Having Transverse Helical Spring Or Elastic Strip Patents (Class 16/286)
-
Patent number: 7328484Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge comprising a moveable hinge section and a hinge section consisting of a fixed stop section, which are interconnected by at least one joint axis, and comprising a damping device mounted on one of the hinge sections whose translationally or rotatably moveable damping member is acted upon at least in the closure region of the hinge via gear means from the other hinge section. According to the invention for adjustment of the moveable damping member depending on the tilt of the moveable hinge section relative to the at least one joint axis, there is provided at least three moveable gear members are provided, of which one is the damping member itself.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.Inventor: Luciano Salice
-
Patent number: 7275283Abstract: The present invention is a hinge assembly for engaging an appliance door to an appliance, such that rotational forces generated by the door as a function of the door position are balanced against a rotation force exerted about an axis of rotation for the door. The hinge assembly may be engaged to an interface using a locking bar to prevent translation of the adapter plate relative to the interface. The hinge assembly may further have a plunger incorporating an ovoid shaped retention pin bore for retaining an elastic element to the plunger.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Keystone Friction Hinge Co.Inventors: Adam Kistner, James Alexander Witter
-
Patent number: 7275285Abstract: A deployment hinge for deploying an appendage, including a movable portion affixed to the appendage, and a stationary portion affixed to a stationary body. In a non-deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically engaged with the stationary portion and a mechanical load is transferred between the stationary portion and the movable portion. In a deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically disengaged from the stationary portion, and a mechanical load is prevented from being transferred to the movable portion from the stationary portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Kenneth R. Lorell, Patrick J. Champagne
-
Patent number: 7258386Abstract: There is described an improved fuel door assembly. In one preferred embodiment, the fuel door comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation and has a biasing element that is at least partially surrounded by a second interface that forms a cavity that narrows between the ends of the second interface. The fuel door has a first interface that contacts the second interface such that the biasing element urges the fuel door toward the closed position when the fuel door is at the closed position, and urges the fuel door toward the open position when the fuel door is at the open position.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: 89908, Inc.Inventor: Horst Leitner
-
Patent number: 7243396Abstract: A door hinge includes a first element, a second element and a lever connecting the first and second elements to each other. The lever is pivoted on the second element and has a first portion attached to the first element to make the first and the second element reciprocally mobile about a horizontal axis. The second element includes a box-shaped body housing elastic means acting in conjunction with a second portion of the lever to control the reciprocal motion of the first and the second element. The first element and the lever constitute a rocker lever pivoted on the second element and in which a first arm of the first element rotates in a plane outside the box-shaped body and parallel to the plane in which the second arm of the rocker lever lies.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Nuova Star S.p.A.Inventor: Marco Vanini
-
Patent number: 7240397Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet with a pair of hinge holes, a door having a pair of hinge shafts and being rotatably coupled to the cabinet by engagement between the pair of hinge shafts and the pair of hinge holes, and a door-closing device to allow the door to be automatically closed toward the cabinet, the door-closing device including an auxiliary hinge shaft attached to a bottom of the door; a restoring unit in a bottom of the cabinet to bias the door toward the cabinet when the door is opened; a hinge lever connected between the auxiliary hinge shaft and the restoring unit and having a coupling hole in which the auxiliary hinge shaft fits; and a cap fitted on an end of the hinge lever where the coupling hole is formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jae Myung Han
-
Patent number: 7197790Abstract: A hinge which includes a gas strut. The hinge in one embodiment further includes a first control arm and a second control arm which is coupled to the first control arm. The gas strut in this one embodiment is coupled to both first and second control arms.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2004Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: PE Marine Designz, LtdInventor: Paul Charles Edmondson
-
Patent number: 7194785Abstract: A buffer bar fastening structure for fastening a buffer bar to a hinge of a cabinet door includes a barrel which has flanges on two ends to couple with arched portions at two ends of a latch member to couple the buffer bar on the barrel in a turnable manner. The latch member has one side connecting to a fastening member, which may be coupled with an adjusting slot of the hinge and a fastening section on another side to fasten the buffer bar to the hinge. The structure is simple and easy to install.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Lushridge IncorporatedInventor: Chih-Hung Li
-
