Snap Hinge With Series Springs For Full Door Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snap hinges for interior furniture, particularly in caravans, face issues such as partial door compression limiting maximum opening, accidental door opening during movement, and high structural complexity with increased production costs due to complex anchoring systems.
Innovation Solution
A snap hinge design featuring a first and second articulated quadrilateral with shared levers, a coupling plate anchored to the cabinet wall, and elastic means arranged in series between the levers and an abutment element, providing stable support in both open and closed configurations with reduced structural complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single spring is used in the snap hinge, then the structure is simple, but the door cannot achieve maximum opening and may accidentally open during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The single spring is divided into two separate springs that act on different articulated quadrilaterals. The first spring acts on the first articulated quadrilateral to provide support in the open configuration, while the second spring acts on the second articulated quadrilateral to prevent accidental opening in the closed configuration. This segmentation allows each spring to specialize in a specific function, improving overall reliability without requiring a complex single spring mechanism.
2Reliability
If two springs are arranged in parallel on a same articulated quadrilateral, then door support is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing two springs in parallel on the same articulated quadrilateral, the invention segments them to act on different quadrilaterals. The first spring is associated with the first articulated quadrilateral (comprising first lever, second lever, and coupling plate), while the second spring is associated with the second articulated quadrilateral (comprising first lever, second lever, and fixing plate). This distribution reduces structural complexity while achieving the desired door support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The two springs are arranged in series along the direction of motion of the door, rather than in parallel on the same plane. This dimensional arrangement allows the springs to work sequentially at different stages of door movement, providing stable support in both open and closed configurations without increasing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If a bridge-shaped coupling plate is used for anchoring, then door support stability is improved, but production costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the expensive bridge-shaped coupling plate with simpler, more cost-effective anchoring elements. The coupling plate and fixing plate are designed as simple plates with standard anchoring means (screws or other fastening elements), eliminating the need for complex bridge-shaped structures. This reduction in manufacturing complexity significantly lowers production costs while maintaining sufficient door support stability through the distributed spring system.
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 snap hinge ensures stable and safe support of closure elements in both configurations, allowing full door opening and preventing accidental opening, while minimizing production costs and structural complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring which acts between two mutually opposite points of one of the two articulated quadrilaterals
Implementation Method 2
a spring which acts between two mutually opposite points of one of the two articulated quadrilaterals
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A snap hinge for supporting a closure element, which comprises a first articulated quadrilateral (2) and a second articulated quadrilateral (3), which share a first lever (4) and a second lever (5), which have as their base element respectively a plate (6) for coupling to a fixed element (7) and a plate (8) for fixing to a closure element (9), an elastic element (12) acting between a point of the first lever (4) and a point of the second lever (5), and an auxiliary elastic element (13), arranged in series to the elastic element (12) and has one end articulated to the first lever (4) and the opposite end articulated to an abutment element (14) rigidly associated with the coupling plate (6).