Tubular spring hinge assembly

Abstract
A tubular spring hinge assembly includes a connecting tube for connecting two tubes, and two separation tubes mounted between the connecting tube and each of the two tubes. Each of the two separation tubes is made of a wear-resistant plastic, thereby eliminating noise due to friction when the two tubes are rotated relatively by the door plate.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a tubular spring hinge assembly, and more particularly to a tubular spring hinge assembly that may efficiently eliminate noise due to friction when the two tubes are rotated relatively by the door plate.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional spring hinge in accordance with the prior art shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

comprises an upper tube


1


, a lower tube


2


, a torsion spring


3


, a central shaft


4


, and two tension adjusting seats


5


.




The upper tube


1


has an insertion section


101


pivotally inserted into the lower tube


2


. The upper tube


1


has a side provided with an ear plate


102


, and the lower tube


2


has a side provided with an ear plate


202


. The torsion spring


3


is mounted in the upper tube


1


and the lower tube


2


. Each of the two tension adjusting seats


5


is mounted on the top of the upper tube


1


and the bottom of the lower tube


2


. The central shaft


4


is mounted in the torsion spring


3


, and has two ends each passed through each of the two tension adjusting seats


5


and each screwed with a cover


401


. Each of the two tension adjusting seats


5


is formed with a positioning hole


501


for mounting a metallic protection tube


502


. Each of the two ends of the torsion spring


3


is inserted into the metallic protection tube


502


. Each of the two tension adjusting seats


5


has a periphery formed with multiple adjusting holes


503


for insertion of a first end of a pin


504


whose second end is rested on the side face of each of the two ear plates


102


and


202


. Each of the two tension adjusting seats


5


may be rotated by each of the two ear plates


102


and


202


, to twist the torsion spring


3


which may store the energy, so that the door may be restored automatically after being opened.




After the conventional spring hinge is mounted between the door plate and the door frame, the upper tube


1


and the lower tube


2


may be rotated relatively when the door plate is opened or closed, so that the insertion section


101


of the upper tube


1


is rubbed with the lower tube


2


, thereby producing noise.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional spring hinge.




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tubular spring hinge assembly including a connecting tube for connecting two tubes, and two separation tubes mounted between the connecting tube and each of the two tubes. Each of the two separation tubes is made of a wear-resistant plastic, thereby efficiently eliminating noise due to friction when the two tubes are rotated relatively by the door plate.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a conventional spring hinge in accordance with the prior art;





FIG. 2

is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the conventional spring hinge as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view of a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 4A

is a partially cut-away enlarged view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 5

is a partially cut-away side plan cross-sectional assembly view of a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 6

is an exploded perspective view of a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 6A

is a partially cut-away enlarged view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 7

is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is an exploded perspective view of a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 9A

is a partially cut-away enlarged view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in

FIG. 9

; and





FIG. 9B

is a partially cut-away enlarged view of the tubular spring hinge assembly as shown in FIG.


9


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a first outer tube


10


, a second outer tube


20


, a central shaft


30


, a torsion spring


32


, and two regulators


40


.




The first outer tube


10


has a side provided with a leaf


12


, and the second outer tube


20


has a side provided with a leaf


22


, so that the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


may be locked on the door plate and the door frame respectively. The first outer tube


10


is pivotally mounted on the second outer tube


20


. The torsion spring


32


is mounted in the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


. Each of the two regulators


40


is mounted on an outer end of the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


respectively. The central shaft


30


is mounted in the torsion spring


32


, and has two ends each extended through each of the two regulators


40


.




