Natural Polymer Hinge Structure for Easy Demolding and Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinging products made from natural polymers face challenges in ease of manufacture, handling, and repetitive use, as they often require complex hinge constructions that are difficult to form and manipulate.
Innovation Solution
A hinging product design featuring a flexible sheet element and a bridge portion made of natural polymers, where the bridge portion forms a rigid connection initially to facilitate easy handling and demolding, and then breaks or tears to allow repetitive pivoting, with the flexible sheet element maintaining connection between parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinge construction with only flexible sheet elements is used, then repetitive hinging is enabled, but the product parts cannot be easily handled and demolded due to lack of initial rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
A bridge portion made of natural polymer material is provided in advance during molding to give initial rigidity for easy handling and demolding. This bridge portion is designed to break after first use, leaving only the flexible sheet element for repetitive hinging.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge construction is divided into two functional segments: a bridge portion that provides initial rigidity and breaks after first use, and a flexible sheet element that enables repetitive hinging. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.
2Ease of operation
If a complex hinge construction is used to enable repetitive hinging, then flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanism for enabling repetitive hinging is simplified by extracting only the essential flexible sheet element that needs to remain, while the bridge portion is designed to break and be discarded after serving its initial rigidity function.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the bridge portion are specifically designed to change from rigid (during molding and handling) to broken (after first hinging), while the flexible sheet element maintains its flexibility parameter throughout repeated use.
3Ease of operation
If the bridge portion remains rigid, then handling is easy, but repetitive hinging is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge portion performs its preliminary function of providing rigidity for handling and demolding, then is designed to break after first use, automatically transitioning the product to its repetitive hinging mode without requiring additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion is designed as a disposable element that serves its purpose during molding and initial handling, then breaks and is discarded, allowing the permanent flexible sheet element to perform repetitive hinging functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Product made using a mass that includes natural polymers, wherein the product has at least a first product part connected by a hinge construction to a second product part, wherein the hinge construction has at least one flexible sheet element and at least one bridge portion made of the mass that includes natural polymers, wherein the hinge construction is designed such that, prior to a first time hinging, the at least one bridge portion forms a more rigid connection between the first and second product parts than the flexible sheet element and by hinging the bridge portion is severed, such that the first and second parts are substantially only connected by the at least one flexible sheet element.