Compact Hinge With U-Shaped Joint For Standard Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional door hinges designed for concealed installation in rebated doors are too wide and unsuitable for standard doors with door leaf thicknesses between 38mm to 43mm, limiting their use to high-functional doors with thicker leaves, such as those requiring fire or burglary protection.

Innovation Solution

A door hinge with a U-shaped joint connecting two housings, one fixed to the door leaf and the other to the frame, featuring retaining plates, lateral projections, and a pivot axis mounted on longitudinal projections, allowing for 180-degree opening and accommodating standard door dimensions by matching the height and width of the attachments to typical door rebate dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a five-axis hinge design is used to enable 180-degree door opening, then the door can be opened completely, but the hinge width increases making it unsuitable for standard doors with 38mm to 43mm thick leaves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening capabilityVSAvoidhinge width
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge is divided into two separate housings (first housing for door leaf, second housing for frame) connected by a U-shaped joint, allowing each component to be optimized independently for compactness while maintaining the 180-degree opening capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot axis is mounted on longitudinal projections that extend from the main body of the housing, positioning the rotation axis in a different spatial dimension relative to the housing body, which reduces the hinge width while preserving full opening capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the hinge is designed for concealed installation in rebated doors, then the hinge is hidden when the door is closed, but the hinge width must be reduced to fit standard door dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcealed installation capabilityVSAvoidhinge width
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The U-shaped joint and articulation body are nested within the two housings, with the joint body contained in the second housing and the articulation body accommodated in the first housing, achieving concealed installation while maintaining compact dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge components are designed to dynamically accommodate during door operation, with the articulation body moving between the housings as the door opens and closes, allowing concealed installation in standard door rebates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the hinge width is reduced to fit standard doors, then the hinge can be used in doors with 38mm to 43mm thick leaves, but the structural complexity must be simplified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor thickness compatibilityVSAvoidhinge structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge design with standardized housings, retaining plates, and U-shaped joint serves multiple functions: it provides rotation, maintains concealed installation, accommodates various standard door thicknesses, and ensures stable operation, reducing the need for complex specialized components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge dimensions are optimized with specific parameters (hinge width narrower than door leaf thickness, height matching door rabbet dimensions) to achieve compatibility with standard doors while maintaining structural simplicity and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2476836B1Hinge
Publication Date: 2013.05.01 BARTELS SYSTEMBESCHLAEGE GMBH
  • EP2476836B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2476836B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2476836B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The door hinge has a housing (2) fixed to a door leaf of the door system. Another housing (3) is fixed to a frame of the door system. The holding plates (22,32) are provided to fix the housings to the door leaf and the frame. The two housings are connected by a U-shaped joint (4), where the housings are connected with each other in a rotating manner.