Each of the two regulators


40


is an axial integrally formed stepped body including a base portion


42


, a positioning portion


44


, and a separation portion


46


. The base portion


42


has an outer diameter greater than that of the positioning portion


44


, and the positioning portion


44


has an outer diameter greater than that of the separation portion


46


. In addition, the positioning portion


44


is located between the base portion


42


and the separation portion


46


. The separation portion


46


is extended into each of two ends of the torsion spring


32


, for separating the torsion spring


32


from the central shaft


30


, thereby preventing the torsion spring


32


from rubbing the central shaft


30


. The positioning portion


44


is formed with a positioning hole


442


for mounting a metallic protection tube


48


, and each of the two ends of the torsion spring


32


is inserted into the metallic protection tube


48


. The base portion


42


of each of the two regulators


40


has a periphery formed with multiple adjusting holes


422


for insertion of a first end of a pin member


41


whose second end is rested on the side face of each of the leaf


12


and the leaf


22


. Each of the two regulators


40


may be rotated by each of the leaf


12


and the leaf


22


, to twist the torsion spring


32


which may store the torsion energy, so that the door plate may be restored automatically after being opened.




A connecting tube


34


is mounted between the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


for connecting the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


.




A first separation tube


14


is mounted in a first end of the first outer tube


10


, and a second separation tube


24


is mounted in a first end of the second outer tube


20


. Each of the first separation tube


14


and the second separation tube


24


is made of a wear-resistant plastic, such as PVC. The first separation tube


14


has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


142


rested on an end face of the first end of the first outer tube


10


, and the second separation tube


24


has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


242


rested on an end face of the first end of the second outer tube


20


, so as to separate the first outer tube


10


from the second outer tube


20


, thereby preventing the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


from rubbing and producing noise. The first separation tube


14


has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion


144


, and the second separation tube


24


has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion


244


.




The connecting tube


34


is mounted in the first separation tube


14


and the second separation tube


24


, and has two ends each retained by the annular retaining portion


144


of the first separation tube


14


and the annular retaining portion


244


of the second separation tube


24


, so that the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


may be co-axially rotated relatively.




In addition, the first separation tube


14


and the second separation tube


24


may separate the connecting tube


34


from the first outer tube


10


an the second outer tube


20


, thereby preventing the connecting tube


34


from contacting and rubbing the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


, so as to eliminate noise.




Further, a first separation ring


16


made of a wear-resistant plastic is mounted in a second end of the first outer tube


10


, and a second separation ring


26


made of a wear-resistant plastic is mounted in a second end of the second outer tube


20


. The positioning portion


44


of each of the two regulators


40


is mounted in the first separation ring


16


and the second separation ring


26


. The first separation ring


16


has one end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


162


mounted between the base portion


42


of one of the two regulators


40


and the first outer tube


10


, and the second separation ring


26


has one end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


262


mounted between the base portion


42


of the other of the two regulators


40


and the second outer tube


20


, thereby preventing each of the two regulators


40


from contacting and rubbing the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


, so as to eliminate noise and to increase the lifetime of each of the two regulators


40


.




The central shaft


30


has two ends each formed with an enlarged head


31


which is provided with a first washer


33


and a second washer


35


, wherein the second washer


35


is located between the first washer


33


and the enlarged head


31


. The base portion


42


of each of the two regulators


40


is formed with a recess


424


for receiving the first washer


33


and the second washer


35


as shown in FIG.


4


A. The first washer


33


has a periphery formed with multiple insertion openings


332


. The recess


424


is provided with multiple protruding insertion teeth


426


inserted into the multiple insertion openings


332


, thereby preventing the shaft hole of each of the two regulators


40


from being enlarged by the central shaft


30


. The second washer


35


may be used to support the enlarged head


31


during the punching process of the enlarged head


31


, thereby preventing the enlarged head


31


from jamming the regulator


40


, so as to increase the lifetime of the regulator


40


.




A cover


36


is mounted on each of the two regulators


40


for covering the enlarged head


31


of the central shaft


30


. The base portion


42


of each of the two regulators


40


is formed with multiple insertion recesses


428


. The cover


36


is provided with multiple snapping bosses


362


each inserted and snapped into one of the multiple insertion recesses


428


of the base portion


42


of each of the two regulators


40


, so that the cover


36


may be secured on each of the two regulators


40


.




