BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a hinge assembly in a preferred embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective of a hinge block component of the hinge assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of pivot pins of the hinge assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front partial perspective view of a receptacle for a hinge block component.
FIG. 5 is a rear partial perspective view of the receptacle for a hinge block component.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the nut used to attach a hinge block component to a first member.
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a mounted hinge block component.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the first steps in assembling the hinge assembly of FIG. 1 which include affixing the hinge block component to a panel, rotating the hinge block component one-eighth of a turn, and fastening the hinge block component to the panel.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the next steps in assembling the hinge assembly of FIG. 1 which includes engaging pivot pins of a door or lid within cavities of a barrel of the hinge block component.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the final steps in assembling the hinge assembly of FIG. 1 which includes rotating the hinge block component in an opposite direction until the pivots pins are fully engaged within the barrel and completely securing the hinge block component to the panel.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word “connected” or terms similar thereto, e.g., attached, are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.
FIG. 1 shows a hinge assembly 10 of the present invention in a molded plastic box-type storage system application such as a cooler 52. The hinge assembly 10 is preferably made up of a first component or hinge block component 12 that is fastened to a wall or panel 48 and two pivot pins 28, 30 that are integrally formed within a lid or door 50. The pivot pins 28, 30 are received into a barrel 14 of the hinge block component 12 to form a hinged connection 32. The hinged connections 32 of at least two hinge assemblies 10 form a pivot axis 44, or axis of rotation, for the lid or door 50.
FIGS. 2-6 show the various aspects and components of one preferred hinge assembly 10. FIG. 2 shows the hinge block component 12. The hinge block component 12 has a barrel 14 formed by opposite facing cavities 16, 18 at a first end 20 and a threaded rod 36 at a second end 24. The threaded rod 36 acts as a fastener 22 when a plastic nut 38 is screwed onto the threaded rod 36. Also located at the second end 24 is a mating protrusion 60 that couples with a receptacle 34 (FIG. 4) located on the wall or panel 48. The mating protrusion 60 is comprised of two parts, a pivoting protrusion portion 62 and a locking protrusion portion 64. The pivoting protrusion portion 62 is designed so that when the hinge block component 12 is partially inserted into the receptacle 34, the hinge block component 12 can be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction up to one-eighth of a turn. At this point, the hinge block component 12 is stopped from further rotation by the pivoting protrusion portion 62 hitting a pair of stops 72 located within the receptacle 34. Once the hinge block component 12 is fully inserted into the receptacle 34, the locking protrusions 64 are received into corresponding square-shaped recesses 66 (FIG. 4) that make up part of the receptacle 34 and prevent the hinge block component 12 from rotating.
FIG. 3 shows the second member 26 with the two integral pivot pins 28, 30. FIG. 5 shows the detent protrusions 42 located on the rear side of the receptacle 34. The rear side of the receptacle 34 also has a recessed nut pocket 68 that helps prevent the nut 38 from unscrewing by shielding the nut 38 from being bumped or hit by objects. FIG. 6 shows the nut 38 with detent protrusions 40 that frictionally engage the detent protrusions 42 of the rear side of the receptacle 34 to further help prevent the nut 38 from unscrewing. Integral finger grips 70 aid in tightening the nut 38 without the need for tools.
FIG. 7 shows the hinge block component 12 attached to a panel 48 and held in place by the fastener 22. The hinge block component 12 is fully seated in the receptacle 34. Mating protrusions 64 are fully received within the square shaped recesses 66 of the receptacle 34. The nut 38 is fully hand-tightened on the threaded rod 36.
FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a preferred method of attaching a lid or door 50 to an enclosure such as a box or cooler 52 with the inventive hinge assembly 10. In FIG. 8, the hinge block component 12 is affixed to a first panel 48 by inserting the threaded rod 36 (not shown) into a receptacle 34. The hinge block component 12 is rotated counter-clockwise one-eighth of a turn and the nut 38 is screwed onto the threaded rod 36. In an actual application, preferably there are at least two hinge block components 12 that are installed approximately at the same time. Next, the door or lid 50 is placed onto the hinge as shown in FIG. 9. The angle of the hinge block component 12 allows the pivot pins 28, 30 to engage with the hinge block component 12. FIG. 10 shows the hinge block component 12 rotated a one-eighth turn clockwise and fully seated within the receptacle 34. At this point the pivot pins 28, 30 are essentially “captured,” or locked in place, within the barrel 14 of the hinge block component 12 and the hinged connection 32 is created. The nut 38 (not shown) is then fully tightened on the threaded rod 36 to secure the hinge block component 12.
Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. For example, while the threaded rod 36 is disclosed herein to be part of the hinge assembly, it is possible that the so described threaded rod 36 may be used in other embodiments to act as a fastener 22 when a plastic nut 38 is screwed onto it.
Moreover, the individual components need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials. The individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration.
It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070289095
