Sliding Hinge Collapsible Discs Friction Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible devices with sliding arms lack efficient mechanisms to maintain structural integrity while allowing for repeated expansion and contraction, often requiring external forces and facing issues with stability in various configurations.
Innovation Solution
The use of a rotating hinge with a top and bottom section connected via living or sliding hinges, where the flanges change angle to move parallel to the discs, providing multiple configurations and stability through friction, allowing for repeated expansion and contraction without losing structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If sliding arms are used in collapsible devices, then structural integrity is maintained, but the device requires external forces for expansion and contraction and lacks stability in various configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism transitions from a static connection to a dynamic one, allowing the flanges to rotate and change angle automatically. The living hinge enables repeated bending while the frictional section provides dynamic friction-based stabilization, eliminating the need for external forces to maintain configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction coefficient in the frictional section is optimized to provide sufficient resistance to maintain stability in expanded and collapsed states without requiring external forces. The angle of the flanges changes dynamically from 0 degrees (collapsed) to 90 degrees (expanded), enabling automatic configuration transitions.
2Duration of action of moving object
If traditional hinges are used, then repeated expansion and contraction is possible, but structural integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The living hinge is formed from thinned plastic material that flexes repeatedly without breaking. This thin flexible section connects the flanges to the rotating hinge, allowing thousands of bending cycles while maintaining structural integrity through the controlled flexibility of the thinned material.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines rigid plastic sections (flanges, rotating hinge) with a flexible thinned plastic section (living hinge) in a single molded structure. This composite construction allows the rigid parts to maintain structural integrity while the flexible part enables repeated motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple configurations are enabled, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is divided into distinct functional sections: the living hinge for repeated bending, the frictional section for stabilization, and the rotating hinge for angle changes. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently without adding unnecessary complexity to the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The single hinge mechanism performs multiple functions: it allows repeated expansion and contraction through the living hinge, provides stability through friction, enables angle changes from 0 to 90 degrees, and maintains structural integrity. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each function.
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 solution enables the device to maintain structural integrity across various configurations, from fully expanded to fully collapsed states, with the frictional mechanism ensuring stability in each condition, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without external forces when at rest.
Implementation Method 1
The portion of the elements which rotate around a pin is called the 'frictional' section because in embodiments of the disclosed technology the top and bottom portion of the hinge which rotate around the pin. Friction hinders movement the top and bottom section relative to one another so that the device can rest in a stable configuration
Implementation Method 2
Living hinges of embodiments of the disclosed technology are formed from thinned plastic material between disc and a part of a rotating hinge
Data Source
AI summary
Collapsible discs move towards or away from each other in embodiments of the disclosed technology by changing the angle of flanges which connect the two discs together. The flanges connect to each respective disc by way of one of a living hinge and/or a slidable hinge where a slidable hinge is one which includes a crossbeam wider than a body of the flange which slides within a cavity of one of the discs. This can be accomplished with two flanges which move in opposite directions, or two sets of two flanges, each set offset 90 degrees from one another. The two flanges can also be arranged such that one passes through a portal in the other or arranged side by side.