Patent number: 7191491Abstract: In a hinge connector including a shaft member and a flexible board coupled thereto, the shaft member has a first shaft extending in a first direction and a second shaft extending from the first shaft in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The flexible board has first and second winding portions which are wound around the first and the second shafts, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2005Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, LimitedInventors: Kazuaki Ibaraki, Masao Higuchi
-
Patent number: 7178202Abstract: Disclosed is a lid-positioning device for a cabinet, comprising an actuating arm (10) which is fixed to a side wall (3) of a cabinet carcass (1) so as to be pivotable around a first axis of actuation (13) between an open position and a closed position while being fixed to a lid (8) so as to be pivotable around a second axis of actuation (16), a control arm (11) which is fixed to the side wall (3) of the cabinet carcass (1) so as to be pivotable around a first control axis (14) that is located parallel to the first axis of actuation (13) while being fixed to the lid (8) so as to be pivotable around a second control axis (17) that is located parallel to the second axis of actuation (16).Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Huwil-Werke GmbH MobelschloB-und BeschlagfabrikenInventors: Artur Hirtsiefer, Christian Reineking, Jürgen Schnell
-
Patent number: 7155777Abstract: A closure mechanism for hinged devices having an upper member and a lower member. The closure mechanism includes a track disposed on the upper member and at least one support arm pivotally attached to the lower member. A biasing element is adapted to urge the support arm to engage the upper member and urge it to pivot to an open configuration. The arm includes a contact element that engages the track such that an upper end of the arm moves along the track as the upper member pivots to an open position. The arm includes a hook that engages a positive stop to prevent over-rotation of the arm. In other embodiments of the closure mechanism, the arm is pivotally attached to the upper member and moves against the lower member, and the biasing element extends between the arm and either the upper member or the lower member.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: William M. Connors, Donald N. Spitz, Gregory P. Washnock
-
Patent number: 7127778Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge comprising a moveable hinge section and a hinge section consisting of a fixed stop section, which are interconnected by at least one joint axis, and comprising a damping device mounted on one of the hinge sections whose translationally or rotatably moveable damping member is acted upon at least in the closure region of the hinge via gear means from the other hinge section. According to the invention for adjustment of the moveable damping member depending on the tilt of the moveable hinge section relative to the at least one joint axis, there is provided at least three moveable gear members are provided, of which one is the damping member itself.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p. A.Inventor: Luciano Salice
-
Patent number: 7096535Abstract: A hinge device includes a frame bracket adapted to be secured to a door frame, a door bracket adapted to be secured to a door panel, first and second links pivoted to the frame bracket and the door bracket, an urging member for urging the door panel to move from an opened position toward a closed position relative to the door frame, and a damping member adapted to be secured to the door frame and connected movably to the second link through a transmission link so as to damp pivoting movement of the door panel relative to the door frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Inventor: Ming-Jeng Lin
-
Patent number: 7083217Abstract: An opening and closing apparatus for vehicle lid includes a lower base adapted to be mounted on a body panel of the vehicle and arranged to an opening of an inner space of the vehicle, first and second hinge links rotatably connected to the lower base at each one end of the respective first and second hinge links, an upper base attached to the vehicle lid formed for closing the opening of the inner space and connected to each the other end of the respective first and second hinge links, a motor for providing a drive to the first hinge link, a drive transmitting member provided between the motor and the first hinge link for transmitting the drive from the motor to the first hinge link, a normally section torque transmitting mechanism provided between the drive transmitting member and the first hinge link for transmitting the drive to the first hinge link at a point of force reaction through the normally section torque transmitting mechanism after the drive transmitting member is rotated with a predetermined anType: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryoichi Fukumoto, Masumi Nishikawa, Mamoru Marutani
-
Patent number: 7069622Abstract: A hinge includes a tubular base part being attached to a main body or an open/closed body, a rotation body being attached to the main body or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the base part, and supported on side wall end parts of the base part opposed to each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam part, a wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and having a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when the rotation body rotates, an elastic member being housed in the base part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation body, a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis, and a sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation body rotates.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Yasushi Utsugi, So Ishikawa
-
