Vehicle Storage Bin Hinge with Nested Cup for Lid Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge designs for vehicle storage bins are difficult to install and allow undesired lid movement during vehicle acceleration.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system comprising a first member with a footing, extension arm, and rod, connected to a second member with a cradle wall and sleeve, which limits radial and axial movement, ensuring secure attachment and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing hinge designs are used, then the hinge can connect the lid to the storage bin, but the installation process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The rod of the first member is inserted into the receptacle of the second member, with the cup nested within the receptacle to receive the rod. This nested structure allows the components to be housed within each other, simplifying the overall assembly and making installation more straightforward while reducing the number of separate parts to manage during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge system incorporates self-aligning features where the rod automatically positions itself within the receptacle and cup during installation. The geometric constraints of the components guide proper alignment without requiring additional alignment tools or complex adjustment procedures, enabling installers to complete the task quickly without specialized skills.
2Ease of operation
If existing hinge designs are used, then the lid can be moved to access the storage bin, but undesired movement occurs during vehicle accelerations
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is formed with a curved, rounded interior surface that receives the rod, allowing smooth rotational movement of the lid. The curved geometry provides continuous contact surfaces that guide the rod during rotation while maintaining stable engagement. The cup within the receptacle also has a curved shape that complements the rod's rotation path, ensuring consistent contact and preventing lateral movement during acceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connection is divided into distinct functional segments: the rod for rotation, the receptacle for guiding movement, and the cup for securing the connection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the rod provides mobility, while the receptacle and cup together provide stability during acceleration by constraining radial and axial movements.
3Ease of operation
If the rod is allowed to move freely in the receptacle, then rotation is easy, but radial and axial movement cannot be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cup is nested within the receptacle, creating a multi-layered constraint system. The receptacle provides the primary guiding structure that allows smooth rotation, while the cup nested inside provides additional constraints to limit radial and axial movement. This nested arrangement maintains rotation smoothness while adding positional stability without interfering with the rotational function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the hinge assembly have different functional qualities: the interior surface of the receptacle has a smooth, curved finish optimized for rotation, while the cup provides a tighter, more constrained interface to limit unwanted movement. This local differentiation of geometric properties allows the same assembly to simultaneously enable smooth rotation and prevent radial/axial drift.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge includes a first member with a footing, an extension arm and a rod. The extension arm is connected to the footing and projects away therefrom. The rod is connected to the extension arm such that a center axis of the rod is disposed parallel to the footing. The hinge further includes a second member with a first end wall, a second end wall and a cradle wall. The first end wall is connected and spaced apart from the second end wall by the cradle wall to define a rounded receptacle configured to receive the rod. The second member includes a sleeve adjacent to the second end wall that covers a portion of the receptacle to define a cup wherein a portion of the rod is positioned inside the cup to permit rotation of the first member about the center axis and to limit radial movement.