Hinged Conduit Lid with Elevated Pivot for Easier Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semi-circular cross-section conduits with hinged lids face difficulties in opening and closing due to the hinge's location adjacent to the mounting surface, causing operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A conduit design with a hinge located at an angular elevation of 10° to 35° from the base, featuring a clip socket with an outer and inner wall, where the hinge and clip heights are substantially the same, allowing for easier lid operation while maintaining a semi-circular profile, and incorporating a retaining lip and groove for secure clip retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the hinge is located immediately adjacent to the mounting surface, then the conduit maintains a compact semi-circular profile, but the conduit becomes difficult to open and close due to the relationship between the hinge location and clip location
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is repositioned from the base plane to an elevated position on the sidewall, utilizing the vertical dimension of the semi-circular profile. This spatial relocation allows the hinge to clear the mounting surface interference zone while maintaining the overall compact shape, enabling the lid to pivot effectively without collision between hinge and clip components.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge is elevated to improve opening and closing operation, then ease of operation improves, but the semi-circular profile may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge elevation is implemented as a localized feature on the sidewall rather than a global shape modification. The conduit maintains its semi-circular cross-sectional profile overall, with the hinge positioned at a specific elevated location that does not disrupt the aesthetic and functional integrity of the curved shape. This localized approach allows operational improvement without sacrificing design quality.
3Reliability
If the clip socket inner wall height is increased to match the hinge height, then clip retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip socket inner wall is integrated with the hinge support structure, combining two functions into a single structural element. The inner wall serves both as the retaining surface for the clip and as part of the hinge mounting structure, eliminating the need for separate complex retention mechanisms. This merging reduces overall device complexity while achieving reliable clip retention through the elevated positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A conduit (1) having a substantially semi-circular outer cross-section comprising a base portion (3) and a lid portion (2), the lid portion (2) being attached to the base portion (3) by a hinge (4) and having a clip (23) on the opposite side, wherein the hinge (4) is located at an angular elevation from the base of between 10° and 35°, the base portion (3) having a clip socket for retaining the clip (23), wherein the clip socket comprises an outer wall (32), which forms part of the semi-circular outer cross-section, and an inner wall (33), between which is defined a channel (34) for the clip (23), the height of the inner wall above the bottom of the base portion (3) being substantially the same as the height of the hinge (4) above the bottom of the base portion (3).