Cabinet-Mounted Hood Hinge Assembly for Solo Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized hoods of the suction or filtering type require two people for installation due to complex mechanical mechanisms, making solo installation difficult and increasing costs when professionals are involved.
Innovation Solution
A hood and cabinet assembly utilizing classical hinges for rotation and translation, allowing a single user to install and extract the hood using engaging elements and seats that facilitate easy rotation and stable constraining within the cabinet space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If classical hinges are used for hood installation, then ease of operation and solo installation capability improve, but the hood cannot exploit the entire depth of the cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is divided into two functional pairs: a first pair of engaging elements for rotation movement and a second pair for translation movement. This segmentation allows the hood to be installed using simple classical hinges while still achieving full cabinet depth utilization through the combined rotational and translational movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism incorporates dynamic movement capabilities where the hood can both rotate around the first pair of engaging elements and translate along the second pair of engaging elements. This dynamic system enables solo installation with classical hinges while maximizing the hood's depth within the cabinet space.
2Stability of the object's composition
If complex mechanical mechanisms with pistons are used in hinges, then hood constraining stability improves, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex piston mechanisms are extracted and replaced with simpler classical hinge structures. The hinge system uses only rotating and translating movements without incorporating pistons or complex mechanical mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining installation stability through the engaging elements and seats.
Solution Approach 2:
The classical hinges are designed to be self-sufficient for the installation process, requiring no additional complex mechanical assistance. The engaging elements and seats work together to provide both rotation and translation capabilities inherently, eliminating the need for piston-based mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple people are required for hood installation, then installation stability and precision improve, but installation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is designed to enable self-installation by a single user. The engaging elements and seats provide intuitive rotational and translational movements that allow one person to independently install the hood with precise positioning, eliminating the need for multiple people and reducing both installation time and labor costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge system uses uniform classical hinge structures on both sides of the hood, providing consistent and symmetrical installation characteristics. This homogeneity allows a single installer to work efficiently without requiring coordination between multiple people, while maintaining precise installation quality through the standardized engaging elements and seats.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a hood (2) and cabinet (3) assembly (1) comprising a motorised hood (2) having a containing framework (4); a kitchen cabinet (3) that extends along a predefined direction of vertical extension (Y-Y) and having at least two side walls (11, 12) and a rear wall (13) to define a volume (V), said side (11, 12) and rear (13) walls extending parallel with respect to said predefined direction of vertical extension (Y-Y), said side walls (11, 12) being opposite one another; said motorised hood (2) being housed in said volume (V) of said cabinet (3). The assembly (1) has the characteristic of comprising a first pair of engaging elements (20) arranged on a respective side wall (11, 12) of said cabinet (3) and projecting from each respective side wall (11, 12) towards the opposite side wall (11, 12), said first pair of engaging elements (20) defining a rotation axis (X-X) that extends perpendicular with respect to said direction of vertical extension (Y-Y); a first pair of seats (30) provided in said containing framework (4) configured for fitting a respective engaging element of first pair of engaging elements (20) so as to allow a rotation of said containing framework (4) about said rotation axis (X-X) during a step of insertion/extraction of said hood (2) in said volume (V) of said cabinet (3); a second pair of engaging elements (40) arranged on said containing framework (4) so that each element of said pair of engaging elements (40) faces a respective side wall (11, 12) of said cabinet (3), when said motorised hood is received in said volume (V); a second pair of seats (50) arranged on a respective side wall (11, 12) of said cabinet (3) configured for fitting a respective engaging element of second pair of engaging elements (20) so as to pass from a first operative configuration in which said hood (2) is firmly constrained to said cabinet to a second operative configuration in which said hood (2) is free to rotate about said rotation axis (X-X).