Metallic Patents (Class 16/226)
  • Patent number: 10551886
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an enclosure including a first sidewall, a second sidewall aligned parallel to the first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall aligned parallel to the front wall, and at least one structure disposed between the front wall and the rear wall. The apparatus also includes a heat generating element within the enclosure, the heat generating element being mounted to a first surface of the at least one structure and a flexible sheet assembly configured to dissipate heat generated by the heat generating element away from the at least one heat generating element and across a lateral surface of the rear wall of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Valentin de la Fuente
  • Patent number: 10340628
    Abstract: The present disclosure envisages a cap for covering a plug opening. The cap comprises at least one recessed portion having a cross section complementary to a cross section of the plug opening, wherein a first operative end of the recessed portion is fitted into the plug. A top lid is configured on the recessed portion. The top lid and the at least one recessed portion are adapted to prevent ingress of foreign particles to the plug. A lanyard extends from the recessed portion, and a ring is configured at a free end of the lanyard. The ring is adapted to be fitted on a body of the plug. The lanyard and the ring allow the cap to remain attached to the plug in the configuration when the at least one recessed portion is fitted on or not fitted on the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Appleton Grp LLC
    Inventors: Tushar Borkar, Vilas S. Shendge, Abhinav S. Sachan
  • Patent number: 10314184
    Abstract: A display device reduces or minimizes a stress applied to a display panel in a folded state. The display device includes a display panel including a bendable area; and a panel support portion combined to the display panel and including a multi-joint member to support the bendable area, and the multi-joint member includes: a plurality of hard material portions sequentially arranged in a first direction, mutually combined to be rotated with respect to one another, and including a first surface arranged toward the bendable area; and a soft material portion contacting the first surface and fixed to the plurality of hard material portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Chul Choi, Young Eun Oh, Han Sun Ryou, Man Sik Myeong
  • Patent number: 10019030
    Abstract: An electronic device of the present disclosure includes a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge part for connecting the first housing and the second housing. The first housing has a first primary surface at which an input unit is disposed, and a second primary surface opposite to the first primary surface. The second housing has a third primary surface provided with a display unit, and a fourth primary surface opposite to the third primary surface. The hinge part connects the first and second housings so that an angle formed by the first and third primary surfaces is capable of 360 degrees of change. The electronic device has a first configuration in which the first and third primary surfaces face each other to form an angle of substantially 0 degrees, and a second configuration in which the second and fourth primary surfaces face each other and the first and third primary surfaces are substantially parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shintaro Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakashima, Ryo Yonezawa, Haruka Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9388615
    Abstract: As described herein, a hinge system may comprise one or more a guide wire hinges. In general, the guide wire hinges may be unitary members having a generally constant diameter. A pair of guide wire hinges may be utilized to hingeably couple a stow box door to the stow box housing. The hinge system may be configured to be deformable in response to experiencing a warping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad R. Pacheco, Timothy Brownsberger
  • Patent number: 9307656
    Abstract: A case configured to protect at least a portion of an electronic device. The case can comprise a first portion and a second portion that connect to one another via a hinge. The first portion can be configured to cover a first portion of a back side of the electronic device when fully installed on the electronic device. The second portion can be configured to cover a remaining portion of the back side of the electronic device when also fully installed on the electronic device. The second portion and the first portion can pivot with respect to one another via the hinge. Accordingly, by one approach, the second portion can be pivoted away from the electronic device while the first portion remains installed on the electronic device. In such a case, and by one approach, the second portion can serve as a stand for the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ian James Murchison, Mircea Oprea, Felipe Oliveira Simoes, Donald Glenn Thompson, Anders Fahrendorff
  • Patent number: 8415920
    Abstract: A charger has its one side provided with terminals. The charger is provided with a connector. The terminals and the connector are electrically connected with a charging circuit within the charger. The charger has a panel connecting piece for connecting to a socket panel. The present invention further provides a combination of a charger and a socket panel. The charger is combined with the socket panel, so that the user can use the charger easily. The problem that the user may not find the charger is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Sheng-Hsin Liao
  • Publication number: 20120110784
    Abstract: A hinge is mounted in a portable device with two panels and has a flexible tube and a linking unit. The linking unit receives the flexible tube and is attached to the panels of the portable device. Since the flexible tube does not restrict the rotating angle, the panels can stay at any desired visual angle and are pivoted steplessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Chia-Hao HSU, Kuan-Chih CHEN, Chia-Chun YUAN, Che-Yu CHOU
  • Patent number: 7945995
