Soft Hinge Flap Door for Hunting Blind
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechanical hinges for lay-down type hunting blinds require significant force and dexterity to assemble and are prone to pin loss or misplacement, especially in adverse weather conditions, making setup and storage challenging.
Innovation Solution
A soft hinge system using tubular framework members with projecting arms and detent balls for secure assembly, eliminating the need for mechanical hinges and reducing the number of small parts, with cam spacers for adjustable door positioning and reinforcing strips to prevent fabric wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical hinges with pivot pins are used, then the door can be hinged and opened/closed, but significant force and dexterity are required to assemble and the pins can easily be misplaced or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hinge pin function with the door frame structure itself. The U-shaped channel in the door frame member integrates the pivot axis function into the frame, eliminating the need for separate pivot pins and clevis members. This merging reduces the number of small parts that can be lost while maintaining the hinging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pivot pin component from the hinge assembly and replaces it with a fabric-based soft hinge mechanism. The fabric material itself provides the pivoting capability through its flexibility, removing the need for rigid metal pins that are prone to being misplaced or lost.
2Reliability
If mechanical hinges with multiple components are used, then the door can be assembled, but the assembly process is difficult and frustrating in cold or adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fabric material as the hinge mechanism instead of rigid mechanical components. The fabric's flexibility allows it to bend and pivot without requiring precise alignment or forcing, making assembly reliable in cold or adverse weather conditions where rigid components would be difficult to maneuver.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric hinge is segmented into multiple layers or sections that can flex independently, allowing the door to pivot smoothly without requiring a single complex mechanical joint. This segmentation simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need to assemble multiple rigid components.
3Device complexity
If fabric material is used at the hinge point, then the number of small parts is reduced, but fabric wear may occur at the pivot point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates reinforcing strips or patches at the hinge points of the fabric material before assembly. These pre-applied reinforcements cushion and protect the fabric from excessive wear at the pivot points, extending the durability of the fabric hinge while maintaining the simplified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining fabric material with reinforcing elements (such as webbing, tape, or metal-free rigidizers) at the hinge points. This composite approach maintains the low-part-count advantage while significantly improving the strength and wear resistance of the fabric at critical stress points.
Data Source
AI summary
A flap door having a soft hinge for a lay-down hunting blind comprises a fabric door frame cover, a door frame receiving pocket formed in the door frame cover, a door frame enclosed within the door frame receiving pocket supporting the door frame cover in planar configuration, the door frame having interconnected U-shaped head end and toe end support members having curved head end and toe end hinge corners supported on the framework of the hunting blind's enclosure, a hinge end of the door frame cover attached to one of two opposing lateral edges of the top opening of the fabric enclosure of the blind without any direct mechanical interconnection between the door frame and the support framework of the enclosure such that a pair of flap doors may be moved between opened and closed configurations over the top opening.