Internal-Hinge Protective Enclosure for Outdoor Display Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective enclosures for outdoor electronic display screens are cumbersome, aesthetically unpleasing, and prone to failure due to exposed hinges that are susceptible to corrosion and wear, compromising durability and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A protective enclosure with internal hinges and a gasket-sealed design that shields the hinge mechanism from environmental exposure, featuring a knuckle-and-shaft hinge system with torque resistance and limited pivoting range, housed within the enclosure's internal space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external hinges are used for access and maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to corrosion and wear from environmental exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess and maintenanceVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge mechanism is nested within the protective enclosure, with the hinge interface positioned inside the space defined by the base shell and lid. This internal positioning protects the hinge from environmental exposure while maintaining functionality, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the display screen is placed inside a larger box for protection, then protection from environmental factors is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to bulky external enclosure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from environmental factorsVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The protective enclosure uses a sleek, form-fitting design with a lid that closely follows the contours of the base shell, eliminating the need for bulky external enclosures. The thin-profile design provides environmental protection while maintaining aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If internal hinges are used to improve reliability, then durability is improved, but device complexity increases due to internal hinge mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidhinge mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge interface is extracted and positioned within the internal space of the enclosure, separating the hinge mechanism from the external environment. This extraction protects the hinge while keeping the overall design relatively simple by utilizing the existing internal space rather than adding external complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4627965A1Protective enclosure
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 TOPGOLF SWEDEN AB
  • EP4627965A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4627965A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4627965A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An enclosure includes a base shell, a lid and at least one hinge coupled between the lid and the base shell to enable relative pivoting thereof between open and closed states. The base shell has a face edge extending forward of a rear wall to define a top side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side. The lid has a front cover and first and second side walls. An interface of the hinge is within a space defined by the face edge, the rear wall, the top side, the bottom side, the left side and the right side of the base shell.