Pivotal Adjustment Patents (Class 16/239)
  • Publication number: 20080256747
    Abstract: A hinge device of a foldable chair. The foldable chair includes a front tube, a middle tube, a rear tube and a foot stand. Three-way hinges each including a first pivoting portion, a second pivoting portion and a third pivoting portion connect the front tube, the middle tube, the rear tube and the foot stands together. The characteristic lies in that the third pivoting portion is shifted from a straight line connecting the first pivoting portion to the second pivoting portion so that the third pivoting portion and the first and second pivoting portions are disposed alternately and all the pivoting portions after being folded form a right-angle arranged pattern. The foot stand is folded on the inner side of the middle tube and arranged in parallel to inner and outer portions of the middle tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Hsien-Wen Chang, Shek-Hing Simon Yu
  • Patent number: 7440782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hinge device for a display rotation type mobile phone comprising a main housing, a folder having a main display device and rotatable around a first hinge axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the length of the main housing and a connection member for rotatably connecting the folder to the main housing, said hinge device including a first hinge member; a second hinge member connected to the first hinge member which allows and restricts the rotation of the second hinge member; a swing washer interposed between the first and second hinge members to rotatably connect the second hinge member to the first hinge member and providing an elastic force acting to rotate the folder; and a swing bush engaged into the first hinge member sequentially connected to the swing washer and the second hinge member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moon-Young Cha
  • Patent number: 7429039
    Abstract: A hinge device is configured that when a cover is opened, a support-section-side pivot shaft is guided upward by a fixed-section-side guide groove; and a fixed-section-side pivot shaft is guided while being restricted in downward movement by a support-section-side guide groove which tilts in accordance with a pivot operation of the cover. As a result, occurrence of interference between a frontward edge of the cover and an upper face of a document ejection tray can be prevented without causing the frontward edge to move lower than its position in a face-down state. In addition, chattering of the cover during the opening/closing operations can also be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Atsuo Hirose
  • Publication number: 20080231103
    Abstract: Hinge mechanism comprising first and second frames connected together by an adjustment device comprising a first set of gear teeth integral with the first frame and a first mobile toothed element engaging with the first set of gear teeth A second toothed element, mounted mobile on the second frame, engages with an additional set of gear teeth integral with the first frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventor: Rene Rohee
  • Patent number: 7418766
    Abstract: An upper piggybacked unit of a tandem unit is provided with a hinge unit and at least one motion lock to prevent the upper unit from falling away from the lower unit when it is tandemly coupled to the lower unit and the lower unit is pivoted to a non-horizontal position. The motion lock may inhibit rotation and/or translation of the upper unit. The motion lock may also be self-actuating, such as a gravity dependent lock mechanism. A lock override mechanism may be provided to allow the lock to yield to excessive force without causing damage. The lock enable condition may be automatically reset after the override condition so that no special knowledge or action on the part of the user is required to return the hinge to normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron T. Nelson, Keng Leong Ng, Brent R. Jones, Yin Mei (Regina) Sia, Sheau Ming Ng
  • Publication number: 20080196203
    Abstract: An opening/closing device (1) for a double flap door (3) of an item of furniture (3) is described, wherein the top part (2?) and the bottom part (2?) of the door (2) are not hinged to each other. The device (1) comprises means (4)—connected to the furniture item (3) and to the top part (2?) of the door (2) and adapted to cause the top part (2?) of the door (2) to rotate with respect to the furniture item (3)—and an articulated quadrilateral (5), connected to the means (4) and adapted to cause the bottom part (2?) of the door (2) to rotate with respect to the top part (2?) concomitantly with the rotation of the top part (2?) of the door (2) with respect to the furniture item (3). The articulated quadrilateral (5) comprises a first and a second arm (5?, 5?) having one end hinged to the bottom part (2?) of the door (2) and the other end hinged to the means (4), integral respectively with the top part (2?) of the door (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Antonio Giovannetti
  • Patent number: 7413152
