Lifting Hinge With Adjustable Zero Position for Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard lifting hinges for shower doors are not adaptable to uneven bathroom surfaces and require complex screw-based mechanisms for adjustment, leading to material damage and wear, making them difficult to reconfigure and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A lifting hinge with a cam surface and cam follower mechanism that allows for axial displacement to set and reconfigure the zero position without screws, enabling easy installation and reconfiguration by a single user, using frictional forces to lock the hinge in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard lifting hinges with predefined angle ranges and pre-set zero positions are used, then the hinge structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the hinge cannot be adapted to uneven bathroom surfaces or imperfect angular relationships between walls and floor surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge transitions from a static, fixed zero position design to a dynamic, adjustable zero position design. The adjustable zero position mechanism allows the hinge to adapt to uneven bathroom surfaces and imperfect angular relationships by enabling the user to reconfigure the zero position after installation, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge allows changes in the zero position parameter after installation. By enabling adjustment of the zero position through a reconfigurable mechanism, the hinge can accommodate various surface conditions and angular relationships without requiring a completely different hinge design, thus improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If screw-based mechanisms are used to adjust the zero position, then the hinge can be reconfigured, but the screws destroy material inside the hinge making small reconfigurations impossible and introducing wear and tear that loosens over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment function from a destructive screw-based system to a non-destructive mechanical adjustment system. The adjustment mechanism allows the zero position to be reconfigured without making permanent holes in the hinge components, enabling small reconfigurations and maintaining material integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between reconfigurability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of repeated adjustments (which would loosen screw-based systems) into a benefit by designing a mechanism where adjustments can be made repeatedly without wear and tear. The mechanical adjustment system allows the locking effect to remain secure over time, transforming the issue of reconfigurability into a reliability enhancement rather than a degradation.
3Ease of operation
If screws are inserted radially into the hinge to lock components, then the lifting function can be activated, but additional wear and tear occurs during repeated use requiring repeated re-adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of repeated adjustments (which increase device complexity and user burden) into a benefit by designing a wear-free adjustment mechanism. The mechanical adjustment system eliminates the wear and tear associated with radial screw insertion, allowing the lifting function to remain activated without requiring repeated re-adjustments, thus reducing the frequency of interventions while maintaining ease of operation.
4Ease of operation
If the screw is introduced from the bottom side of the hinge, then the lifting function can be activated, but work intensive dismounting is required to perform reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the reconfiguration capability from a process requiring complete dismounting to a process that can be performed in situ. The mechanical adjustment mechanism allows the zero position to be reconfigured without removing the hinge from the installation location, significantly reducing the effort required for repair and reconfiguration while maintaining the ease of activating the lifting function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust, cost-effective, and user-friendly hinge that can be repeatedly adjusted without damaging internal components, extending its lifespan and simplifying the installation process, while maintaining a secure seal against the floor.
Implementation Method 1
using frictional forces to lock the hinge in place
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lifting hinge for e.g. a door leaf, a window or the like, a shower door assembly and a method for configuring a zero position for a shower door mounted to a lifting hinge. The lifting hinge 1 comprises a first part 2 having a cam surface 3, a second part 4 having a cam follower 5 facing the cam surface 3, and a first engagement surface 6. The lifting hinge further has a locking part 7 with a second engagement surface 8 facing the first engagement surface. The second part is axially displaceable along a rotational axis 101 such that the lifting hinge is arrangeable in a configurational mode and in an operational mode.