Abstract: A latching assembly for hingeably connected face-to-face plate members includes an automatic latching assembly for automatically latching said members in a predetermined angular relation to each other when one of the plates is swung away from the other and for automatically releasing and rendering said latching assembly inoperative in response to further opening movement of the members, whereby the members may be returned to their original face-to-face position.

Abstract: A hingeable plate assembly includes first and second substantially flat glass plates and first and second displaceable hinges for hingeably connecting the plates so that the second plate is outwardly displaceable with respect to the first plate in substantially parallel aligned relation thereto. The hinges each include first and second hinge pieces which are attached to the first and second plates, respectively, and pivot elements which are captured between the respective first and second hinge pieces thereof. The pivot elements are preferably formed as spherical balls which are received in elongated slots in the respective first hinge pieces thereof and sockets in the respective second hinge pieces thereof. The ball elements can rotate in the respective slots and/or sockets thereof to enable the second plate to be hinged relative to the first plate, and they can travel in the respective slots thereof to enable the second plate to be displaced outwardly from the first plate.

Abstract: Hinged glass photomask assemblies for photolithographic processes are disclosed wherein a flexible polymeric split hinge is used to join glass plates thereby providing for greater flexibility of the phototool.