    Abstract: A carrier device includes a supporting base having one or more columns, a mounting seat for supporting an object and having an arm, and a linkage for adjustably coupling and supporting the mounting seat to the supporting base to the selected angular positions without spring members. Two or more fastener each include a non-circular shank engaged through one or more discs, and a pair of levers are disposed parallel to each other and pivotally coupled between the fasteners for forming a parallelogrammic structure and for adjustably and stably supporting the mounting seat to the columns of the supporting base at selected angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Kernan Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin Hao Chen
  • Publication number: 20080185889
    Abstract: An item of adjustable furniture having a first support section, a second support section connected rotatably to the first support section by a pair of hinges, and a third support section connected rotatably to the second support section by a pair of hinges. Each hinge includes a pair of discs fastened rotatably to one another by a hinge pin. Each disc includes an array of apertures and a locking mechanism having an aesthetically pleasing J-shaped hook member, a knob fastened to the hook member, and a spring interposed between the knob and the pin. The hook member is removably received within the apertures of the discs when the spring is expanded, thereby locking the hinge. To unlock the hinge and allow for the rotation of the support members for the purpose adjusting the furniture, the knob is depressed to disengage the hook member from the apertures of the discs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Nathan Kipperman
  • Patent number: 7406747
    Abstract: A hinge apparatus for a cover of an image forming apparatus has a hinge body with supporting brackets, movably inserted into a coupling hole positioned in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a hinge cam connected to the cover and pivotably connected to the supporting brackets, and a pressure device disposed at the hinge body to press the hinge cam. Accordingly, the hinge apparatus can be implemented with a simple and easy assembly operation, since it is not a complicated structural connection among the component parts of the hinge apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-ha Chol
  • Patent number: 7404363
    Abstract: This security door construction is applicable to safes, factory doors and house doors. An offset hinge assembly allows the door to swing open and closed and also to slide in and out of a door slot in the door frame at the closing edge of the door. In the construction of a safe, hooks on the inside of the door enter slots in upstands inside the safe and engage and disengage through the sliding motion. House doors and screen doors use a hinge assembly which operates in the same way as the safe. One pair of hinges are fixed to the frame and the second pair of hinges are fixed to the door. The frame and door pairs are connected by a rod or tube which ensures that the hinge axis of the door pair remains parallel to the hinge axis of the frame pair. A door locking mechanism is actuated by a conventional pneumatic door closer. A gas strut supplies the thrust to cause the mechanism to slide the door into the door slot when the door closer brings the door into register with the door slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lokaway Pty. Ltd
    Inventor: Brett Dunstan
  • Publication number: 20080168623
    Abstract: A hinge construction for a wing mirror unit for a motor vehicle including a first hinge part for mounting on a motor vehicle and a second hinge part, pivotably connected therewith, for supporting a wing mirror unit. In an embodiment, the first and second hinge parts cooperate via a rack-and-pinion guide that causes the hinge parts upon pivoting to rotate and translate relative to each other. The invention also relates to a wing mirror unit provided with embodiments of a hinge construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: EATON AUTOMOTIVE B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Frits Brouwer, Paulus Gerardus Maria van Stiphout
  • Publication number: 20080120805
    Abstract: A rotating hinge capable of driving a screen to ascend or descend includes a fixed base and a rotating support base. The fixed base has a guide plate with external positioning grooves corresponding to internal positioning grooves for pressing the guide plate, a limit plate linked to the rotating support base and corresponding to the internal and external positioning grooves, and internal positioning protrusion and external positioning protrusion. When the rotating support base is rotating, the positioning grooves and positioning protrusions rise. After the rotating support base rises, a four-point contact can be maintained stably to prevent and resist vibrations. When the rotating support base is rotated to a predetermined position, the positioning grooves and positioning protrusions will match with each other, and the rotating support base will be descended to a position to improve the touch feel and stability of driving a screen to ascend or descend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ding-Hone Su
  • Publication number: 20080115321