    Abstract: A one-piece hinge mechanism includes a first member having a plurality of fingers, the fingers extending toward a second member, the second member having a plurality of fingers extending toward the first member, the fingers of the first member and the fingers of the second member engaging opposite sides of a web extending between the first member and the second member, the web being torsionally loaded when one of the first member is pivoted relative to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Philips Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryan Gates
  • Publication number: 20090307871
    Abstract: A hinge structure includes a shaft extending into a knuckle. The knuckle, when stretched-out, includes a knuckle body having a right portion and a left portion for coupling with the right portion. The knuckle body has a protrusion member projecting outwardly from the right portion with a neck section proximate to the right portion and a head section. The head section has a width greater than a width of the neck section. The knuckle body further has a recess member extending inwardly from the left portion with a narrow section proximate to the left portion and a large section. The large section has a width greater than a width of the narrow section. The width of the head section is greater than the width of the narrow section while the width of the neck section is smaller than the width of the narrow section in order to extend therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: PROTORSION HINGE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LIN-KAI HUNG
  • Publication number: 20090268389
    Abstract: A rotatable connecting mechanism (100) includes a cover (10), a base (30), a toothed element (20) and an elastic element (24). The cover is rotatably mounted on the base (30). The toothed element (20) on a surface of the cover (10) facing to the base (30). The toothed element (20) defining a plurality of toothed grooves (222) around a peripheral wall thereof. The elastic element (24) having an engaging portion (2422) formed thereon and configured on a surface of the base (30) facing to the cover (10). The engaging portion (2422) rotatably engages 5 the plurality of toothed grooves (222).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Ye Liu, Hsiao-Hua Tu, Yan-Ling Gao
  • Patent number: 7469451
    Abstract: A hinge assembly comprising first and second hinge elements rotatably mounted relative to each other and a plurality of elongate flexible members connected to the first and second hinge elements and extending there between, the elongate members being twisted about a longitudinal axis to a first condition prior to assembly the hinge assembly, wherein the hinge elements are rotatably movable from a first position in which the elongate members are in said first condition to a second position in which the elongate members are in a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7435032
    Abstract: A resilient flexure has one end attached within a cavity in a rigid member, and the other end attached within a cavity in a structural mode. The cavities are shaped to limit the flexure's bend radius. The member and the node have mating surfaces that abut to constrain the amount of rotation of the member. The aforementioned elements are shaped to prevent the strain in the flexure from exceeding its design limit when the joint is at its maximum angular deflection and the attached member is fully collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Thomas W. Murphey, Eric L. Pollard
  • Patent number: 7328480
    Abstract: A living hinge comprising a spring portion having a first end and a second end and a first arm portion and a second arm portion coextruded with the spring portion is disclosed. The first arm portion extends from the first end and the second arm portion extends from the second end. A component having the living hinge is also disclosed. Methods of making the component having the living hinge are also discloses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Schoemann
  • Patent number: 6886219
    Abstract: The present invention is a hinge for furniture that includes a first hinge part rotatably connected with a second hinge part via at least one hinge axis. The first hinge part has a substantially U-shaped cross-section with its legs on one end having free ends that point toward a piece of the furniture. The free ends have fastening flanges bent laterally in a plane substantially parallel to the piece of furniture. A first area of the legs being expandable at free ends of the legs creating a trapezoidal cross-section when the flanges are mounted to the piece of furniture, and the legs have a resulting cambered construction. A second area of the legs being substantially parallel, and the at least one hinge axis being located in this second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Hettich-ONI GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilfried Oepping, Udo Stellbrink
  • Patent number: 6719354
    Abstract: An automotive hinge facilitates substantially rotary motion of a closure panel relative to a fixed body structure by means of a single resilient member configured to carry all required structural and operational loadings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Multimatic, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurence James Holt
  • Patent number: 6334287
    Abstract: A wooden studwall is erected utilizing a hinge, of metal plate, having a bottom plate, two outer legs and a center leg extending from one side of the bottom plate so that the hinge can be aligned, along a chalk snap line located along the subfloor, where a wooden studwall is to be placed and the bottom plate and center leg can be nailed to the subfloor. The two outer legs, are bent up ninety degrees to the bottom plate, and are nailed to the underside of sole plate at the bottom of the stud wall so that when the wooden stud wall is raised the sole plate does not slip and is correctly aligned with the chalk snap line when the wooden stud wall is in the vertical position. The two outer legs may be left flat, parallel to the bottom plate, for safety reasons and then, after the bottom plate is nailed to the subfloor, bent up perpendicular to the subfloor and attached to the bottom sole plate of the stud wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Theodore Fick
  • Patent number: 6334235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-driving and self-locking hinge strap for mounting between two adjacent elements (A1, A2), the strap being of the type constituted by at least one resilient strip (3) preformed to have a section that is curved and designed to be secured via its two ends to the two elements, and to occupy a folded position and a deployed position. According to the invention, each resilient strip (3) is provided with a layer of viscoelastic material (4) interposed between one of the faces of the resilient strip (3) and a stress plate (5) in such a manner as to provide a hinge that also performs a damping function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignees: Metravib, R.D.S., Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales CNES
