Shower Door Hinge With Internal Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinges for shower doors and partitions often have complex external locking and resetting mechanisms that compromise their compact design, leading to aesthetic issues and increased dirt accumulation, which can impair functionality, especially in humid environments.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design with an encapsulated structure featuring a contact surface and counter surface interaction that maintains the door's position without external protrusions, utilizing an energy accumulator to ensure the door remains closed or open, eliminating the need for external locking mechanisms and reducing dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external locking and resetting mechanisms are used on the hinge, then the door can be secured in desired positions, but the hinge size increases and visual appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and resetting mechanisms are nested within the hinge body itself, with the contact element and energy storage device integrated into the hinge's internal structure. This eliminates the need for external protruding components while maintaining the door positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions (locking, resetting, energy storage) into a single integrated hinge assembly. The contact element, energy storage device, and hinge body work together as one unified mechanism, eliminating separate external components.
2Reliability
If external locking mechanisms are used on the hinge, then the door can be secured in desired positions, but the hinge's visual appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
All functional components are nested within the hinge body, creating a clean, streamlined external appearance without visible levers, rods, or external locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional mechanisms are merged into the hinge's overall structure, making the hinge appear as a simple, elegant component rather than a complex assembly of separate parts.
3Reliability
If larger hinge components are used for locking mechanisms, then the door can be secured in desired positions, but larger surfaces accumulate dirt and grime
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting all locking and resetting components within the hinge body, the patent eliminates external surfaces where dirt could accumulate. The compact internal structure has minimal exposed surfaces, making it resistant to dirt and grime accumulation in shower environments.
4Reliability
If complex locking systems are used on the hinge, then the door can be secured in desired positions, but the hinge requires more components that can malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a minimal number of components. The contact element with its biasing mechanism and energy storage device creates a self-contained system that achieves reliable door positioning with fewer parts than traditional external locking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage device automatically resets the contact element after the door is closed, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex resetting mechanisms. The system serves itself by automatically returning to its initial state.
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 compact and aesthetically pleasing hinge design enhances user comfort and ease of cleaning, prevents water leakage, and ensures a long service life by encapsulating all locking elements, reducing susceptibility to errors or defects.
Implementation Method 1
at least one energy storage device (4) arranged in the counter-fitting part (2), which extends along a longitudinal axis (LA) and acts on a contact element (5) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (LA)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
Hinge (100) for pivoting a door (101), in particular a door (101) of a shower enclosure (110), comprising: - a door fitting part (1) and a counter fitting part (2), wherein the door fitting part (1) has a pivot pin (3) which is pivotably mounted in the counter fitting part (2) about an axis of rotation (DA) between a closed position (S) and at least one open position (O), - at least one energy storage device (4) arranged in the counter fitting part (2), - at least one contact element (5) arranged in the counter fitting part (2) which is in contact with the pivot pin (3) at least partially on its circumference (U), wherein the contact element (5) is movably mounted in a guide (6) in the counter fitting part (2) and can be actuated by the at least one energy storage device (4), wherein the pivot pin (3) has at least one contact surface (7, 7', 7") and the contact element (5) at least one corresponding counter surface (8) has,wherein in the closed position (S) and/or the at least one open position (O) of the door fitting part (1) the at least one contact surface (7, 7', 7") engages with the at least one corresponding counter surface (8).