Furniture Hinge With Retaining Member For Dust Shielding And Damping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hinge cups in furniture cabinets often lack effective protection against dust and dirt, and existing hinges do not provide adequate damping during the closing process, leading to noise and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a retaining member with engaging features, resilient members, and a damper system that includes an adjusting member to provide customizable damping effects and shield the hinge cup from debris, ensuring proper closure and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hinge cup is used without a retaining member, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but dust and dirt can enter the hinge cup causing wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into separate functional components: the hinge cup, the retaining member, and the resilient member. The retaining member is a separate component that can be engaged with the resilient member to provide protection without complicating the overall hinge structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member is nested within the hinge cup structure and engages with the resilient member. The resilient member is mounted inside the receiving room of the hinge cup, and the retaining member is engaged with the resilient member through the engaging feature, creating a nested arrangement that provides protection while maintaining structural integrity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If no damping mechanism is provided, then the hinge structure remains simple, but noise and wear occur during closing
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is merged into the existing hinge structure through the resilient member and damper assembly. The resilient member provides both the retaining function and contributes to the damping effect, while the damper mounted in the channel of the retaining member provides additional damping. This merging approach adds damping capability without requiring a completely separate damping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper acts as an intermediary element between the hinge cup and the closing motion. The damper is mounted in the channel of the retaining member and corresponds to the hinge arm, providing damping during the closing process. This intermediary component absorbs energy and reduces noise and wear without fundamentally changing the hinge structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the resilient member is exposed without engagement, then the structure is simpler, but the receiving room lacks effective shielding
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member serves multiple functions: it provides shielding for the receiving room, engages with the resilient member through the engaging feature, and can accommodate the damper in its channel. The engaging feature with guiding sections facilitates easy engagement while ensuring proper positioning. This multi-functionality approach provides effective shielding without requiring multiple separate components.
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 effectively prevents dust and dirt from entering the hinge cup, provides adjustable damping to reduce noise and wear, and ensures smooth, secure closure of cabinet components.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient member provides a resilient closing force when the hinge cup is pivoted, and thereby closed, with respect to the hinge arm
Implementation Method 2
the piston rod of the damper will be pressed against the first contact portion of the adjusting member to produce a first damping effect
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge includes a hinge arm, a hinge cup, at least one resilient member, and a retaining member. The hinge cup is pivotally connected with respect to the hinge arm and includes a receiving room. The resilient member is mounted in the receiving room of the hinge cup. The retaining member is mounted at the resilient member.