Automotive Luggage Board Hinge Mechanism with Integrated Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional luggage board structures face issues with weight increase due to complex hinge mechanisms and relative positional shifts, which hinder the rotation angle of the spacer board and spring member, leading to increased weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with an integral hinge and a spring member where the restoring force generation portion is housed between the boards, with both ends of the spring member fixed to the boards, allowing for increased rotation angle while maintaining a lightweight and simple structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tip end of the arm of the spring member is slidably engaged with the auxiliary board to absorb relative positional shift, then the rotation of the spacer board and spring member is not hindered, but the length of the arm of the spring member must be elongated and the hinge mechanism becomes complicated, leading to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotation center of the spacer board and the center shaft of the spring member into the same position. This alignment eliminates relative positional shift between the two components during rotation, removing the need for sliding engagement mechanisms and elongated arms, thereby reducing overall structure weight while maintaining smooth rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the sliding engagement mechanism between the spring member arm tip and the auxiliary board. By aligning the rotation centers, the harmful relative positional shift is removed, and the unnecessary sliding components are taken out of the system, reducing complexity and weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rotation angle of the spacer board is increased to improve functionality, then the relative positional shift between the spacer board and spring member increases, but this significantly increases the weight of the structure when using conventional sliding engagement mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the rotation center of the spacer board with the center shaft of the spring member, the patent ensures that both components rotate together without relative positional shift. This allows the spacer board to achieve a larger rotation angle for improved functionality without requiring weighty sliding engagement mechanisms to compensate for increased relative displacement
3Device complexity
If a conventional hinge mechanism with separate rotation centers is used, then the structure is simpler in design, but the relative positional shift hinders the rotation of the spacer board and spring member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by positioning the rotation center of the spacer board and the center shaft of the spring member at the same location. This alignment ensures that both components rotate in unison without relative positional shift, eliminating rotation hindrance while maintaining a relatively simple hinge mechanism structure
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 proposed solution enables a lightweight and simple hinge mechanism that enhances the rotation angle of the luggage board structure, reducing weight and complexity while ensuring smooth operation and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member, in which a restoring force generation portion is housed in a space portion provided between the front end of the luggage board and a rear end of the auxiliary board
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism 29 that rotatably provides a luggage board 27 and an auxiliary board 28 continuously with each other while interposing an integral hinge 13 therebetween, in which a space portion S is provided between mutually opposite end surfaces 20 and 21 of the luggage board 27 and the auxiliary board 28, wherein a restoring force generation portion 30a of a spring member 30 is housed in the space portion S, and in addition, both end portions 31 and 32 of the spring member 30 are fixed to the luggage board 27 and the auxiliary board 28, respectively.