    Abstract: The present invention corrects sash sag in casement windows by implementing an adjustable hinge. The adjustable hinge includes a sash arm, a support arm, a retaining clip and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism serves a twofold purpose. First, it allows one to adjust the hinge for sash sag, and it also secures the support arm to the track of the adjustment hinge. The adjustment mechanism includes a threaded support post and a threaded member. The threaded support post has a circumferential groove which is used to receive the arms of a retaining clip. The sash arm is mounted to the track of the adjustable hinge via a shoe block. The sash arm has a protrusion located on its bottom surface. The protrusion serves as a movement restrictor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: David Chen, Tong Liang, Luke Liang
  • Publication number: 20080104798
    Abstract: An adjustable hinge set includes a set hinge and a pair of guide hinges, for mounting a door on a frame, the set hinge including a vertical adjustment mechanism for providing vertical adjustment of the position of the door independently of horizontal adjustment, and the guide hinges including a horizontal adjustment mechanism for providing horizontal adjustment of the door independently of vertical adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Christoph Hoppe, Elias Karnutsch, Oliver Erich Rudolf Schuberth, Ewald Eder
  • Publication number: 20080098565
    Abstract: A hinge for connection of two furniture parts comprises a bowl-shaped element designed to be fastened to a first furniture part and a wing rotatably in engagement with said bowl-shaped element, the wing being adapted to be fastened to an intermediate element that, in turn, is fastened to a hinge base designed to be secured to a second furniture part, a shock absorber being present which comprises a body designed to be rigidly connected to said second furniture part and a shock absorbing member movably mounted on said body to restrain the closing movement of the hinge. The shock absorber body is mounted on the intermediate element of the hinge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Carlo MIGLI
  • Publication number: 20080102907
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism includes a rotation center shaft and a shaft rotationally supporting member, supported by first and second members respectively. One of the shaft and the supporting member includes a configuration to make an intermediate portion of a flexible electric wire extending between the first and second members being in contact with the shaft and to prevent the intermediate portion from being away from the shaft with a rotation of the shaft with respect to the supporting member. A portable end device includes first and second electric units contained in the hinged first and second members and electrically connected to each other by the electric wire. In a cellular phone, an operation unit to operate at least one of the electric units and a speaker are provided on one of inner surfaces of the housings, and a display unit and a receiver are provided on the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Yasushi Komine
  • Patent number: 7318624
    Abstract: A motorcycle driver backrest has a pair of struts that support a backrest pad and are positioned on opposite sides of a motorcycle, where they are pivotally supported on brackets on the motorcycle. The struts have pivot assemblies that attach to the brackets that permit the backrest to be moved from a stopped working position for supporting a back of a motorcycle rider, to a forwardly folded position. The pivot assemblies are locked onto the brackets with latch dogs, and the latch dogs in turn are moveable between latched and unlatched positions with a hand actuator disc accessible from the exterior of the pivot assemblies. When the latch dog is in an unlatched position, the struts can be sprung apart for removal from the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kuryakyn Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alwin J. Stahel, Brian K. Stahel
  • Publication number: 20070283531
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a main body including an input unit placed on an upper face thereof, a display panel including a display surface and a rear surface opposite to the display surface, a hinge section, that joins the display panel to the main body, the hinge section including a pivot shaft pivotably supporting the display panel relative to the input unit and a rotation shaft rotatably holding the display panel relative to the main body, the rotation shaft extending in a different direction from the pivot shaft, and a reception section disposed on the upper face, and including a projection. The projection abuts on an edge of the display panel on which the rotation shaft is disposed, in a direction in which the display panel swings around the pivot shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Yuji Nakajima, Masato Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7257864
    Abstract: An improved shoe for a casement window hinge is disclosed. The hinge has a base with a front end and a rear end and two sides. The base has a ridge on the rear end for securing the base to a track and a tongue extending from one of the sides. The tongue has a plurality of teeth extending from a side of the tongue. A gear wheel is adapted to be rotatably secured to a track. The gear wheel has a plurality of teeth about its circumference which mesh with the teeth on the tongue. The rotation of the gear wheel causes the base of the hinge to move longitudinally in relation to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventors: Luke K. Liang, Tong Liang