The leaf


12


of the first outer tube


10


is provided with a shoulder


122


which is formed with an abutting edge


124


, and the leaf


22


of the second outer tube


20


is provided with a shoulder


222


which is formed with an abutting edge


224


, so that the door plate or the door frame may be rested on the abutting edge


124


of the shoulder


122


of the leaf


12


of the first outer tube


10


or the abutting edge


224


of the shoulder


222


of the leaf


22


of the second outer tube


20


, thereby facilitating assembly of the first outer tube


10


an the second outer tube


20


. In addition, the shoulder


122


of the leaf


12


of the first outer tube


10


is formed with a recessed resting portion


126


for positioning the pin member


41


, and the shoulder


222


of the leaf


22


of the second outer tube


20


is formed with recessed resting portion


226


for positioning the pin member


41


.




In assembly, after the central shaft


30


is in turn extended through the torsion spring


32


, each of the two regulators


40


, the first washers


33


and the second washers


35


, each of the two ends of the central shaft


30


is formed with the enlarged head


31


by a punching process, thereby positioning the parts. When the tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the door, the door plate and the door frame of the door may be rested on the abutting edge


124


of the first outer tube


10


and the abutting edge


224


of the second outer tube


20


, thereby enhancing convenience of assembly. In addition, the connecting tube


34


is used for connecting the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


, so that the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


may be made to have the same shape, thereby decreasing cost of fabrication.




When the door is opened or closed, the leaf


12


of the first outer tube


10


and the leaf


22


of the second outer tube


20


may drive the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


to rotate relatively. The first separation tube


14


and the second separation tube


24


may separate the connecting tube


34


from the first outer tube


10


an the second outer tube


20


, thereby preventing the connecting tube


34


from contacting and rubbing the first outer tube


10


and the second outer tube


20


, so as to eliminate noise.




Referring to

FIG. 5

, a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The structure of the tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as that of the tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, and the difference is described as follows.




The inner wall of the first outer tube


10


′ is formed with a mounting section


18


′ for mounting the first separation tube


14


′, and the inner wall of the second outer tube


20


′ is formed with a mounting section


28


′ for mounting the second separation tube


24


′, thereby preventing the first outer tube


10


′ and the second outer tube


20


′ from deviating relatively due to effect of the gravity of the door plate. In addition, a connecting tube


34


′ is mounted in the first separation tube


14


′ and the second separation tube


24


′.




Referring to

FIGS. 6 and 7

, a tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The structure of the tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as that of the tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, and the difference is described as follows.




The torsion spring


32


″ has a horn shape, and has an outer diameter gradually reduced from two ends toward a mediate portion thereof. The connecting tube


34


″ is mounted on the mediate portion of the torsion spring


32


″, and is mounted in the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″. The first separation tube


14


″ is mounted in the first outer tube


10


″, and the second separation tube


24


″ is mounted in the second outer tube


20


″. The inner diameter of the connecting tube


34


″ is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the torsion spring


32


″. The wall of the connecting tube


34


″ is axially formed with a slit


342


″, so that the connecting tube


34


″ may be mounted on the mediate portion of the torsion spring


32


″ by the slit


342


″.




The first separation tube


14


″ has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


142


″ rested on an end face of the first end of the first outer tube


10


″, and the second separation tube


24


″ has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


242


″ rested on an end face of the first end of the second outer tube


20


″, so as to separate the first outer tube


10


″ from the second outer tube


20


″, thereby preventing the first outer tube


10


″ and the second outer tube


20


″ from rubbing and producing noise. The first separation tube


14


″ has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion


144


″, and the second separation tube


24


″ has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion


244


″.




The connecting tube


34


″ is mounted in the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″, and has two ends each retained by the annular retaining portion


144


″ of the first separation tube


14


″ and the annular retaining portion


244


″ of the second separation tube


24


″, so that the first outer tube


10


″ and the second outer tube


20


″ may be co-axially rotated relatively.




