Multi-Axis Shower Door Hinge for Zero-Gap Panel Overlap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges in shower door assemblies result in a large included angle and gap between door panels at extreme positions, occupying excessive space and limiting user mobility.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design with a hinge part group featuring parallel axes and C-shaped structures to ensure door panels overlap without abutting, allowing for a 0° included angle and compact structure, incorporating concave cavities and flexible elements for water-proofing and collision prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional hinge with a single hinge pin is used to connect door panels, then the hinge structure is simple, but the door panels cannot fully overlap and approach each other, resulting in a large included angle and excessive space occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into multiple hinge parts (first hinge part and second hinge part) with multiple parallel hinge axes instead of a single hinge pin. This segmentation allows the door panels to rotate through a larger range and fully overlap, reducing the included angle to 0° and minimizing space occupation while maintaining structural feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-axis rotation to multi-axis parallel rotation by introducing multiple hinge axes (first, second, third, fourth axes) that are parallel to each other. This dimensional change enables the door panels to achieve complete overlap and approach without the geometric constraints of a single-axis hinge
2Strength
If the door panels are designed with specific thickness for structural integrity, then the door panels are strong and durable, but they cause a relatively large gap at ends away from the hinge pin when fully closed
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hinge into multiple parts with multiple parallel axes, the rotation path of the door panels is optimized. This allows the door panels to maintain their structural thickness for strength while achieving complete edge-to-edge overlap when closed, eliminating the gap problem that occurs with single-axis hinges
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple hinge axes act as intermediaries that facilitate the rotation and overlap of door panels with significant thickness. The parallel axes configuration allows the panels to rotate and fully overlap without the geometric constraints of a single-axis system, maintaining both strength and minimal gap
3Adaptability or versatility
If the door panels are designed with larger width for better functionality, then the door panels provide improved performance, but a larger gap is caused between the door panels at the ends away from the hinge pin
Solution Approach 1:
The transition to multi-axis parallel rotation changes the geometric relationship between door panels of larger width. The multiple parallel axes enable wider panels to rotate and fully overlap without the increasing gap problem that would occur with a single-axis hinge, maintaining functionality while achieving edge-to-edge closure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A hinge and a shower door assembly are provided. The hinge includes a first body (1), a second body (2), and a hinge part group (3). The first body (1) includes a first panel body (11) and a first convex part (12). The second body (2) includes a second panel body (21) and a second convex part (22). The hinge part group (3) includes a first hinge part (31) and a second hinge part (32). The first hinge part (31) has a first bent section (312), a second bent section (313), and a first connecting section (311). The second hinge part (32) has a third bent section (322), a fourth bent section (323), and a second connecting section (321). The first bent section (312) and the third bent section (322) are hinged in a first concave cavity (13) that is disposed on the first panel body (11) and the first convex part (12). The second bent section (313) and the fourth bent section (323) are hinged in a second concave cavity (23) that is disposed on the second panel body (21) and the second convex part (22). The shower door assembly further includes a first door panel (4) and a second door panel (5) that are connected by using the hinge.