  • Patent number: 7178198
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement for glass doors includes an upper mounting having a mounting body with a clamping device for the glass leaf and a displaceable bearing pin for engaging in a counterbearing at a transom and a lower mounting with a mounting body with a clamping device for the glass leaf, and with a receiving recess for a floor door closer or a floor bearing. The two mounting bodies are arranged parallel to the vertical axis (H) of the glass leaf, and each clamping device is provided with longitudinally extending grooves for receiving fastening screws which project through screw holes in the clamping device and bore holes in the glass leaf. A clamping insert is provided for inserting into the grooves and has a recess for a cover panel. The mounting body and the counterbearing can be covered by means of covers, wherein the cover is provided with elongated holes which extend under the clamping insert and cover panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co., KG
    Inventor: Hubert Elmer
  • Patent number: 7140075
    Abstract: A door hinge mechanism allowing two dimensional motion of the door as it opens, combined with at least one mechanism allowing control of the range of horizontal motion of the door during normal operations. Horizontal lag adjustment and range limitation of the mechanism allows a number of benefits: horizontal fit of the door to the frame may be controlled, the outward motion of the door may be curtailed at the proper angle desired by the user. The door hinge mechanism is a bi-directional hinge allowing sequential motion in two planes, and a horizontal motion stop and cooperating contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Decah, LLC
    Inventor: Demetrius C Ham
  • Patent number: 7127776
    Abstract: A dual display type portable computer can include a first unit having a first display module and a second unit rotatably coupled to the first unit having a second display module. At least one hinge unit can couple the first unit and the second unit with each other. The hinge unit can be coupled to corresponding positions of the first unit and the second unit to enable the first display module and the second display module to overlap each other or to be unfolded until they are placed in an equal plane. Preferably, at least one of the first display module and the second display module has a touch screen function. Preferably, the touch screen function can selectively change a language of a keyboard image. The first display module and the second display module can display different images or divided portions of one integrated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-Hyung Park
  • Patent number: 7101442
    Abstract: A reaction apparatus including: a main body having a reaction chamber with an upper opening thereof, a lid hinge, and a lid combined to the lid hinge, rotationally opening and closing the upper opening; a lifting member having a first end part separated from a rotation axis of the lid and rotatably combined with the lid, and a second end part rotatably combined to the main body, that moves in opening and closing directions; and a driver activating the lifting member. With this configuration, the present invention provides a reaction apparatus, with a lid that is opened and closed readily, and in which the lid parallelly contacts a sealing member, and thereby creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-hyuk Choi, Do-young Kam, Jung-wook Kim, Suk-chan Lee
  • Patent number: 7003850
    Abstract: A hinge structure including a universal adapter located toward one end of and for allowing the hinge structure to be pivotally connected to different stationary brackets having differing pivot axes. The universal adapter defines multiple openings disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Gaydos, Rudolph S. Fortuna
  • Patent number: 6972878
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner including a housing defining two mounting holes. An elastic rib is located beside each of the two mounting holes to provide a retaining action. A paper cover is pivotally mounted on the housing and has two locking hooks. Each locking hook is mounted in a respective mounting hole of the housing. Thus, the height of the paper cover can be adjusted according to the variation of depth of the locking hook in the mounting hole. In addition, the locking hook is retained by the elastic rib and the catch plate of the mounting hole, such that the paper cover cannot be removed easily, thereby preventing the paper cover from being lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventor: Devon Shyu
  • Patent number: 6935000