Patent number: 7065833Abstract: The invention concerns a cabinet hinge with an automatic opening device, especially for cabinet doors with a hinge cup, which is connected with a hinge to a hinge arm, which is, being adjustable and lockable, connected to a base plate, which is connected to a cabinet body; whereby, the hinge includes an inner and outer joint lever, which are fastened to the hinge cup, as well as the hinge arm, with each one pivoting joint pin, which causes a kind of parallelogram-joint to be formed between the hinge cup and the hinge arm, by which means the cabinet door relative to the cabinet body can be swung out; whereby, at least one elastic resilient spring element directly affects at least one joint pin of outer and/or inner joint lever and causes a torque for opening of the cabinet door from the closed position through a defined opening-angle area, and; whereby, the resilient spring element is fastened to the hinge cup, whereby, at least one resilient spring element affects through a sliding wedge directly or indirectlType: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Grass GmbHInventor: Peter Kropf
-
Patent number: 7059018Abstract: A pair of projection elements 42, 42 are formed on the opposite sides of an inner link 4. Each projection element 42 is formed with a cutout recess 42b. A fitting shaft part 72a, which is formed on each end of an abutment shaft 72, is inserted into the cutout recess 42b through an open part thereof and turnably fitted to a bottom part of the cutout recess 42b. A second abutment part 71c of a coiled spring 71 is abutted with an enlarged-diameter part 72b of the abutment shaft 72. The abutment shaft 72 is biased towards the bottom side of the cutout recess 43b from the open part side thereof by the coiled spring 71.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2002Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichiro Koshikawa, Kazuyoshi Oshima
-
Patent number: 7028373Abstract: A hinged housing portion (110) coupled to a second housing portion (120), for example in a wireless communications device, including a compression spring (134) coupled to one of the housing portions, a cam (142) coupled to the body member, and a follower (336) coupled between the cam and the compression spring. The compression spring compresses along a compression axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The contoured surface or cam surface urges the follower against a first side of the second housing portion with the follower force 724. The follower force is parallel to the slope of the contoured surface slope at the point of contact between the follower and the contoured surface. The follower force results in rotation of the second housing portion in a first direction or second direction of rotation about the first axis depending on the angle of the contoured surface relative to the compression spring axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Harmon, Michael F. Spence
-
Patent number: 7017232Abstract: The load limiting hinge provides a rigid, essentially inelastic drop down door mounting structure when normal loads are placed upon the door, but includes an easily replaceable weak link or “mechanical fuse” which breaks or opens when excessive force is applied to the open door. The hinge assembly supports the drop down door with practically no deflection of the door or hinge assembly when normal loads are applied to the open door, but allows the door to drop from the horizontal when excessive loads are applied to the door, to preclude the tipping of an appliance to which the door is attached or the continued use of the door as a platform. The hinge assembly is particularly useful in oven door installations, serving to assure that hot articles atop the stove are not spilled due to tipping of the appliance or inappropriate access by small children.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Inventor: Thomas G. Priddy
-
Patent number: 6986187Abstract: A hinge assembly for an appliance includes a claw and a channel pivotably connected to the claw. A link assembly is operably connected between the claw and the channel. The link assembly includes a link connected to the claw and a lever connected to the link. A glide member is connected to the lever and movably engaged with said channel. The glide member is slidably movable between first and second operative positions in response to movement of the channel relative to the claw between first and second positions, respectively. A spring is operably connected to a first end of the lever and biases the glide member into engagement with the channel.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2003Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: Mansfield Assemblies Co.Inventors: Steven O. Cummins, Jeffrey D. Habegger, James J. Collene
-
Patent number: 6930881Abstract: A portable computer includes upper and lower sections that are pivotally attached, together with a hinge assembly extending outwardly from the pivoted edges of the section. When the upper and lower sections are pivoted open, the hinge assembly moves outward and downward to form a handle by which the computer is easily held and a stand for convenient placement of the computer on a horizontal surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Peter Karidis, Susan Somers Moffatt, Gerard Francis Muenkel
-
