Hollow Plastic Pen Front With Interdigitating Hinge Knuckles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal pen confinement systems face challenges in providing flexible door operation, preventing cross-contamination of feed and water, and accommodating varying animal sizes, as they often require additional hinges and fasteners, and lack effective containment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates multiple integrated interlocking knuckle locations for flexible door positioning, a pail cross-over guard to prevent contamination, and an adjustable feed opening restrictor, allowing the door to hinge from either side and swing inward or outward, with a detachable door stop for secure latching and alignment, and a snap-in feature for the guard that requires no mechanical fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple door configurations are implemented using traditional hinges, then door flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring secondary or add-on hinges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hinge configurations into a single integrated hinge assembly that includes a hinge body, hinge pin, and multiple hinge leaves. This unified structure provides multiple door configurations (single-sided hinge, double-sided hinge, concealed hinge) without requiring separate secondary hinges, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining door flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is designed as a universal component that can function in multiple configurations. The same hinge body and pin structure can accommodate different door mounting scenarios (left-hinged, right-hinged, top-hinged, bottom-hinged) and different door types (panel doors, flush doors, glass doors) without requiring different hinge components, thus achieving multi-functionality with a single device
2Strength
If traditional fastening methods are used for the door, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is designed as a removable component that can be easily inserted and removed from the hinge body and door leaves. This dynamic feature allows the door assembly to be quickly assembled and disassembled without permanent fastening, improving ease of operation while maintaining structural integrity when assembled. The hinge pin acts as a reversible connector that provides both temporary ease of assembly and permanent structural strength when in place
3Adaptability or versatility
If feed openings are enlarged to accommodate larger animals, then adaptability is improved, but contamination control worsens as smaller animals can exit through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The feed opening is segmented into two functional zones: an upper feed dispensing area and a lower restricted area. The feed trough or feeder mechanism is positioned in the upper portion where larger animals can access feed, while the lower portion remains restricted. This segmentation allows the opening to serve both purposes: accommodating larger animals for feeding while preventing smaller animals from exiting through the lower restricted zone
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the feed opening have different functional qualities. The upper portion of the opening has an open quality that allows access for larger animals, while the lower portion has a restricted quality that prevents smaller animals from passing through. This local differentiation of opening characteristics enables simultaneous accommodation of different animal sizes while maintaining containment control
Data Source
AI summary
A generally hollow plastic molded pen front provides multiple operating positions of the door having sets of interdigitating hinge knuckles on the door and door jamb on both the left and right side. The door also may be swung in or out, and one or more stops can be provided for any of four configurations—left hinged swing in; left hinged swing out; right hinged swing in; right hinged swing out. With the stops removed, the door may be swung both in and out. In one embodiment a J-shaped latching rod secures both the upper and lower portions of the door when latched and a J-shaped hinge rod cooperates on the other side and can use some of the same holes as the latching rod. In another embodiment, a pivoting handle works to secure the door in a catch channel for all six configurations. Other integrated features provide a choice of feed opening sizes and a guard that minimizes feed and water contamination.