    Abstract: The disclosed device is directed toward a lifting gate. The lifting gate comprises a barrier member having a top and a bottom opposite thereof. A top bracket assembly is coupled to the top of the barrier member. The top bracket assembly includes a top bearing coupled to a top bracket and a top hinge support coupled to the top bearing. A bottom bracket is coupled to the bottom of the barrier member. The bottom bracket has a body defined by a first bracket end and a second bracket end and a central bracket portion between said first and second bracket ends. The bottom bracket is coupled to the bottom of the barrier member proximate to the first bracket end. A bottom bearing is coupled to the bottom bracket proximate to the central bracket portion. A bottom hinge support has a first support end and a second support end opposite thereof and has a central support portion between the first and second support ends. The bottom hinge support is coupled to the bottom bearing proximate the central support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Roger R. Arnaud
  • Patent number: 6925685
    Abstract: A pivot hinge for pivotally mounting a glass structure to a border frame, includes a joint body having two joint walls for securely sandwiching the glass structure, a joint hub including a supporting shaft having an adjusting portion, and an angular adjustment arrangement including a joint seat, having an adjustment sleeve, adapted for securely mounting to the border frame, wherein the adjusting portion of the supporting shaft is rotatably inserted into the adjustment sleeve in such a manner that the joint body is adapted to angularly move with respect to the joint seat for adjustably aligning the glass structure with the border frame and an angular adjustment locker securely lock up the supporting shaft within the adjustment sleeve in a rotatably movable manner for retaining an alignment of the glass structure in position with the border frame so as to pivotally mount the glass structure to the border frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Mei Li Chen
  • Patent number: 6862858
    Abstract: For securing a fitting to any point of an extruded section by a clamping device, the extruded section has two spaced apart parallel webs between which a holding part of the fitting can be inserted which is supported on the edge faces of the webs facing one another. The holding part has support flanges which can contact the outer sides of the webs. The holding part is provided with at least one bore in which a pin carrying the clamping element is rotatably held such that as a result of its turning the clamping element engages at the inner sides of the webs and tensions the support flanges against the outer sides of the webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 6845547
    Abstract: A vehicular door hinge mechanism provides for a motion in two different directions at two different portions of the door's motion cycle. The present invention provides a hinge which allows the door of the vehicle to move outwards in a substantially horizontal plane for a predetermined arc, then move vertically upwards on another predetermined arc thereafter. The invention comprises a hinge mechanism having a chassis mounting plate and a swingarm. Between them is either a pivotal bearing or a hinge designed to allow the staged two dimensional motion of the invention. A spring or cylinder is connected at its ends to the chassis mounting plate and the swingarm. A horizontal pressure bearing surface and a cam adjuster cooperate to provide strength and precise fit of the door with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Demetrius Calvin Ham
  • Publication number: 20040244146
    Abstract: A dual display type portable computer can include a first unit having a first display module and a second unit rotatably coupled to the first unit having a second display module. At least one hinge unit can couple the first unit and the second unit with each other. The hinge unit can be coupled to corresponding positions of the first unit and the second unit to enable the first display module and the second display module to overlap each other or to be unfolded until they are placed in an equal plane. Preferably, at least one of the first display module and the second display module has a touch screen function. Preferably, the touch screen function can selectively change a language of a keyboard image. The first display module and the second display module can display different images or divided portions of one integrated image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-Hyung Park
  • Patent number: 6806944
    Abstract: Imaging device and cover therefor. One embodiment of the imaging device comprises a frame assembly and at least one hinge releasably mounted to the frame assembly. The at least one hinge pivotally couples the frame assembly in one location on the imaging device. The at least one hinge is readily removable from the frame assembly and remountable to couple the frame assembly in another location on the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce Votipka, David W. Mayer
  • Patent number: 6708369
    Abstract: An adjustable top holder comprises a pivotal strut assembly and an anchor assembly that consist of a plurality of anchor components and a plurality of anchor disks for protecting and anchoring tempered glasses. The pivotal strut assembly includes a first vertical rod, a first transverse rod and a pivotal strut. The anchor assembly includes a second vertical rod, a third vertical rod and a second transverse rod. The invention is made and assembled from cylindrical bars without using molds. Thus production cost is greatly reduced. In addition, the vertical rods and the transverse rods may be switched between the right side and the left side to increase flexibility and interchangeability. Production and warehousing costs and space also are reduced The invention provides multiple functions and a greater versatility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Shou-Hsing Liao
