Hinge Securing Features Prevent Pin Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for retractable bimini tops on watercraft structures suffer from slack and stress issues due to the lack of connection between hinge portions, leading to pin bending and failure in holding the frame in an open position.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a first and second hinge body portion with a nesting cavity and pin opening configuration that secures the nesting body within the cavity, preventing rotation about the pivot point, and optionally incorporating a spring-loaded latch for stable locking and unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flat against flat hinge portion surfaces are used with an Axel pin, then the hinge allows simple assembly and disassembly, but the lack of connection between hinge portions causes slack and stress leading to pin bending and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The second hinge body portion is nested within the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, creating a telescoping configuration. This nesting arrangement provides structural connection while maintaining the ability to assemble and disassemble the hinge by sliding the portions together and apart, thus resolving the contradiction between assembly simplicity and holding reliability.
2Ease of operation
If no connection is provided between hinge portions, then the hinge allows free movement and easy assembly, but slack and stress cause the pin to bend and the hinge to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The nested configuration of the hinge body portions provides structural connection that resists pin bending while still allowing the frame to move freely between open and closed positions. The nesting cavity and protrusion design maintains connection integrity without restricting operational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing feature is pre-configured within the nesting cavity to engage with the nesting body protrusion. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the hinge portions are assembled, the connection is automatically established to prevent pin bending, while the frame retains full movement freedom during operation.
3Reliability
If securing features are added to prevent rotation, then the hinge holding capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The securing feature is integrated into the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, and the nesting body is integrated into the second hinge body portion. This integration approach provides reliable frame position holding while minimizing additional complexity by incorporating the securing mechanism within the existing nesting structure rather than adding separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge having securing features includes a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, and at least one securing feature configured for securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point.