Patent number: 6892423Abstract: A hinge for a vehicle lid includes a main biasing element operable to urge the hinge into an open position, and a mechanism for assisting the initial opening of the hinge from a closed position. The mechanism includes a rotary cam engagable with another portion of the hinge to provide assistance, and a further biasing element which acts on the cam to rotate it relative to the other portion of the hinge. A lifting aid includes a main biasing element for attachment between a lid and a body, which lid is pivotally moveable towards and away from the body. The main biasing element is operable to urge the lid from a closed position relative to the body to an open position. The lifting aid further has a cam attachable to the body for relative rotation thereto and a further biasing element for attachment between the body and the cam and operable to rotate the cam relative to the body and lid. The cam is operable to assist the initial opening of the lid.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: ITW LimitedInventors: Jonathan Paul Anthony Cheal, Andrew Proffitt
-
Patent number: 6886220Abstract: A hinge device comprises: an attachment member attached on an apparatus body side; a supporting member pivotally supported by the attachment member through hinge pins; a document press-contacting plate attached to the supporting member; compression springs elastically provided between the supporting member side and the attachment member in such a manner that the supporting member is enforced to pivot in a direction that the document press-contacting plate is opened; a damper set inside the compression springs and provided between the attachment member side and the free end side of the supporting member so that an abrupt pivoting at and from a predetermined angle measured from the supporting member is buffered.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryuta Kuramochi
-
Patent number: 6859979Abstract: The invention concerns a cabinet fitting, in particular a hinge, with integrated braking and damping device, including a fastenable hinge arm on a cabinet component and a fastenable hinge cup on another movable cabinet component that is connected by at least one articulated lever with the hinge arm. The invention is characterized by the driver plate, which can slide, is held in the hinge cup and can be operated directly or indirectly by the articulated lever and has held in the hinge cup at least one pivoting or swiveling brake plate moves turning, so that the brake plate has at least one brake surface that glides on at least one corresponding, fixed brake surface or, on one opposite the first brake surface, a second movable brake surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Grass GmbHInventors: Remo Egger, Wolfgang Mueller
-
Patent number: 6845545Abstract: An apparatus to automatically close a refrigerator door when the door is opened at a predetermined angle or less. The apparatus includes a hinge mechanism having a first hinge shaft provided at the door, which allows the door to be coupled to a refrigerator cabinet and allows the door to be rotated about the hinge shaft, a tension spring provided at the refrigerator cabinet to apply the door with a tension force for closing the door, and a unit to asborb shock generated when the door is closed by the tension spring, and the a unit to absorb shock includes a housing coupled to the cabinet, and a movable shaft which is received in the housing at its one end and connected to the door at the other end to be linearly moved in the housing, and wherein the tension spring is connected to the cabinet at its one end and connected to the movable shaft at the other end to apply the door with a tension force of closing the door.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2003Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-Myeong Han, Myung-Wouk Kim, Yong-Pil Park
-
Publication number: 20040226139Abstract: A furniture hinge comprising an arm for fastening to a piece of furniture and a part for fastening to a door, where said items are joined by two rockers to form an articulated quadrilateral that allows rotation; and a V-shaped spring, placed near an end of a rocker, with an arm of the spring resting on the arm and the second arm of the spring resting on a protrusion or cam of the rocker to create a lever arm that compresses the spring producing a moment in the opening or closing direction of the door, depending on the shape the protrusion found on the rocker.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventor: Luciano Salice
-
Patent number: 6807711Abstract: A hinge for a notebook computer is composed of a pintle, two barrels and a coil spring. The first barrel is provided outside the first part of the pintle, and the second barrel is provided outside the second part of the pintle. The coil spring has a central end secured on the pintle, and a free end secured on a monitor of the computer. When the computer is closed, the coil spring is compressed to provide an elastic force to automatically raise the monitor.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sheng-Nan Lu
-
Patent number: 6766561Abstract: A frameless glass door hinge has a mounting device, an internal doorstop, an angle adjustment device and a hinge assembly. The adjusting device has a setscrew, an adjustment block and a lock with a striated front surface. The internal doorstop has coil springs, two holders, a stop rod with a central portion and a head. The head has detents and a striated surface. The hinge body has a right hinge leaf, a left hinge leaf and two rubber seals. The mounting device has a doorstop bracket, a bracket leaf and a central hinge pin. The doorstop bracket is mounted on the bracket leaf, and the head is mounted in doorstop bracket by a bushing and the central hinge pin. The central portion of the stop rod abuts a detent in the head, and the stop rod is securely mounted in the right hinge leaf.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2003Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Inventor: Ko-Ming Cheng
-
