Spring-Loaded Hinge Mechanism for Automatic Insect Screen Door Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect protection swing doors lack reliable automatic return mechanisms and require additional holding elements like magnets to maintain the closed position, which complicates their design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A swinging insect protection door with a holding frame and pivotable door frame, equipped with at least one spring-loaded door hinge that allows the door to pivot back into a closed position using a spring restoring force, eliminating the need for additional holding elements by utilizing a U-shaped first hinge part and a plate-like second hinge part with a spring bolt, and corner connectors to reinforce the frame structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional holding elements like magnets are used to maintain the closed position, then the door can be held reliably in the closed position, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for additional holding elements like magnets by extracting only the essential spring-loaded hinge mechanism. The spring hinge alone provides both the return force and the holding capability through its mechanical design, eliminating unnecessary components and reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded hinge is designed to automatically return the door to its closed position without requiring additional holding elements. The hinge serves itself by providing both the actuation force and the positioning function through its internal spring mechanism and control contours, making the system self-sufficient
2Extent of automation
If a spring-loaded door hinge with control contours is used, then automatic return to closed position is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control contours on the hinge parts are designed with curved geometries that guide the relative movement between hinge components. These curved paths provide automatic return functionality through geometric constraints rather than requiring high-precision machining, as the curvature naturally guides the door back to the closed position
Solution Approach 2:
The control contours act as an intermediary mechanism between the spring force and the door movement. Instead of directly translating spring force into door motion, the control contours mediate this interaction through their geometric shape, providing smooth automatic return while reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances
3Stability of the object's composition
If the door hinge provides holding in open position at 90° angle, then the door can be stably positioned when open, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge design provides dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing the door to be stably held at multiple positions including the 90° open position. The control contours are designed to create natural stopping points at specific angles, enabling stable positioning without additional mechanical stops or complex locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the return spring function with the positioning function into a single integrated hinge mechanism. The same spring-loaded hinge that provides automatic return also creates stable positioning at open positions through its control contour geometry, merging multiple functions into one component rather than requiring separate mechanisms
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 ensures the insect screen door automatically returns to its closed position and remains stable in open positions without additional holding elements, providing reliable and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The spring pin is rotatably coupled to the pivot pin, such that when the door frame pivots, the second (door frame-side) hinge part slides along a pivot contour of the first (frame-side) hinge part, generating a spring return force from the spring pin.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an insect screen swing door (1) with a retaining frame (3) for mounting in a door reveal or in a door frame and with a pivotable door frame (2) as well as with at least one spring-loaded door hinge (4) with a first and second hinge part (8, 9), wherein the door hinge (4) has a spring joint (10) with a pivot pin (10a) associated with the first hinge part (8) and with a spring pin (10b) associated with the second hinge part (9) and rotatably coupled to the pivot pin (10a), and wherein, in the course of pivoting the door frame (2), the second hinge part (9) slides along a joint contour (11, 23) of the first hinge part (8) generating a spring return force of the spring pin (10b).