Seesaw-Locking Hinge Assembly for Simple Fold-and-Return Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge assemblies are complicated, leading to reduced assembly efficiency and increased production costs due to numerous components, which complicates folding and unfolding operations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly comprising a hinge rotation body, a hinge support body, and a locking member that allows easy rotation and locking/unlocking through a seesaw motion of the locking member, facilitating efficient folding and unfolding with a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional hinge assemblies use multiple components and complex folding mechanisms, then the support object can be folded and unfolded, but the assembly efficiency is reduced and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the locking mechanism and folding mechanism into a single integrated hinge assembly. The locking member is integrated within the hinge structure, eliminating the need for separate locking devices and folding mechanisms. This integration reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall configuration while maintaining the functionality of both locking and folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly performs multiple functions through a single structure: it provides both the folding function (rotating the support object between folded and unfolded states) and the locking function (securing the support object in the unfolded state). The locking member and hinge body work together to achieve both objectives, making the device multi-functional and reducing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional hinge assemblies use many components, then the folding and unfolding function is achieved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into fewer integrated parts. The hinge body incorporates the locking mechanism, and the locking member is designed to work within the hinge structure itself. This merging reduces the total number of components from many separate parts to a streamlined set of integrated components, lowering production cost while preserving the folding and unfolding functionality.
3Reliability
If conventional hinge assemblies use complex locking mechanisms, then the support object is securely locked, but the assembly time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock when the support object is in the unfolded state, without requiring manual intervention or complex assembly steps. The locking member automatically interacts with the hinge body to secure the position, reducing assembly time while ensuring reliable locking. The mechanism serves itself by utilizing the natural movement of the support object to trigger the locking action.
4Ease of operation
If conventional hinge assemblies use multiple folding actuators and locking regulators, then the folding operation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from conventional hinge assemblies. Instead of using separate folding actuators and locking regulators, the invention integrates these functions directly into the hinge body and locking member. This extraction of redundant components simplifies the mechanism while maintaining the ease of folding operation through the streamlined design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an improved hinge assembly, and more particularly, which consists of a hinge rotation body and a hinge support body, so that the hinge rotation body and the hinge support body are easily rotated to each other by hinge rotation and, in addition, the hinge rotation body and the hinge support body are easily returned to their original positions by an operation to push any one of the hinge rotation body and the hinge support body after hinge rotation to thus significantly improve convenience as well as usability. Further, since the above components are locked or unlocked based on the left and right seesaw movement due to displacement of center of gravity of the locking member, a simple configuration may be adopted to greatly improve productivity as well as assembly efficiency and reduce production cost.