Patent number: 6766563Abstract: A hinge assembly for a door of a kimchi storage device is disclosed. The hinge assembly has a support member 60 including a first contact surface 62a sloping down on the upper surface thereof and a second contact surface 62b sloping down thereon next to the first contact surface 62a and prevents the door 5 from coming off the upper surface of the body 6 of the kimchi storage device by maintaining the closed position of the door tightly and prevents cold air leakage by maintaining a sealed state. Also, in an embodiment of the present invention, a hinge housing 70 has a guard portion 71 formed at an upper end portion thereof, the guard portion 71 having an inwardly curved shape and being extended from the upper end of the hinge housing 70 toward inside of the turn member 20, thereby covering a gap formed in a conjunction area between the hinge housing 70 and the turn member 20.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Mando Climate Control CorporationInventor: Young-gil Lee
-
Publication number: 20040117948Abstract: A hinge includes a tubular base part being attached to a main body or an open/closed body, a rotation body being attached to the main body or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the base part, and supported on side wall end parts of the base part opposed to each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam part, a wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and having a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when the rotation body rotates, an elastic member being housed in the base part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation body, a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis, and a sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation body rotates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: June 24, 2004Inventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Yasushi Utsugi, So Ishikawa
-
Patent number: 6715183Abstract: A hinge (10) for furniture doors, the supporting wall stop part of which, which is constructed as a supporting arm (14), is coupled pivotably over two hinge guide rods (16; 18) with the door stop part, which is constructed as a hinge pot (12), with a spring-loaded mechanism, which it is formed by a leg spring, which is disposed in the supporting arm and engages an extension of the out to hinge guide rod (16), and a further leg spring, which is supported in the supporting arm. The leg spring is constructed as a double leg spring (42) with a middle double leg (44) of two parallel leg arms, protruding between two groups of spring coils (47) from, in each case, one of the inner spring coils, and two outer legs (46), protruding from the in each case outermost spring coil of each group.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Mepla-Werke Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Gerhard Lautenschläger
-
Patent number: 6704966Abstract: A waterproof hinge structure for a glass door adopted for use on a shower stall includes a support member and a door clamp means to form a closed and tight contact therebetween to prevent water in the shower stall from splashing or seeping outside the shower stall and keep the surroundings outside the shower stall dry. A pad member is bridged between the support member and the door clamp means to prevent the two from hitting each other so that damaging scratches may be prevented from occurring on the surface of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Inventor: Chin-Min Kao
-
Publication number: 20040045130Abstract: A hinge device comprises: an attachment member attached on an apparatus body side; a supporting member pivotally supported by the attachment member through hinge pins; a document press-contacting plate attached to the supporting member; compression springs elastically provided between the supporting member side and the attachment member in such a manner that the supporting member is enforced to pivot in a direction that the document press-contacting plate is opened; a damper set inside the compression springs and provided between the attachment member side and the free end side of the supporting member so that an abrupt pivoting at and from a predetermined angle measured from the supporting member is buffered.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventor: Ryuta Kuramochi
-
Patent number: 6684456Abstract: A hinge apparatus to open and to close an upper member such as an automatic document feeder or an upper cover used in an office machine has an upper hinge fixed on the upper member, a lower hinge fixed at a main body of the office machine, a hinge shaft to rotatably support the upper and lower hinges with respect to each other, and a position-fixing member to fix the upper member in at least one position opened at a predetermined angle by restraining the upper and lower hinges from rotating with respect to each other when the upper member is opened. The position fixing member has a first fixing part to restrain the rotation of the upper and lower hinges from a direction perpendicular to an axis of the hinge shaft and a second fixing part to restrain the rotation of the upper and lower hinges from an axis direction of the hinge shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dong-gyoo Lee
-
Publication number: 20030217436Abstract: A decklid hinge is provided for a rear compartment of a vehicle. The decklid hinge includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The decklid hinge also includes a decklid side strap adapted to be connected to a decklid for closing a recess of the rear compartment. The decklid hinge includes a first link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for allowing rotation therebetween. The decklid hinge also includes a second link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for guiding pivoting action of the hinge along a predefined path. The decklid hinge further includes a counterbalance spring interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap to counterbalance a weight of the decklid in an open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Waqar Hashim, Akin O. Ajilore, Glenn J. Esch, Carl E. Chamberlain