In addition, the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″ may separate the connecting tube


34


″ from the first outer tube


10


″ an the second outer tube


20


″, thereby preventing the connecting tube


34


″ from contacting and rubbing the first outer tube


10


″ and the second outer tube


20


″, so as to eliminate noise.




As shown in

FIGS. 6 and 6A

, each of the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″ has a substantially C-shaped cross-section, and each of the annular separation flange


142


″ and the annular separation flange


242


″ has a first end formed with a cavity


148


″, and a second end provided with a snap portion


146


″ inserted into the cavity


148


″, thereby snapping the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″.




In assembly, the connecting tube


34


″ may be mounted on the mediate portion of the torsion spring


32


″ by opening and closing the slit


342


″. The inner diameter of the connecting tube


34


″ is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the torsion spring


32


″, so that the connecting tube


34


″ may be retained on the mediate portion of the torsion spring


32


″ without axial displacement. Then, the connecting tube


34


″ and the torsion spring


32


″ may be inserted into the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″. Then, the snap portion


146


″ may be snapped and inserted into the cavity


148


″, thereby snapping the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″, so that the connecting tube


34


″ and the mediate portion of the torsion spring


32


″ may be positioned in the first separation tube


14


″ and the second separation tube


24


″.




Referring to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, a two-shaft type spring hinge assembly in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a base


50


, and a pair of pivot structures


100


.




The base


50


includes two main tubes


51


, and a connecting plate


52


integrally mounted between the two main tubes


51


. Each of the pivot structures


100


is mounted on one of the two main tubes


51


, and includes an outer tube


60


, a central shaft


70


, a torsion spring


72


, a regulator


80


, and a positioner


90


. The outer tube


60


has a side provided with a leaf


62


, so that the outer tube


60


may be locked on the door plate or the door frame. The outer tube


60


is pivotally mounted on one end of the main tube


51


. The positioner


90


is mounted on the other end of the main tube


51


, and includes a pin


91


rested on the main tube


51


. The torsion spring


72


is mounted in the outer tube


60


and the main tube


51


. The regulator


80


is mounted on an outer end of the outer tube


60


. The central shaft


70


is mounted in the torsion spring


72


, and has two ends each extended through the regulator


80


and the positioner


90


.




The regulator


80


is an axial integrally formed stepped body including a base portion


82


, a positioning portion


84


, and a separation portion


86


. The base portion


82


has an outer diameter greater than that of the positioning portion


84


, and the positioning portion


84


has an outer diameter greater than that of the separation portion


86


. In addition, the positioning portion


84


is located between the base portion


82


and the separation portion


86


. The separation portion


86


is extended into one end of the torsion spring


72


, for separating the torsion spring


72


from the central shaft


70


, thereby preventing the torsion spring


72


from rubbing the central shaft


70


. The positioning portion


84


is formed with a positioning hole


842


for mounting a metallic protection tube


88


for insertion of one end of the torsion spring


72


. The base portion


82


of the regulator


80


has a periphery formed with multiple adjusting holes


822


for insertion of a first end of a pin member


81


whose second end is rested on the side face of the leaf


62


of the outer tube


60


. The regulator


80


may be rotated by the leaf


62


of the outer tube


60


to twist the torsion spring


72


which may store the torsion energy, so that the door plate may be restored automatically after being opened.




The positioner


90


is an axial integrally formed stepped body including a base portion


92


, a positioning portion


94


, and a separation portion


96


. The base portion


92


has an outer diameter greater than that of the positioning portion


94


, and the positioning portion


94


has an outer diameter greater than that of the separation portion


96


. In addition, the positioning portion


94


is located between the base portion


92


and the separation portion


96


. The separation portion


96


is extended into the other end of the torsion spring


72


, for separating the torsion spring


72


from the central shaft


70


, thereby preventing the torsion spring


72


from rubbing the central shaft


70


. The positioning portion


94


is formed with a positioning hole


942


for mounting a metallic protection tube


98


for insertion of the other end of the torsion spring


72


.




