Monitor Support Hinge Structure for Stable Horizontal Folding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support structures for flat monitors lack stability during folding, leading to potential falls and damage due to the shifting gravity center when transitioning from a vertical to a horizontal state, as they do not effectively restrain the monitor from rotating from a vertical to a horizontal position.
Innovation Solution
A support structure with a main hinge featuring a stop member and a non-parallel four-bar linkage mechanism, where the auxiliary connection member, base hinge, and main hinge work together to rotate the stop member, allowing the monitor to be securely folded horizontally by altering the stopping location and maintaining stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support structure is designed to allow the monitor to rotate from vertical to horizontal state for folding, then the folding function is improved, but the stability deteriorates due to gravity center shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is designed to preemptively counteract the harmful rotation caused by gravity center shifting. When the monitor is in the vertical state during folding, the stop member engages with the limiting groove to prevent the monitor from rotating to the horizontal state, thereby stabilizing the structure before the instability can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The stop member can rotate along with the main hinge and connect to different positions on the limiting groove, enabling the stopping location to be gradually altered as the folding progresses, thus maintaining stability throughout the dynamic folding process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a stop member is added to prevent monitor rotation, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is integrated with the main hinge assembly rather than being a separate independent component. The stop member shares the rotation axis with the main hinge and is connected to the connecting rod that is already part of the four-bar linkage mechanism, thereby merging multiple functions into existing structures and minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop member serves multiple functions: it acts as a stopping mechanism to prevent monitor rotation, it rotates along with the main hinge to alter the stopping location, and it connects to the limiting groove to guide the folding motion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the stop member is fixed, then the stopping function is simple, but the folding range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to rotate and connect to different positions on the limiting groove. This dynamic capability enables the stopping location to be gradually altered as the folding progresses, thereby expanding the folding range from a single fixed position to multiple variable positions throughout the folding process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a support structure, which comprises a connection unit, a base, at least a base hinge, at least a main hinge and at least an auxiliary connection member. Through folding the connection unit towards the base, an upper end of the auxiliary connection member links an upper shaft ring pivoted with the main hinge to rotate, and further drives a moveable shaft rod and a stop member of the main hinge to rotate, thereby gradually altering the stopping location, and the object to be supported is enabled to be horizontally folded; as such, the object to be supported can be maintain in a stable state during the folding process, thereby preventing the occurrence of falling.