-
Publication number: 20030213098Abstract: A hinge assembly for an appliance includes a claw and a channel pivotably connected to the claw. A link assembly is operably connected between the claw and the channel. The link assembly includes a link connected to the claw and a lever connected to the link. A glide member is connected to the lever and movably engaged with said channel. The glide member is slidably movable between first and second operative positions in response to movement of the channel relative to the claw between first and second positions, respectively. A spring is operably connected to a first end of the lever and biases the glide member into engagement with the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: Mansfield Assemblies Co.Inventors: Steven O. Cummins, Jeffrey D. Habegger, James J. Collene
-
Patent number: 6629336Abstract: In an original pressing plate hinge including a fixing member, an original pressing plate supporting member pivotably installed via a hinge pin to the fixing member, a slider slidably housed in the supporting member, a cam member fixed between the slider and the free end of the supporting member in contact with the slider, and a coil spring provided resiliently between the slider and the free end of the supporting member, the cam member is omitted to prevent an original or document set on the platen glass for copying or printing from being stained with or spoiled by a lubricant when the original touches the cam member to which the lubricant sticks, and instead a pressure receiving pin is used and a cam slider is used in place of the slider. To prevent a heavy original pressing plate from abruptly falling, a fluid damping member is housed in the coil spring and disposed between the cam slider and the top plate or free end of the supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Hosaka, Hirofumi Kohda
-
Patent number: 6618902Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Inventor: Chien-Chen Wu
-
Publication number: 20030163898Abstract: A hinge rotates a cover pivotably connected to a device housing from a closed position to an open position. A shaft is connected to the cover. The shaft and cover have a common axis of rotation. A spring having a top end and a bottom end is affixed at its bottom end to the device housing. A line has a first end connected to the top end of the spring and a second end wound onto the shaft. When the cover is in the closed position, the spring is in an extended state. Upon release of the cover from the closed position, the spring force returns the spring toward a neutral state, thereby unwinding the line from the shaft and causing rotation of the cover to the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2002Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Harvey Levine
-
Patent number: 6611993Abstract: A hinge mechanism for joining a door to a vessel is disclosed. The hinge mechanism includes a housing having a first end and a second end, and a rod reciprocally disposed in the housing, with the rod having a first end adapted to pivotally engage the door and further having a second end. A spring is disposed within the housing. A first coupling slidably connects a first end of the spring to the first end of the rod, and a second coupling slidably connects a second end of the spring to the second end of the rod. The spring, the housing, and the first and second couplings cooperate to permit movement of the rod between an outward position, an inward position, and a neutral position between the outward position and the inward position. The spring is arranged to bias the rod toward the neutral position.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Inventor: Francis M. Ray
-
Patent number: 6606762Abstract: A hinge rotates a cover pivotably connected to a device housing from a closed position to an open position. A shaft is connected to the cover. The shaft and cover have a common axis of rotation. A spring having a top end and a bottom end is affixed at its bottom end to the device housing. A line has a first end connected to the top end of the spring and a second end wound onto the shaft. When the cover is in the closed position, the spring is in an extended state. Upon release of the cover from the closed position, the spring force returns the spring toward a neutral state, thereby unwinding the line from the shaft and causing rotation of the cover to the open position.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Myron Corp.Inventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Harvey Levine
-
Patent number: 6574835Abstract: A hinge used to mount a door to an overhead storage cabinet is disclosed. The hinge provides a combination linear and articulated motion to provide the clearance between the door of the cabinet and the upper, outer corner of the cabinet. Further, the hinge provides a user assist on the opening of the cabinet door and a self-dampening motion on the closing of the cabinet door without the use of pneumatic cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventor: Robert A. Melhuish
-
Patent number: 6568035Abstract: An improved sprung hinge for supporting panel-like closure elements is of the type comprising a first articulated quadrilateral and a second articulated quadrilateral which share a first lever and a second lever, and at least first and second elastic elements arranged in series which act on mutually opposite parts of each one of the quadrilaterals, the first lever being formed monolithically.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: T.G.N. S.p.A.Inventor: Daniele Zetti
-