  • Patent number: 6701572
    Abstract: A flap hinge for connecting a flap, for example, a front lid or a boot lid, to a body of a motor vehicle in an articulated manner. The hinge includes a first stop component for fixing to the flap, a second stop component for fixing to the body and a connecting member. Openings of the two stop components are interspersed by said member. At least one of the two stop components can be pivoted around said member, which is provided with thread sections on both ends thereof. An opening of one of the two stop components respectively is interspersed by said sections. Each one of the two stop components can be adjusted separately by means of detachable nuts. A flap hinge is provided, which enables a pivoting moment to be adjusted in a defined manner without affecting the adjustment of the position. At least one of the openings is configured as an elongated hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Edscha AG
    Inventor: Ralpf Bechthold
  • Patent number: 6622345
    Abstract: A simple and inexpensive hinge system or mechanism that may apply to the front panel or door so as to obtain an easy access to the inside without making the mechanism much more complicated or expensive. The hinge mechanism for a front panel or door is hingedly connected to an enclosure (or cabinet case) and comprises an axis (or shaft) and an axis supporting member having an opening that supports the axis at a first position for door swinging, at a second position for holding the door in a certain state, and at an intermediate position for the axis moving with or without any turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hoshizaki America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Jeremy L. Neill, Christopher L. Kight
  • Patent number: 6611992
    Abstract: The disclosed device is directed toward a lifting gate. The lifting gate comprises a barrier member having a top and a bottom opposite thereof. A top bracket assembly is coupled to the top of the barrier member. The top bracket assembly includes a top bearing coupled to a top bracket and a top hinge support coupled to the top bearing. A bottom bracket is coupled to the bottom of the barrier member, having a body defined by a first bracket end and a second bracket end and a central bracket portion between the first and second bracket ends. The bottom bracket is coupled to the bottom of the barrier member proximate to the first bracket end. A bottom bearing is coupled to the bottom bracket proximate to the central bracket portion. A bottom hinge support has a first support end and a second support end opposite thereof, and a central support portion between the first and second support ends. The bottom hinge support is coupled to the bottom bearing proximate to the central support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Roger Regan Arnaud
  • Patent number: 6578234
    Abstract: A four bar hinge (24) for mounting a vehicle rear deck lid (26) for movement between open and closed positions includes first and second vehicle body and deck lid mounted hinge members (28, 32) one of which has an adjuster (38), and the hinge also includes first and second connection members (42, 52) that extend between the hinge members with pivotal connections to provide a four bar linkage (62) that supports the deck lid for movement between open and closed positions. An adjuster member (40) of the adjuster (38) is adjustable upon assembly to move the deck lid vertically so as to be flush with the rear deck outer skin (16) of the vehicle. This adjustment is provided by a threaded connection (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Midway Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Westerdale
  • Patent number: 6517634
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate processing chamber is disclosed generally comprising a chamber body that has a semiconductor substrate support assembly disposed in the chamber body. A lid assembly is movably coupled to the chamber body via a dual pivot hinge assembly. The hinge assembly provides two pivot points that minimize the abrasion and pinching of an o-ring disposed between the lid assembly and the chamber body upon closing of the lid assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lily L. Pang, Thomas K. Cho, Tetsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6513194
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly enables lateral adjustment of the position of a pivot connection of a first member relative to a second member in a window assembly having a first member, a second member, and a rotatable pivot-mounting element. The pivot-mounting element includes a first pivot-mounting section with a first pivot axis operatively connected to the first member and a second pivot-mounting section operatively connected to the second member. The second pivot-mounting section has a second pivot axis that is generally parallel to and offset from the first pivot axis. An engager section is located intermediate the pivot-mounting sections. Finally, a locking member is provided to cooperate with the engager section and is movable relative to the engager section between a retention position and a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Peter W. Harkins, Patrick E. Milligan, E. Erik Timothy