A first separation tube


54


is mounted in a first end of the outer tube


60


, and a second separation tube


64


is mounted in a first end of the main tube


51


. Each of the first separation tube


54


and the second separation tube


64


is made of a wear-resistant plastic, such as PVC. The first separation tube


54


has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


542


rested on an end face of the first end of the outer tube


60


, and the second separation tube


64


has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


642


rested on an end face of the first end of the main tube


51


, so as to separate the outer tube


60


from the main tube


51


, thereby preventing the outer tube


60


and the main tube


51


from rubbing and producing noise. The first separation tube


54


has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion


544


, and the second separation tube


64


has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion


644


.




A connecting tube


74


is mounted in the first separation tube


54


and the second separation tube


64


, and has two ends each retained by the annular retaining portion


544


of the first separation tube


54


and the annular retaining portion


644


of the second separation tube


64


, so that the outer tube


60


may be pivotally mounted on the main tube


51


. In addition, the first separation tube


54


and the second separation tube


64


may separate the connecting tube


74


from the outer tube


60


and the main tube


51


, thereby preventing the connecting tube


74


from contacting and rubbing the outer tube


60


and the main tube


51


, so as to eliminate noise.




Further, a separation ring


66


made of a wear-resistant plastic is mounted in a second end of the outer tube


60


. The positioning portion


84


of the regulator


80


is mounted in the separation ring


66


. The separation ring


66


has one end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange


662


mounted between the base portion


82


of the regulator


80


and the outer tube


60


, thereby preventing the regulator


80


from contacting and rubbing the outer tube


60


, so as to eliminate noise and to increase the lifetime of the regulator


80


.




The central shaft


70


has two ends each formed with an enlarged head


71


which is provided with a first washer


73


and a second washer


75


, wherein the second washer


75


is located between the first washer


73


and the enlarged head


71


.




The base portion


82


of the regulator


80


is formed with a recess


824


for receiving the first washer


73


and the second washer


75


as shown in FIG.


9


A. The first washer


73


has a periphery formed with multiple insertion openings


732


. The recess


824


is provided with multiple protruding insertion teeth


826


inserted into the multiple insertion openings


732


, thereby preventing the shaft hole of the regulator


80


from being enlarged by the central shaft


70


. The second washer


75


may be used to support the enlarged head


71


during the punching process of the enlarged head


71


, thereby preventing the enlarged head


71


from jamming the regulator


80


, so as to increase the lifetime of the regulator


80


.




The base portion


92


of the positioner


90


is formed with a recess


924


for receiving the first washer


73


and the second washer


75


as shown in FIG.


9


B. The first washer


73


has a periphery formed with multiple insertion openings


732


. The recess


924


is provided with multiple protruding insertion teeth


926


inserted into the multiple insertion openings


732


, thereby preventing the shaft hole of the positioner


90


from being enlarged by the central shaft


70


. The second washer


75


may be used to support the enlarged head


71


during the punching process of the enlarged head


71


, thereby preventing the enlarged head


71


from jamming the positioner


90


, so as to increase the lifetime of the positioner


90


.




A cover


76


is mounted on each of the regulator


80


and the positioner


90


for covering the enlarged head


71


of the central shaft


70


. The base portion


82


of the regulator


80


is formed with multiple insertion recesses


828


, and the base portion


92


of the positioner


90


is formed with multiple insertion recesses


928


. The cover


76


is provided with multiple snapping bosses


762


each inserted and snapped into one of the multiple insertion recesses


828


of the base portion


82


of the regulator


80


and one of the multiple insertion recesses


928


of the base portion


92


of the positioner


90


, so that the cover


76


may be secured on the regulator


80


and the positioner


90


.




