Soft-Closing Hinge Non-Circular Spring Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing soft-closing hinges for furniture suffer from reduced service life due to point contact between the metal spring and the flexible material, leading to noise and instability during opening and closing operations.
Innovation Solution
A soft-closing hinge design featuring a metal torsion spring with a non-circular cross section and a sliding member with a concave chamber, which changes the contact from point to linear, reducing friction and noise, and includes a self-resetting damper with a switch member for adjustable buffer stroke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a circular cross-section metal spring is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but point contact with the flexible material causes reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the spring cross-section from circular to non-circular shape (square, rectangular, or oval). This asymmetric geometry transforms the contact interface from point contact to line contact with the flexible material, distributing the stress over a larger area and significantly reducing wear, thereby extending service life while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a sliding member with a concave chamber that preliminarily guides and positions the spring before contact with the flexible material occurs. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and distributes contact forces along a line rather than at a single point, preventing premature wear and extending component service life
2Device complexity
If a metal spring directly contacts the flexible material, then the structure is simple, but noise is generated during hinge operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sliding member as an intermediary component between the metal spring and the flexible material. This mediator reduces direct metal-to-flexible material contact and associated noise through the concave chamber design that guides and cushions the interaction, dampening operational noises while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding member with concave chamber performs preliminary guidance and cushioning of the spring before full contact with the flexible material, preventing sudden impacts and reducing operational noise during hinge movement
3Area of stationary object
If point contact is used between spring and flexible material, then the contact area is small and friction is concentrated, but this reduces service life
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the spring cross-section from circular to non-circular geometry, the patent transforms the contact interface from point contact to line contact, increasing the effective contact area and distributing friction forces along a line rather than concentrating them at a single point, thereby reducing wear and extending service life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the contact interface from zero-dimensional point contact to one-dimensional line contact by changing the spring cross-sectional geometry. This dimensional change increases the contact area and distributes mechanical stresses and friction forces over a larger area, reducing wear rates and extending component service life
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 design enhances the service life, reduces noise, and provides smooth operation with adjustable closing force and speed, improving user experience and practicality.
Implementation Method 1
a spring for at least exerting an opening or closing force to the movable hinge cup (1) being disposed in the hinge
Implementation Method 2
a damper being disposed on the movable hinge cup (1), the damper (5) acting on the hinge arm (2) at least when the hinge is closed
Data Source
AI summary
Soft-closing hinge for furniture comprising a movable hinge cup coupled to a door panel, a securing member coupled to a wall panel and a hinge arm configured to couple the hinge cup to the securing member. A damper on the hinge cup acts on the hinge arm at least when the hinge is closed. A spring is disposed in the hinge. One end of the hinge arm is hinged to the hinge cup. A cross section of an end of the spring is non-circular and has a sliding member with a concave chamber disposed thereon. An end of the spring is disposed in the concave chamber. A bottom surface of the sliding member acts on a rotation portion of the hinge arm via elasticity of the spring and moves relative to the rotation portion when the hinge is opened and/or closed to generate an opening or closing force.