The present invention relates generally to hinges. Particularly, the invention relates to articulated hinges or hinges having joints.
Hinges are known in the art and are provided for the opening and closing of a member such as a door or panel.
In accordance with the present invention, it is an object to provide an improved hinge with a smooth opening and closing operation such that the hinge does not stick or bind during the opening or closing operation.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a hinge mechanism with structural components for ease of assembly, and reliable operations.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a hinge which permits a deep or thick door or panel on an enclosure to open approximately 90 degrees when another door of the same depth is located directly below the first door or panel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge which has two fixed pivot points on a hinge body or base from which members of the hinge pivot.
The objects of the present invention are realized in a hinge having a scissors arm structure which permits rotation of the panel to occur at a distance away from the hinge body. This hinge has a scissor arm structure, which is suitable for operating a panel on an enclosure, or bin and the like.
The hinge has an elongate first member and an elongate second member which move relative to one another in the plane of their elongations thereby pivoting in a scissor-like operation. A spring attached at one end to the central pivot means of the first member and second member biases the first member relative to a support member which is pivotable at an end of the first member. A link member attached to an end of the second member is pivotable at one end relative to an end of a support member to implement an articulated motion between the first member and second member as they move relative to one another.
The hinge base or body has a base link member pivotable at a fixed point on the hinge base or body and the base link member is pivotable at one end relative to an end of the first member. One end of the second member is pivotable at a fixed point on the hinge base or body also.
The spring force is selected to match the door weight, and other factors which are considered.
When the hinge is extended from the closed position to an open position or an intermediate open position, the support member can support the weight of the panel and hold it in the open position.
The features, advantages and operation of the present invention will become readily apparent and further understood from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention with the accompanying drawings, in which like numeral refer to like elements, in which:
As seen in
The hinge base 6 or body has a base link member 5 pivotable around pivot means 8 on the hinge base 6 or body and the base link member 5 is pivotable at base link pivot means 9 at one end relative to an end of the first member 1. One end of the second member 2 is pivotable at second member pivot means 11 on the hinge base 6 or body.
The spring force of spring 7 is selected to match the door or panel weight, and other factors which are considered.
When the hinge is extended from the closed position to an open position or an intermediate open position, the support member 3 can support the weight of a panel (not shown) and hold it in the open position.
Opening of the hinge is shown in
As can be seen in the exploded view shown in
Many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope and intent of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/067,875 filed on Feb. 28, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 60/548,356 entitled Articulating Hinge filed on Feb. 28, 2004, each application of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60548356 | Feb 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11067875 | Feb 2005 | US |
Child | 12141738 | US |