The leaf


62


of the outer tube


60


is provided with a shoulder


622


which is formed with an abutting edge


624


, so that the door plate or the door frame may be rested on the abutting edge


624


of the shoulder


622


of the leaf


62


of the outer tube


60


, thereby facilitating assembly of the outer tube


60


. In addition, the shoulder


622


of the leaf


62


of the outer tube


60


is formed with a recessed resting portion


626


for positioning the pin member


81


.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A tubular spring hinge assembly, comprising a first outer tube, a second outer tube, a central shaft, a torsion spring, and two regulators, wherein:the first outer tube has a side provided with a leaf, the second outer tube has a side provided with a leaf, the first outer tube is pivotally mounted on the second outer tube, the torsion spring is mounted in the first outer tube and the second outer tube, each of the two regulators is mounted on an outer end of the first outer tube and the second outer tube respectively, the central shaft is mounted in the torsion spring, and has two ends each extended through each of the two regulators, the torsion spring has two ends each inserted into each of the two regulators, each of the two regulators has a periphery provided with a pin member which is rested on the leaf of each of the first outer tube and the second outer tube; and wherein: a first separation tube is mounted in a first end of the first outer tube, a second separation tube is mounted in a first end of the second outer tube, the first separation tube has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange rested on an end face of the first end of the first outer tube, the second separation tube has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange rested on an end face of the first end of the second outer tube, so as to separate the first outer tube from the second outer tube, thereby preventing the first outer tube and the second outer tube from rubbing and producing noise, the first separation tube has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion, the second separation tube has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion, a connecting tube is mounted between the first outer tube and the second outer tube, and is mounted in the first separation tube and the second separation tube, the connecting tube has two ends each retained by the annular retaining portion of the first separation tube and the annular retaining portion of the second separation tube.
  • 2. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a first separation ring made of a wear-resistant plastic mounted in a second end of the first outer tube, and a second separation ring made of a wear-resistant plastic mounted in a second end of the second outer tube, wherein the first separation ring is formed with an annular separation flange mounted between one of the two regulators and the first outer tube, and the second separation ring is formed with an annular separation flange mounted between the other of the two regulators and the second outer tube, thereby preventing each of the two regulators from contacting and rubbing the first outer tube and the second outer tube, so as to eliminate noise and to increase the lifetime of each of the two regulators.
  • 3. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the torsion spring has a horn shape and has an outer diameter gradually reduced from two ends toward a mediate portion thereof, the connecting tube is mounted on the mediate portion of the torsion spring, an inner diameter of the connecting tube is smaller than a maximum outer diameter of the torsion spring, a wall of the connecting tube is axially formed with a slit, so that the connecting tube may be mounted on the mediate portion of the torsion spring by the slit, and the annular separation flange of each of the first separation tube and the second separation tube has a first end formed with a cavity, and a second end provided with a snap portion that may be snapped and inserted into the cavity, thereby snapping each of the first separation tube and the second separation tube.
  • 4. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central shaft has two ends each formed with an enlarged head for positioning each of the two regulators.
  • 5. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the enlarged head of each of the two ends of the central shaft is provided with a first washer and a second washer, the second washer is located between the first washer and the enlarged head, and a base portion of each of the two regulators is formed with a recess for receiving the first washer and the second washer.
  • 6. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first washer has a periphery formed with multiple insertion openings, and the recess is provided with multiple protruding insertion teeth inserted into the multiple insertion openings.
  • 7. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a cover mounted on each of the two regulators, wherein a base portion of each of the two regulators is formed with multiple insertion recesses, and the cover is provided with multiple snapping bosses each inserted and snapped into one of the multiple insertion recesses of the base portion of each of the two regulators, so that the cover may be secured on each of the two regulators.
  • 8. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the leaf of each of the first outer tube and the second outer tube is provided with a shoulder which is formed with an abutting edge.
  • 9. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein the shoulder of the leaf of each of the first outer tube and the second outer tube is formed with a recessed resting portion for positioning the pin member.
