Invisible Spring
Hinge with memory effect
21 November 2015

With “Invisible Spring”, the designer Nina Lieven presents a material development for a hinge that automatically springs back into its starting position after actuation and has a remarkable memory effect.
Invisible Spring connects a hinge and a spring in one material
It can be produced in various amounts of thickness and strength. Invisible Spring is made of a thermoplastic textile material, i.e. a film, woven or nonwoven textile. Two plates of the material are merged under heat and pressure thus forming a hinge. The thermoplastic material shrinks during the process obtaining the rebound effect. This effect makes the material go back to the original position after being bent. This could be used among others in furniture or automotive industry. Easy integration in already existing manufacturing processes together with the use of recyclable, low cost materials makes this technology attractive for the industry.
Advantages:
- The main feature of Invisible Spring hinge is its rebound effect that makes it autonomously move back to its basic position after a bending process.
- If it is not possible to install the hinge during the process it can be applied to the joining components afterwards.
- Lightweight and high rigidity are combined with low cost material and recyclability.
More information about development and design: www.ninalieven.net/invisible-spring
image: Nina Lieven
Floral foam made from cut flowers
23 April 2023
Thai designer Irene Purasachit uses discarded cut flowers to make eco-friendly…
Ultraleggera – Lightest chair in the world
20 August 2021
The Ultraleggera 1.660 is the lightest chair in the world. Oskar Zięta designed…
MotorSkins morphing textiles
19 April 2022
Berlin based start-up MotorSkins designs and produces textiles with embedded…
3D Pioneers Challenge 2022
15 December 2021
The 3D Pioneers Challenge 2022 adresses tech pioneers who pave the way for…
IGNIS – Light from waste heat energy
12 August 2020
The availability of affordable, independent and, above all, clean electrical…
Brake disc with reduced fine dust
21 April 2021
Fine dust endangers our health. One of the main sources is traffic, especially…
BladeBUG maintenance robot
26 January 2021
The British company BladeBUG has developed a six-legged robot over the past few…
Invisible Terracotta Solar Rooftile
10 May 2023
The family-run business Dyaqua has developed a technology to integrate a…
Xarvio – Digital Farming
8 January 2021
BASF Digital Farming GmbH has received the renowned Crop Science Award for the…