I’m designing a lasercut jewelry box for my wife and I want to make the lid sort of “float” open rather than just hinge open like usual. I made a little mockup of what I want to do (see the video on my blog) and it works, and I’m pretty sure I can adapt it to work with lasercut parts.
However, I’m positive I didn’t invent this, and I’d love to be able to learn what the pros have to say about it. The problem is, I can’t figure out what it’s called! Maybe someone in your audience can identify the type of mechanism and post the name in the comments?
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Consider a design that does not require slots in the back wall of the box. You may find inspriration from automakers who have put a lot of thought into opening lids.
That’s a four-bar linkage. They show up more or less everywhere in mechanical engineering — arguably they are the most common type of mechanism. You can buy books full of variations on this theme.
You should make sure the rear link is set up so it’s flush with the back of the box when it’s closed.
Looks like a pair of linkages, though if there’s a more specific name I don’t know.
http://www.robives.com/mechanisms/linkage
I love that robives site as a source for all types of motion-conversion ideas: http://www.robives.com/mechs
Hope that helps!
Looks like you’ve made a sketch model of a “4-bar link”.
Consider a design that does not require slots in the back wall of the box. You may find inspriration from automakers who have put a lot of thought into opening lids.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4382312.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4727621.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6578234.pdf
Might call it an articulated hinge.
Simpler version of the hinge used on aircraft passenger doors.
Four bar linkage where the box is essentially the 4th link.
That’s a four-bar linkage. They show up more or less everywhere in mechanical engineering — arguably they are the most common type of mechanism. You can buy books full of variations on this theme.
You should make sure the rear link is set up so it’s flush with the back of the box when it’s closed.