  • 10. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the first outer tube is formed with a mounting section for mounting the first separation tube, and an inner wall of the second outer tube is formed with a mounting section for mounting the second separation tube.
  • 11. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two regulators is an axial integrally formed stepped body including a base portion, a positioning portion, and a separation portion, the base portion has an outer diameter greater than that of the positioning portion, the positioning portion has an outer diameter greater than that of the separation portion, the positioning portion is located between the base portion and the separation portion, the separation portion is extended into each of two ends of the torsion spring, for separating the torsion spring from the central shaft, thereby preventing the torsion spring from rubbing the central shaft, and the positioning portion is formed with a positioning hole for mounting a metallic protection tube for insertion of each of the two ends of the torsion spring.
  • 12. A tubular spring hinge assembly, comprising a base, and a pair of pivot structures, wherein, the base includes two main tubes, and a connecting plate mounted between the two main tubes, each of the pivot structures is mounted on one of the two main tubes;each of the pivot structures includes an outer tube, a central shaft, a torsion spring, a regulator, and a positioner, wherein: the outer tube has a side provided with a leaf, the outer tube is pivotally mounted on one end of the main tube, the positioner is mounted on the other end of the main tube, the torsion spring is mounted in the outer tube and the main tube, the regulator is mounted on an outer end of the outer tube, the central shaft is mounted in the torsion spring and has two ends each extended through the regulator and the positioner; the torsion spring has two ends each inserted into the regulator and the positioner respectively, the regulator has a base portion having a periphery provided with a pin member that is rested on the leaf; a first separation tube is mounted in a first end of the outer tube, and a second separation tube is mounted in a first end of the main tube, the first separation tube has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange rested on an end face of the first end of the outer tube, the second separation tube has a first end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange rested on an end face of the first end of the main tube, so as to separate the outer tube from the main tube, thereby preventing the outer tube and the main tube from rubbing and producing noise, the first separation tube has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion, the second separation tube has a second end having an inner wall formed with an annular retaining portion, and a connecting tube is mounted in the first separation tube and the second separation tube, and has two ends each retained by the annular retaining portion of the first separation tube and the annular retaining portion of the second separation tube.
  • 13. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a separation ring mounted in a second end of the outer tube, wherein the regulator is mounted in the separation ring, the separation ring has one end having an outer wall formed with an annular separation flange mounted between the base portion of the regulator and the outer tube, thereby preventing the regulator from contacting and rubbing the outer tube, so as to eliminate noise and to increase the lifetime of the regulator.
  • 14. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the central shaft has two ends each formed with an enlarged head for positioning the regulator and the positioner.
  • 15. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the enlarged head of each of the two ends of the central shaft is provided with a first washer and a second washer, the second washer is located between the first washer and the enlarged head, the base portion of the regulator is formed with a recess for receiving the first washer and the second washer, and a base portion of the positioner is formed with a recess for receiving the first washer and the second washer.
  • 16. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first washer has a periphery formed with multiple insertion openings, and the recess is provided with multiple protruding insertion teeth inserted into the multiple insertion openings.
  • 17. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a cover mounted on the regulator and the positioner, wherein each of the regulator and the positioner is formed with multiple insertion recesses, and the cover is provided with multiple snapping bosses each inserted and snapped into one of the multiple insertion recesses, so that the cover may be secured the regulator and the positioner.
  • 18. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the leaf is provided with a shoulder which is formed with an abutting edge.
  • 19. The tubular spring hinge assembly in accordance with claim 18, wherein the shoulder of the leaf is formed with a recessed resting portion for positioning the pin member.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
90216084 U Sep 2001 TW
US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
3921225 Suska Nov 1975 A
3999246 Suska Dec 1976 A
4351085 Suska Sep 1982 A
4475266 Suska Oct 1984 A
4675940 Brockhaus Jun 1987 A
4829628 Vuksic May 1989 A
5463795 Carlson et al. Nov 1995 A
6256839 Wu Jul 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number Date Country
1013455 Feb 2002 BE
2554066 Jun 1977 DE
19912335 Mar 1999 DE
08-193616 Jul 1996 JP
1782846 Dec 1992 SU