Self-Sealing Butt Hinge With Integrated Liquid Barrier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door and window hinges require additional sealing to prevent water infiltration, which complicates installation and reduces the reliability of weatherproofing.
Innovation Solution
A self-sealing hinge design featuring a frame interface assembly with a sealing member that creates a liquid barrier at attachment points, eliminating the need for additional silicone sealant and allowing for thinner frames, thus reducing material and construction costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional butt hinges are used, then the hinge provides basic pivoting function, but additional sealing is required to prevent water infiltration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function with the hinge structure by integrating a sealing member into the frame interface assembly. The sealing member is positioned within the frame channel and works in conjunction with the frame leaf and sash leaf to create a self-sealing mechanism that prevents water infiltration through the hinge attachment points, eliminating the need for separate sealing materials and steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is designed to be self-sealing through the interaction of its components. The frame interface assembly with its sealing member automatically prevents water infiltration when the sash is installed, without requiring external sealing materials or additional sealing steps during installation. The structure itself provides the sealing function.
2Reliability
If additional sealing materials are used, then water infiltration is prevented, but installation time and steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the hinge assembly structure itself. The frame interface assembly includes a sealing member that is integrated with the frame leaf, creating a unified component that provides both structural support and water infiltration prevention in a single installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly provides self-sealing functionality through its built-in sealing member. When the sash is installed in the frame channel, the sealing member automatically prevents water infiltration without requiring additional sealing materials or steps, thereby maintaining high installation efficiency while ensuring reliable water protection.
3Weight of stationary object
If frame thickness is reduced, then material cost and weight decrease, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The frame interface assembly utilizes a composite structure combining the frame leaf, sealing member, and sash leaf. This composite design allows for optimized material distribution where the frame channel can be thinner because the sealing member and leaf structures provide additional structural support and functional integration, reducing overall frame material requirements while maintaining strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge for coupling a movable element to a frame that defines an opening that receives the movable element. The hinge includes a frame interface assembly adapted to attach to the frame at one or more attachment points. The frame interface assembly includes a frame leaf and a sealing member, the frame leaf defines a mounting face adapted to abut an exterior surface of the frame and a plurality of spaced apart knuckles. The sealing member defines an attachment point liquid barrier sealing face abutting an interior surface of the frame opposite the mounting face. The hinge further includes a sash leaf adapted to attach to the window sash, with the sash leaf defining one or more knuckles, and a pin assembly including a hinge pin extending through the knuckles of the frame leaf and the knuckles of the sash leaf to couple the frame leaf and the sash leaf.