Shower Hinge Segmented Body for Plumb Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinged doors in shower cabins are unbalanced when constrained laterally, leading to stress on hinges, aesthetic issues with bulky hinges, and limited adjustment capabilities for non-squared walls and floors, resulting in potential breakage and wear.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system comprising a primary and secondary body with a 'H'-shaped cross section, allowing adjustable orientation and positioning of the door with minimal encumbrance, incorporating a locking mechanism for stability and concealment within the door's recesses, enabling precise alignment and plumb adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hinges are installed along the side edge of the hinged door, then the door can be easily aligned with non-plumb walls, but the hinges are considerably stressed by the door weight and at risk of breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into two separate bodies: a first body mounted on the door and a second body mounted on the wall. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function and mounting position, enabling the door to be aligned with non-plumb walls while distributing the weight-bearing function to the lower-mounted second body, thereby reducing stress on the alignment-critical first body.
2Reliability
If hinges are installed along the upper and lower edges of the hinged door, then the weight of the door is more balanced, but the hinges are bulky and generate aesthetic problems
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge components are designed to be nested within recesses: the first body is received in a recess along the side edge of the door, and the second body is received in a recess along the upper edge of the door. This nesting conceals the mechanical components, providing a sleek aesthetic appearance while maintaining the balanced weight distribution achieved through upper-and-lower mounting.
3Reliability
If hinges are installed along the upper and lower edges of the hinged door, then the weight is balanced, but the hinges are subject to greater wear due to exposure to water, soaps and detergents
Solution Approach 1:
Both the first and second hinge bodies are nested within recesses that can be covered by profiled elements. The first body is nested in a recess along the side edge, and the second body is nested in a recess along the upper edge. This nesting provides protection from water, soaps, and detergents, reducing wear while maintaining the balanced weight distribution.
4Shape
If a hinge with minimal encumbrance is used, then the hinge can be concealed within the door, but the hinge must still be sufficiently strong and durable
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge bodies are designed to be received within recesses in the door and wall, minimizing encumbrance and allowing concealment. Despite the compact size, the hinge maintains sufficient strength through optimized geometry and material selection, with the first body providing alignment functionality and the second body providing stable weight-bearing support.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is segmented into two functional bodies with distinct roles: the first body mounted on the door handles alignment and positioning, while the second body mounted on the wall handles the primary weight-bearing function. This segmentation allows each component to be minimized in size for concealment while collectively providing the necessary strength and durability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A hinge installable on a hinged door, preferably of a shower cabin, comprises a primary body installable at a recess obtained along an edge of a hinged door. The primary body has an upper groove and a lower groove shaped to couple with a portion of the hinged door in which the recess is present. The hinge further comprises a secondary body insertable in the upper groove and has a length less than that of the upper groove so as to be slidably movable therein to allow the adjustment of the orientation of the hinged door. The secondary body has a hole adapted to receive a rotating pin for the movement of the hinged door. At least one locking element is interposable between the primary body and the secondary body and, furthermore, is configurable at least in a constraint position in which it maintains the same secondary body in a static and stable position with respect to the primary body. A hinged door comprising the aforesaid hinge also forms an object of the present invention.