    Inventors: Bernard Duperray, Alain Donzier, Jacques Sicre
  • Patent number: 6260428
    Abstract: A z-axis positioner that maintains precise parallel relationship between a triangular top platform (24) and a mating bottom platform (30) juxtipositioned with each other, when separated in the z-axis. Three rectangular hinge plate sets (32) and (36) are attached with flexural strip hinges (40) in crossed pairs to opposite sides of the platforms and hinge plates such that the top and bottom platforms maintain the parallel relationship when separated without of any lateral movement. The platforms are adjusted in separable height by a variety of methods such as a micrometer, a hand screw or pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical actuators. A second embodiment utilizes the same principles except the platforms are square in shape and only two hinge plate sets are required on two adjacent sides of each platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Donald W. Clement
  • Patent number: 6175989
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy hinge assembly for deploying at least a first object in a controllable, substantially shockless manner is disclosed. Generally, the hinge assembly includes at least a first flexure member capable of moving from a first, folded configuration to a second, straightened configuration, and a controller for controlling the movement of at least the first flexure member as the first flexure member moves or reconfigures from the folded configuration to the straightened configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventors: Bernie F. Carpenter, Jerry L. Draper, Russell N. Gehling
  • Patent number: 6075696
    Abstract: Operational heat generated by an electronic component in the base housing of a notebook computer is transferred to the back wall of its display housing for dissipation to ambient by a heat pipe disposed in the base housing and having an evaporator portion in thermal contact with the heat-generating component, and a spreader plate structure formed from multiple thin metal layers. The spreader plate structure has a heat dissipation portion disposed within the display housing and held in thermal contact with its back wall, a pickup region disposed in the base housing and held in thermal contact with a condensing portion of the heat pipe, and a bendable dynamic portion positioned between the heat dissipation and pickup portions and extending through the lid hinge area of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis L. Progl, Allen P. Zhang
  • Patent number: 6055706
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a new constructive form of hinge for junction and opening of the arms (A) on the front (F) of the glasses, and being the automatic closure of the arms (A), when the glasses aren't being worn. The innovative peculiarity of the invention is to provide the presence of an elastic means (6), operating on a pin (26) of a gear (27), arranged in direct grip with a crown wheel section (11) of a disk (10), where it determines and regulates the movement of the gear (27), the gear (27) itself being solid to the arm (A) to open, whereas the crown wheel section (11) is fixed with the extremity of the hinge of front (F) of glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Adriano Gaiani
    Inventors: Franco Dioguardi, Marco Sottsass
  • Patent number: 5977932
    Abstract: A helical antenna structure is deformable and capable of being stowed in a small volume. At deployment, the helical antenna structure uses the stored strain energy in its resilient helices to revert to its original shape without the use of any outside force. Multiple antenna structures can be linked using a plurality of resilient lenticular shaped hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Orbital Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5425212
    Abstract: A foldable floor track or ceiling track having 1/8-inch-wide slots in the flanges and a 1/8-inch-high rib in the web, between the slots, permitting the track to be cleanly folded in half at the factory, for convenient packaging and handling, and then unfolded and fastened to the floor and the ceiling at a job site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: National Gypsum Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Menchetti
  • Patent number: 5238264
    Abstract: The door assembly for an air bag opening includes a door having a rigid substrate panel extending across the opening and carrying a decorative trim to normally conceal the air bag opening. A primary hinge acts between an edge of the rigid substrate panel and the vehicle to enable opening movement of the door about an axis defined by the primary hinge means. The rigid substrate panel has a weakened portion extending across the panel in parallel spaced relation from the primary hinge axis to enable folding of the door by the deploying air bag about a secondary hinge axis defined by the weakened portion. The primary hinge means is preferably a hinge panel of rigid but bendable metal construction which extends into engagement along the underside of the rigid substrate panel into proximity with the weakened portion thereof so that the rigid hinge panel reinforces the portion of the door underlaid by the hinge strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 5029907
    Abstract: A band assembly for effecting a seal particularly adapted for use in establishing a joint between a sewer pipe and a reinforced concrete manhole riser. The seal is affected by a tapered elastomeric tubular connector boot and a clamping band member that expands one end of the boot into the surface of the riser wall. The band assembly comprises a clamping band and a separate toggle expander. The clamping band includes separated end sections that capture the ends of the toggle expander. When the toggle expander is forced into an expanded position, the clamping band forces the connector boot into contact with the manhole riser. The clamping band includes stiffening lips and the toggle expander also incudes stiffening lips to provide a rigid structure. In one embodiment a tab overlies the end sections in the space of the clamping band and the space therebetween to further improve the evenness of the sealing force applied to the connector boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: NPC, Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Gundy
