Rotational Damper Hinge for Quiet Toilet Seat Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toilet seat hinges fail to effectively prevent slamming of the toilet seat or lid onto the toilet bowl, leading to noise and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A toilet seat hinge with a rotational damper system that includes a hinge base, a hinge pin, and a clip, where the damper is rotatably mounted on the hinge pin and includes arms that are compressed by the clip to provide varying damping forces, preventing the seat or lid from slamming by generating frictional resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional hinge is used, then the structure is simple, but the seat slams onto the bowl causing noise and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damper as an intermediary component between the hinge pin and the seat assembly. This damper includes a piston and damping element that mediates the motion between the seat and bowl, providing controlled resistance to prevent slamming while maintaining a relatively simple overall hinge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge incorporates a dynamic damping mechanism that provides variable resistance based on the speed of motion. The damper's friction elements and spring components create speed-dependent damping forces, allowing free motion at low speeds while providing strong resistance during rapid closing movements that cause slamming.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a damper system is added to prevent slamming, then the harmful slamming effect is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damper components are nested within the existing hinge structure. The piston fits inside the damper housing, which in turn is integrated into the hinge assembly. This nested arrangement provides damping functionality while minimizing the overall space required and avoiding a bulky appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components. The damper's piston rod is integrated with the hinge pin, and the damping element is combined with spring components to create a multi-functional assembly that provides both damping and structural support within a unified structure.
3Force
If the damper arm is compressed more, then the damping force increases to prevent slamming, but the friction and wear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damper employs parameter changes in the form of a spring element that varies the damping force based on compression. The spring constant and compression distance are optimized to provide high damping force during slamming events while maintaining lower friction during normal operation. The system dynamically adjusts the damping parameter based on the operational state.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping mechanism uses periodic compression and expansion of the spring element to provide controlled resistance. During normal seat movement, the spring maintains a baseline tension that provides gentle damping. During slamming events, the rapid compression creates high damping forces in a periodic manner that dissipates impact energy without sustained high friction.
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 damper system effectively prevents slamming by providing controlled frictional resistance, ensuring quiet operation and reducing wear on the hinge components.
Implementation Method 1
the arm is compressed a first amount by the clip to provide a first damping force, and in a second relative position, the arm is compressed a second amount by the clip to provide a second damping force
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet seat hinge that includes a hinge base mountable to a toilet and including a body having a bore; a hinge pin having a first portion disposed in the bore and a second portion that extends outside of the bore, where the hinge pin is rotatable relative to the body; a damper; and a clip. The damper includes a sleeve rotatably mounted on the first portion and an arm extending radially outward from the sleeve. The clip is disposed in the bore between the body and the damper, and the damper is rotatable relative to the clip such that in a first relative position, the arm is compressed a first amount by the clip to provide a first damping force, and in a second relative position, the arm is compressed a second amount, which is greater than the first amount, by the clip to provide a second damping force.