  • Patent number: 6499189
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Mitsumasa Ogihara
  • Patent number: 6381766
    Abstract: A spa cover removal apparatus includes a pivot frame assembly having a pair of elongate side arms spaced apart to receive opposing cover side surfaces between the same for rotatably supporting the spa cover. Fixed to the spa is a stationary base, for pivotally supporting the pivot frame assembly. For this purpose, the stationary base is disposed under the pivot frame assembly. This arrangement, enables the spa cover to shift from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back side of the spa as a rearwardly directed force is applied to the spa cover. Accordingly, the spa cover moves rearward and pivots relative to the side arms while the pivot frame assembly simultaneously pivots relative to the stationary base, about a substantially horizontal base pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Gary L. Perry
  • Patent number: 6363576
    Abstract: A joint device for coupling a cover with a body of a scanner. The joint device has a pivot means to enable the cover be lifted upward to a height desired according to the thickness of the scanning document. The pivot means has inner walls closed to the interior of the scanner so that outside dusts and dirts won't seep into the scanner. Scanner mechanism may be prevented from contamination and may maintain high scanning quality. The pivot means is simply structured with fewer materials and may be made at less time and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Acer Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: Te-Jung Hsu, Jih-Yung Lu
  • Patent number: 6364267
    Abstract: The nestable hook assembly comprises nestable hooks, a prong, and a prong cap. The prong comprises an end, a shank, and a stem. Each of the nestable hooks comprises an aperture through which the stem of prong in inserted. The prong cap secures the nestable hooks within the nestable hook assembly. The nestable hooks are rotatable with respect to the stem of the prong which permits both alignment of the shank of the prong and the nestable hooks for transport and storage. The nestable hooks can also be spread out for adding utility to the nestable hook assembly as a hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Donald R. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20020013978
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly enables lateral adjustment of the position of a pivot connection of a first member relative to a second member in a window assembly having a first member, a second member, and a rotatable pivot-mounting element. The pivot-mounting element includes a first pivot-mounting section with a first pivot axis operatively connected to the first member and a second pivot-mounting section operatively connected to the second member. The second pivot-mounting section has a second pivot axis that is generally parallel to and offset from the first pivot axis. An engager section is located intermediate the pivot-mounting sections. Finally, a locking member is provided to cooperate with the engager section and is movable relative to the engager section between a retention position and a release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Peter W. Harkins, Patrick E. Milligan, E. Erik Timothy
  • Patent number: 6205617
    Abstract: A hinge with an adjusting device for adjusting the position of an elongated hinge arm which is mounted on a base plate and is connected to a hinge cup by means of articulated hinge links. The base plate has a mounting plane for abutting a furniture side wall in the mounted position and the position of the hinge arm is adjustable by the adjusting device in a plane perpendicular to said mounting plane. The adjusting device comprises two screws spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the hinge arm and being perpendicular to the mounting plane of the base plate. The screws are coupled to each other so that rotation of one screw will result in rotation of the other screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Held, Günter Lenz
  • Patent number: 6202255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge, in particular for doors, windows and the like, whose hinge wings (1,2), each fastenable on one hinge holder (13, 14), are pivotable relative to one another about an axis of hinge rotation, with at least one of the hinge wings being provided with an adjustment device for adjusting the hinge wing transversely to the axis of hinge rotation. In order to facilitate the adjustability after installation, the adjustment device is formed as an adjusting pin (15) disposed transversely to the axis of hinge rotation (3). Pin ends (15a, 15b) of the pin (15) are disposed eccentrically with respect to one another and, after installation, are rotatably supported in receiving bores (16, 17) of the hinge wing (1) or of the hinge holder (13) associated with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Charmag S.A.
