Offset Axis Door Hinge for Full Width Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door hinges restrict the width of a doorway when the door is in the 'half-open' position, limiting the passage of large objects due to the alignment of the axis of rotation with the door frame, especially in thick doors like those found in refrigerated rooms.
Innovation Solution
A novel door hinge design featuring angled frame and door mounts with a pivotally connected axis of rotation positioned outward and laterally outboard of the doorway, ensuring the door does not block the opening when in the 'half-open' position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the axis of rotation is aligned with the door frame junction (conventional hinge configuration), then the door can be securely attached and rotated, but the doorway width is reduced when the door is in the half-open position
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge axis is repositioned from a conventional in-plane alignment to a three-dimensional configuration that extends outward from the door frame. This spatial reconfiguration allows the door to swing on an axis that is offset from the door's front surface, enabling the door to clear the doorway opening at intermediate angles without reducing the effective width.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge configuration is made asymmetric by positioning the axis of rotation at an offset from the door frame's front face. This asymmetric placement creates a lever arm that allows the door to swing outward and clear the opening, transforming the symmetric constraint of conventional hinges into an asymmetric solution that maintains full doorway width.
2Reliability
If the door thickness is increased for insulation (e.g., refrigerated rooms), then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the effective doorway width is further reduced when the door cannot open fully
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the hinge axis into a third dimension (outward from the door frame face), the system creates additional spatial freedom that accommodates thicker doors. The offset axis allows the door to swing in a larger arc, ensuring that even thick insulated doors can clear the opening completely at half-open positions without compromising the effective doorway width.
3Area of stationary object
If the door is positioned to allow full opening (conventional hinge), then the doorway is clear at half-open position, but the door cannot be securely attached at the frame junction
Solution Approach 1:
The offset hinge axis acts as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the door and door frame in a non-conventional manner. By positioning the rotation axis at an offset, the hinge creates a lever arm that allows the door to swing clear of the opening while maintaining secure attachment points on the frame, effectively mediating between the conflicting requirements of clearance and secure mounting.
Data Source
AI summary
A door hinge comprising: a frame mount configured to be mounted to a door frame which is disposed about a doorway; and a door mount configured to be mounted to a door which is to selectively close off the doorway; wherein the door mount is pivotally connected to the frame mount about an axis of rotation, and further wherein the door hinge is configured such that when the frame mount is mounted to a door frame, and when the door mount is mounted to a door, the axis of rotation of the door hinge is disposed outwards of the point of attachment of the door hinge to the door frame, and laterally outboard of the doorway.