Journal Supported Hinge Bidirectional Lateral Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current journal-supported hinges provide only one-directional lateral adjustment, which is imprecise and costly due to complex structures and the tendency of adjustment screws to sink into materials like wood, limiting their usability and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A journal-supported hinge design with a first and second leaf part, each with rolls and openings for adjustment screws, a base plate with a projection and edge opening, allowing for precise lateral adjustment in both directions by rotating adjustment screws, which are pre-installed for easy and accurate positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adjustment screws are used for lateral adjustment, then adjustment capability is provided, but the screws sink into the material (e.g., wood) causing imprecision and reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral adjustment capabilityVSAvoidadjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A base plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the adjustment screws and the door material. The base plate distributes the adjustment force over a larger area, preventing the screws from sinking into the material while maintaining adjustment capability. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing both adjustment functionality and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex adjustment structures are used to achieve bidirectional adjustment, then adjustment versatility is improved, but device complexity increases and cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebidirectional lateral adjustmentVSAvoidhinge structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge is divided into separate functional components: a base plate for adjustment functionality and leaf parts for structural support. This segmentation allows the complex adjustment mechanism to be isolated to a specific component, simplifying the overall design and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining bidirectional adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate serves multiple functions: it provides the adjustment surface for lateral adjustment, distributes mechanical loads, and prevents screw sinking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby simplifying the overall hinge structure while achieving bidirectional adjustment.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If adjustment screws are pre-set in the factory, then ease of installation is improved, but adjustment precision in both directions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefactory pre-settingVSAvoidlateral adjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge design allows the adjustment screws to be dynamically adjusted after installation rather than being statically fixed at the factory. The base plate provides a stable platform that enables precise post-installation adjustments in both lateral directions, combining ease of factory pre-setting with high adjustment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2857619B1Journal supported hinge
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 ABLOY OY
  • EP2857619B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2857619B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP2857619B1 patent drawingFigure 9~11

AI summary

A hinge according to the invention provides proper lateral adjustment possibility in both lateral directions, i.e. towards the side of the door provided with the lock or towards the side of the door provided with the hinges as viewed from the vertical centre line of the door.