    Inventor: Harald Sitter
  • Patent number: 5964011
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for correcting misalignment problems in a casement window. An adjustment stud is included in an improved casement window unit. The adjustment stud includes a tenon mounted on a track assembly and a post to which a sash arm is rotatably attached. The tenon and post are eccentric with respect to one another. When alignment problems occur the central axis of the post may be rotated about the central axis of the tenon to a desired orientation such that the alignment problem is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: David John Ruston, Elizabeth Rebecca Lisiecki
  • Patent number: 5890262
    Abstract: A hinge has a cam having a securing mechanism for optionally affixing the cam to an object. The cam is rotatably coupled to the object along a first axis when the securing mechanism is not affixing the cam to the object. The hinge has a rotatable coupling mechanism to rotatably couple the cam to another object along an axis approximately parallel to, but offset from, the first axis. This invention provides the advantage of aligning two objects without requiring an exact initial positioning of the coupling mechanisms with respect to the two objects. Furthermore, the present invention allows for alignment without requiring multiple alignment attempts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Alfonso C. Orozco
  • Patent number: 5864922
    Abstract: A hinge (50) for a panel (26) allows movement of the panel (26) between a closed position inside a framed opening and an open position away from the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the hinge (50) is used to attach a fan cowl panel (26) to a jet engine (20). To prevent loading the hinge (56) in an axial direction when the panel (26) is in the closed position, the panel (26) is movable axially along the hinge line (66). In the past this has resulted in the fan cowl panel (26) being misaligned during closure between the inlet cowl panel (22) and the thrust reverser cowl panel (24) resulting in damage to the fan cowl panel (26) and surrounding structure. The hinge (50) of the present invention automatically aligns a V-blade (38) of the fan cowl panel (26) with a V-groove (40) of the inlet cowl panel (22) during closure of the fan cowl panel (56) in order to overcome this misalignment problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kurt R. Kraft
  • Patent number: 5794310
    Abstract: A connection for adjustably holding a sash arm and a support arm in pivotally connected relationship, including a sash arm having a first cylindrical opening, a support arm having a second cylindrical opening at one end, and a stud. The stud includes a pivot portion with a cylindrical shaft extending through the second cylindrical opening, a rivet portion extending from one end of the cylindrical shaft through the first cylindrical opening and eccentric to the pivot portion cylindrical shaft, and a head on an end of the rivet portion spaced from the cylindrical shaft wherein the head and the one end of the cylindrical shaft engage opposite sides of the sash arm to frictionally secure the stud against pivoting relative to the sash arm. The first cylindrical opening includes a countersunk hole on the side of the sash arm attachable to a window sash, wherein the rivet portion head is formed substantially entirely in the countersunk hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Dallmann
  • Patent number: 5755011
    Abstract: An adjustable hinge including a first hinge member having a hinge sleeve and a second hinge member having a guide, with a door leaf coupled to the second hinge member and having at least one tab received within the guide for guiding movement therealong, the door leaf also coupled to the first hinge member and received within the hinge sleeve, allowing selective pivotal movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member about a rotational axis extending in a vertical direction. The adjustable hinge features a vertical adjustment mechanism received within the hinge sleeve allowing selective movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member in the vertical direction, and a horizontal adjustment mechanism within a cavity formed within the second hinge member with at least one tab of the door leaf is guidably moved along the guide, allowing selective movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Green, Scott J. Rote, Michael D. Smith, William T. DeBruyn, Thomas M. Wright