Patent number: 6560821Abstract: A glass door hinge is provided which is self-centering and clamps a glass door between two opposed clamps. The hinge includes a mount, a pair of clamps, a hinge block, a spindle, and a biasing member for engaging the spindle to return the clamps and the door to a centered position. Each of the clamps is preferably provided with a lipped gasket which isolates the door from the metal hinge components. One of the clamps has a pair of set screws for holding the spindle in position relative to the clamps, and a pair of locking screws for inhibiting movement of the set screws. The set screws and locking screws are concealed from view by being received entirely within the clamp.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: The Group Legacy L.C.Inventors: Craig Miller, William Liao
-
Patent number: 6553622Abstract: A connecting fastener 1 in which a first member 2 and a second member 3 are linked so that they can turn relative to one another is provided with (1) a first plate part 5 which is fixed to a fixed member 2; (2) a second plate part 6 which is fixed to a second member 3; and (3) a hinge 7 set in place between the first plate part and the second plate part and supporting both plate parts so that they can turn relative to one another; the first plate part, second plate part and hinge part forming an integral piece as they are made of a synthetic resin. Then, a spring 9 is set in place on the first plate part 5 and the second plate part 6, the spring 9 energizing so that both plate parts are in a non-turning state on either side of the hinge 7.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Newfrey LLCInventors: Toshio Maruyama, Ken Kataoka, Masasi Nanba, Ryukei Shimizu
-
Patent number: 6530498Abstract: A jewelry case includes a base having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall; a top cover having a top wall and a peripheral side wall; a first retainer in a slot of a rear wall of the top cover so as not to be visible from an exterior of the case when the case is closed; a second retainer in a slot of a rear wall of the base so as not be visible from an exterior of the case when the case is closed; and a C-clip which is not visible from an exterior of the case when the case is closed and which connects together the first and second retainers to provide a combined pivoting and sliding movement of a rear edge of the top cover on the base during opening and closing of the top cover.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Inventor: Joseph Ovadia
-
Patent number: 6505381Abstract: A hinge system for deploying panels or other structures from a satellite or spacecraft has at least two configurations. The panels are held in a substantially stacked disposition in the stowed configuration by the hinge system which connects to each panel and includes an intermediate arm sized to span any necessary space between the two panels in the stowed configuration. A deployment cable is attached to one of the panels and threaded over a series of pulleys disposed on the hinge system and onto a spool in the other panel. When the spool is driven to wind the deployment cable onto it, the tension in the cable pulls on the pulleys, causing the hinge to unfold and then slide into a housing located on one of the panels. This deployed configuration allows the panels to be held aligned and directly adjacent to one another by the tension of the deployment cable.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: TRW Astro AerospaceInventors: Mark Thomson, Steve Davis
-
Patent number: 6499189Abstract: A hinge apparatus employs a base, a second base, link arms, urging means and the characteristics of a parallelogram formed by the shape of said base, second base and paired link members to enable a body such as a platen cover to rotate up open and lower substantially parallel to an original platen and to enable the parallel opening of the body thereby ensuring the complete covering of a thick original or a book original placed upon the clear glass platen enabling good quality copies of the original regardless of its thickness.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1999Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Nisca CorporationInventors: Jun Kondo, Mitsumasa Ogihara
-
Patent number: 6481055Abstract: A pivotal device comprises a fixing plate fixed to a wall, a box securely attached to the fixing plate and including a horizontal space and a vertical space communicated with the horizontal space, and a follower slidably mounted in the horizontal space. Two stubs project from a side of the follower. A spring is mounted around each stub and has an end attached to the fixing plate. A first outer plate and a second outer plate are secured together, sandwich the box, and are pivotable relative to the box. A pivot pin is pivotally mounted in the vertical space of the box. A mediate portion of the pivot pin includes two opposite flat surfaces and two opposite arcuate surfaces. A gasket is securely sandwiched between the first outer plate and the second outer plate to move therewith. The gasket includes a portion for securely engage with an edge of a frameless glass door.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Inventor: Ko Ming Cheng
-
Patent number: 6463627Abstract: A lid stay for holding a lid of a piece of furniture has a first arm (1) and a second arm (2) pivotably connected to the first arm (1). The arms (1, 2) are movable between an open position and a closed position around a swivel axis (4). A friction mechanism (9, 10) is active between the first arm (1) and the second arm (2). A spring mechanism acts upon the second arm (2) in the direction towards the open position or in the direction towards the closed position. The spring mechanism influences the frictional force that acts upon the friction means (9, 10).Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Huwil-Werke GmbH Mobelschloss- und BeschlagrabrikenInventor: Artur Hirtsiefer