  • Patent number: 4955108
    Abstract: The invention is a hinge assembly made of two parts, specifically for an accelerometer. The first part is adapted to be attached, either directly or through a bracket, to an inertial acceleration sensor. The second part is adapted to be rigidly attached to an apparatus whose acceleration is to be measured. The two parts are connected by a flexible hinge.The invention resides in the placement of the hinge and in the attaching means for the second part of the hinge frame as well as in the method for fabricating the novel attaching means.The hinge is not attached to the center of the opposing edges of the first and second parts of the hinge frame. It is attached to one end of those opposing sides at a first region of the second part of the hinge frame. The hinge line is generally parallel to those opposing sides.The second part of the hinge frame is clamped only in a second region away from the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas F. Pier
  • Patent number: 4878266
    Abstract: An easel hinge made of a sheet of material having an outer portion with two leg sections joined by a hinge support section. A central portion of the sheet is disposed between the leg sections and interconnected with the hinge support section by bendable hinge elements. Two straddle elements are provided, with each straddle element being spaced from the hinge support section and interconnecting a corresponding leg section with the central portion of the sheet. The sheet includes mounting holes for securing the outer portion of the sheet to one panel of an easel, and the central portion of the sheet to the other panel of the easel, so that the straddle elements limit the angular movement of the easel panels relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Art Materials Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilson J. Cubides
  • Patent number: 4745657
    Abstract: A hinged support bracket for a drain trough is disclosed having a harness member which nests above a bracket member. Both harness and bracket members are joined by a hinge mechanism at their forward extremities, thereby permitting the harness member, containing the drain trough, to be forwardly rotated at least 180 degrees of circular arc, causing inversion of the trough and the discharge of any debris contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Inventor: Lloyd H. Faye
  • Patent number: 4728265
    Abstract: A linear peristaltic device for pumping medical solutions to a patient comprises a hinged pivot or hinged attachment between the peristaltic drive mechanism and its associated platen. An IV tube, through which the medical solutions are to be pumped is received and held between the peristaltic drive mechanism and the platen during operation of the device. The device also includes a compliant means which normally urges the peristaltic mechanism toward the platen but which yields, as necessary, to limit the force the peristaltic mechanism can exert against the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Group Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Cannon
  • Patent number: 4619304
    Abstract: A hinged structure comprising two substantially cylindrical supports (13, 14) and one or more hinges (11, 12) hinging the supports together so that they are parallel and closely adjacent, wherein the hinge comprises two members (1, 2) each made of resiliently flexible strip material, each member being S-shaped, passing partially round each support and together with the other member forming a letter script letter X or figure 8 configuration as seen in a direction along the supports, respective means (5, 6; 9, 10) being provided fastening together the ends of the members alongside each support so that the members are tensioned round the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Courier Display Systems Limited
    Inventor: Michael T. Smith
  • Patent number: 4551882
    Abstract: The scale is of limited height and utilizes Z-shaped flexures between the load frame and support frame. The scale can be placed in a hospital bed for weighing bed-ridden patients or for monitoring weight variations in bed-ridden patients. Each flexure has a Z-shaped cross section with flanges extending to opposite ends of the element for securement to the load frame and the support frame, respectively, of the scale. The web of the flexure is connected to a torsion bar which turns with the flexures in order to produce a read-out signal via an LVDT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: COBE ASDT, Inc.
    Inventors: Burt L. Swersey, Peter I. Fried
  • Patent number: 4417670
    Abstract: A device for dispensing tissue paper and similar sheet material, such as hair end-wrap papers used in the beauty and cosmetology profession. A pick-up assembly is mounted on an essentially rectangular container for a stack of tissue paper or similar sheet material. The pick-up assembly is comprised of a pick-up head having an adhesive secured thereto for contacting the top sheet of the stack, a rigid shaft connected to the pick-up head, a coil spring having one of its ends fitted over the rigid shaft and the other of its ends rigidly connected at a positive angle on a top center location of one of the ends of the container, and a spring cover. When the user of the device presses the pick-up head downward, the coil spring bends until the adhesive on the pick-up head contacts the top sheet of the shaft and separates and lifts the top sheet from the stack as the coil spring straightens to return the pick-up head to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Inventor: Homer L. Booher
  • Patent number: 4369715
    Abstract: A resilient hinge assembly particularly useful in display structures for merchandising goods comprises a band of plastics material incorporating a central flexible bridge interconnecting a pair of end elements. One of the end elements attaches to a back panel of a display structure and the other end element is slotted to receive a stabilizer shelf for the structure. A leaf spring extends across the flexible bridge and is connected to the end elements for imparting the required degree of restoration force to the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ingersoll, Ferris L. Hutchins, Jr.