INDEXING HINGE

Abstract

An indexing hinge comprises a two arm hinge half and an axle hinge half. The two arm hinge half includes two hinge arms, a projecting indexing element disposed therebetween and a first mounting element. The axle hinge half includes two axles, each extending from a toothed indexing element, and a second mounting element. When the axle hinge half is connected to the two arm hinge half by interconnecting each axle with a respective hinge arm, the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied. An electronic equipment enclosure installation comprises an electronic equipment enclosure and an indexing hinge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an electronic equipment enclosure installation, having an internal air duct with doors mounted using an indexing hinge, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded isometric view of one of the internal air ducts of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed fragmentary exploded view of an upper port door of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top orthogonal view of an indexing hinge in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom orthogonal view of the two arm hinge half of the indexing hinge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the two arm hinge half of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the two arm hinge half of FIG. 6, taken along line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the two arm hinge half of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an end plan view of the two arm hinge half of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a top orthogonal view of the axle hinge half of the indexing hinge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the axle hinge half of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the axle hinge half of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an end plan view of the two arm hinge half of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a side plan view of the indexing hinge of FIG. 4, shown in a disassembled state;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the indexing hinge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the indexing hinge of FIG. 15, taken along line 16-16;

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view of the indexing hinge of FIG. 15, taken along line 17-17;

FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view of the indexing hinge of FIG. 17, but with the hinge in a first alternative rotational state;

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view of the indexing hinge of FIG. 17, but with the hinge in a second alternative rotational state;

FIG. 20 is a side cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 16, wherein the indexing hinge is shown in an installed state; and

FIG. 21 is a side cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 17, wherein the indexing hinge is shown in the installed state.

Claims

1. An indexing hinge, comprising: (a) a two arm hinge half, including two hinge arms, a projecting indexing element disposed therebetween, and a first mounting element adapted to mount and connect the two arm hinge half to a first structure of an electronic equipment support apparatus; and(b) an axle hinge half, including two axles, each extending from a toothed indexing element, and a second mounting element adapted to mount and connect the axle hinge half to a second structure of an electronic equipment support apparatus;(c) wherein when the axle hinge half is connected to the two arm hinge half by interconnecting each axle with a respective hinge arm, the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied.

2. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein each axle has two flat surfaces arranged therein to permit interconnection of the axle to a respective hinge arm.

3. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein the toothed indexing element is formed in the shape of a nearly complete cylinder and extends from a proximal end of the second mounting element such that the axis of the cylinder generally parallels the proximal end of the mounting element.

4. The indexing hinge of claim 3, wherein the cylinder defines curved surfaces and two bases, wherein the toothed indexing element includes a plurality of teeth covering the curved surfaces of the cylinder, and wherein the teeth extend generally from one cylinder base to the other and define a plurality of detents therebetween.

5. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein the projecting indexing element includes a short protrusion with a rounded or beveled tip that abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied.

6. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein the two hinge arms each include an approximately arcuate hinge barrel section for interconnection with a respective axle.

7. The indexing hinge of claim 6, wherein each hinge barrel section defines a partially-enclosed opening of substantially cylindrical cross-section, and the two hinge barrel sections are aligned such that the cylindrical openings are collinear.

8. The indexing hinge of claim 7, wherein a distance from a tip of the projecting indexing element to a center of the cylindrical openings is greater than a radius of the cylindrical openings and wherein the tip of the projecting indexing element is arranged to interact with the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotation torque is applied.

9. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein the first mounting element and the second mounting element each include a first mounting section and a second mounting section separated by a slot, wherein a U-shaped structure is disposed.

10. The indexing hinge of claim 9, wherein the U-shaped structure includes a ramped structure and a tapered structure disposed in opposing facing relation to one another to aid in mounting the corresponding hinge half to a door, wall or other planar structure.

11. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein the hinge arms act as a spring by extending and contracting slightly as the projecting indexing element and toothed indexing element interact with one another when the additional rotational torque is applied to the indexing hinge to cause rotation thereof.

12. The indexing hinge of claim 1, wherein the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to enable selective positioning resistant to flowing air.

13. An electronic equipment enclosure installation, comprising (a) an electronic equipment enclosure, and(b) an indexing hinge, comprising: (i) a two arm hinge half, including two hinge arms, a projecting indexing element disposed therebetween, and a first mounting element adapted to mount and connect the two arm hinge half to a first structure of an electronic equipment support apparatus; and(ii) an axle hinge half, including two axles, each extending from a toothed indexing element, and a second mounting element adapted to mount and connect the axle hinge half to a second structure of an electronic equipment support apparatus;(iii) wherein when the axle hinge half is connected to the two arm hinge half by interconnecting each axle with a respective hinge arm, the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied.

14. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein each axle has two flat surfaces arranged therein to permit interconnection of the axle to a respective hinge arm.

15. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein the toothed indexing element is formed in the shape of a nearly complete cylinder and extends from a proximal end of the second mounting element such that the axis of the cylinder generally parallels the proximal end of the mounting element.

16. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 15, wherein the cylinder defines curved surfaces and two bases, wherein the toothed indexing element includes a plurality of teeth covering the curved surfaces of the cylinder, and wherein the teeth extend generally from one cylinder base to the other and define a plurality of detents therebetween.

17. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein the projecting indexing element includes a short protrusion with a rounded or beveled tip that abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied.

18. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein the two hinge arms each include an approximately arcuate hinge barrel section for interconnection with a respective axle.

19. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 18, wherein each hinge barrel section defines a partially-enclosed opening of substantially cylindrical cross-section, and the two hinge barrel sections are aligned such that the cylindrical openings are collinear.

20. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 19, wherein a distance from a tip of the projecting indexing element to a center of the cylindrical openings is greater than a radius of the cylindrical openings and wherein the tip of the projecting indexing element is arranged to interact with the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotation torque is applied.

21. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein the first mounting element and the second mounting element each include a first mounting section and a second mounting section separated by a slot, wherein a U-shaped structure is disposed.

22. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 21, wherein the U-shaped structure includes a ramped structure and a tapered structure disposed in opposing facing relation to one another to aid in mounting the corresponding hinge half to a door, wall or other planar structure.

23. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein the hinge arms act as a spring by extending and contracting slightly as the projecting indexing element and toothed indexing element interact with one another when the additional rotational torque is applied to the indexing hinge to cause rotation thereof.

24. The electronic equipment enclosure installation of claim 13, wherein the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to enable selective positioning resistant to flowing air.

25. An indexing hinge, comprising: (a) a two arm hinge half, including two hinge arms, a projecting indexing element disposed therebetween, and a first mounting element adapted to mount and connect the two arm hinge half to a first structure; and(b) an axle hinge half, including two axles, each extending from a toothed indexing element, and a second mounting element adapted to mount and connect the axle hinge half to a second structure;(c) wherein when the axle hinge half is connected to the two arm hinge half by interconnecting each axle with a respective hinge arm, the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation and enable selective positioning resistant to flowing air unless an additional rotational torque is applied by user.

26. The indexing hinge of claim 25, wherein each axle has two flat surfaces arranged therein to permit interconnection of the axle to a respective hinge arm.

27. The indexing hinge of claim 25, wherein the toothed indexing element is formed in the shape of a nearly complete cylinder and extends from a proximal end of the second mounting element such that the axis of the cylinder generally parallels the proximal end of the mounting element.

28. The indexing hinge of claim 27, wherein the cylinder defines curved surfaces and two bases, wherein the toothed indexing element includes a plurality of teeth covering the curved surfaces of the cylinder, and wherein the teeth extend generally from one cylinder base to the other and define a plurality of detents therebetween.

29. The indexing hinge of claim 25, wherein the projecting indexing element includes a short protrusion with a rounded or beveled tip that abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied.

30. The indexing hinge of claim 25, wherein the two hinge arms each include an approximately arcuate hinge barrel section for interconnection with a respective axle.

31. The indexing hinge of claim 30, wherein each hinge barrel section defines a partially-enclosed opening of substantially cylindrical cross-section, and the two hinge barrel sections are aligned such that the cylindrical openings are collinear.

32. The indexing hinge of claim 31, wherein a distance from a tip of the projecting indexing element to a center of the cylindrical openings is greater than a radius of the cylindrical openings and wherein the tip of the projecting indexing element is arranged to interact with the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotation torque is applied.

33. The indexing hinge of claim 25, wherein the first mounting element and the second mounting element each include a first mounting section and a second mounting section separated by a slot, wherein a U-shaped structure is disposed.

34. The indexing hinge of claim 33, wherein the U-shaped structure includes a ramped structure and a tapered structure disposed in opposing facing relation to one another to aid in mounting the corresponding hinge half to a door, wall or other planar structure.

35. The indexing hinge of claim 25, wherein the hinge arms act as a spring by extending and contracting slightly as the projecting indexing element and toothed indexing element interact with one another when the additional rotational torque is applied to the indexing hinge to cause rotation thereof.