be forcefully opened or the seat portion to be raised, improving ease of operation in spaces with limited clearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Facilitates easy recovery of the oscillation restricted state and allows for smooth angle adjustment between the final standing and horizontally opened positions, enhancing operational convenience and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the pressed frictional plate 13 is rotated by frictional force with the second member 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the lever member 3 presses the floating wedge member 6 to engage the gear portion 4 and the toothed face 7

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a spring member 16 to contact and elastically push the floating wedge member 6 in a direction to be pressed to the gear portion 4

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

a wedge-shaped window portion 5 to movably hold the floating wedge member 6

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP2767188B1Angle-adjustable hinge and sofa
Publication Date: 2015.07.15 KOYO GIKEN KK
  • EP2767188B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2767188B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2767188B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an angle-adjustable hinge having a construction in which a first member (1) and a second member (2) having a gear portion (4) are pivoted as to oscillate, a floating wedge member (6), of which one face is a toothed face (7) engaged to the gear portion (4) and another face is a contact face (9) which contacts a wedge face (8) formed on the first member (1) side, is provided, and, a recovery means (10), for recovering 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 standing direction (A) during an inclining action (M1) to relatively oscillate the first member (1) and the second member (2) from a final standing position (P0) in an inclining direction (B), is provided.