Abstract: A counter balance assembly for a lid assembly comprising a spring inside a housing assembly. The counter balance assembly is mounted to a lid, whose displacement generates an external force substantially along a longitudinal axis of the spring. A restoring force is generated by the spring to counteract an inertia force arising from the lid displacement.

Abstract: A gear driven dial indicator is used to indicate the door closer size for a door closer having an adjustable closing force. A drive gear is attached to the door closer adjustment screw. In the preferred embodiment, this drive gear engages a ring gear which is formed as part of the dial indicator. As the door closer adjustment screw is turned to change the door closer size, the drive gear turns with the adjustment screw. The drive gear then turns the planetary gear which turns the dial indicator, thereby changing the indicated size of the door closer.

Abstract: A bottom portion 11a is formed on an external end portion of a support sleeve portion 11 which is located on an external side, and an engagement recess 43 is formed in an inner peripheral surface of a support sleeve portion 21 which is located on an internal side. That end face of the engagement recess 43 which faces the support sleeve portion 11 side serves as an engagement surface 44. An engagement piece 45 is formed on one end portion of a hinge body 3. The engagement piece 45 is elastically deformed such that its distal end portion is displaced radially inward of the hinge body 3, thereby the engagement piece 45 is allowed to extend beyond a bottom surface of a key groove 41. Thereafter, the engagement body 45 is elastically restored such that its distal end portion is displaced radially outward of the hinge body 3, thereby the engagement piece 45 is engaged with the engagement recess 43.

Abstract: A calculator which generally possesses a flat, compact and portable housing construction, and which includes a calculator lid mechanism which pivots a flat cover of the calculator in a predetermined controlled manner between a first position causing the flat cover to form a lid which overlies a calculator display, and a second operational position in which the cover is pivoted towards the rear of the calculator so as to form a stand for tilting the calculator into an upwardly inclined ergonomic position relative to a horizontal support surface during intended use thereof.

Abstract: A hinge which includes a first leaf member, a second leaf member, and a pin rotatably connecting the first leaf member to the second leaf member. The hinge also includes a first contact member connected to the first leaf member and a second contact member connected to the second leaf member. A contact portion of the first contact member and the second contact member establish an electrical connection with each other.

Abstract: A valve guard for a water faucet with a manually operated control valve. The guard has two substantially identical sections that when joined together in a closed position form a generally spherical surface with a lower cut off opening portion. A spring hinge joins the sections together at facing side edges to normally maintain the sections together in a closed position. A child has insufficient hand strength to pry the two joined sections apart while an adult may easy separate them. The guard is placed over the valve to be controlled with the opened lower portion first. Due to the exposed spherical shape of the closed guard enclosure and the flat bottom opening edge, the guard is difficult for small hands to grasp and when touched may freely rotate about the enclosed valve. The guard is sized relative to the valve structure to be protected. Thus, it may be fitted over the hot water control valve of a two control valve faucet or over the one control valve of a single control valve lever.

Abstract: A tilt-adjustable motor vehicle steering column including a stationary mast, a tilt housing supported on the mast jacket for up and down pivotal movement, an articulated steering shaft having a lower portion rotatably supported on the mast jacket and an upper portion rotatably supported on the tilt housing, a steering hand wheel on the upper portion of the steering shaft, and a long composite balance spring preloaded in compression flexure between the tilt housing and the mast jacket. The composite balance spring consists of a hinge and a pair of short helical coil springs on opposite sides of the hinge. To preload the composite balance spring in compression flexure, the short coil springs are first arrayed as straight sides of a "V" between respective ones of a pair of spring seats on the mast jacket and the tilt housing.

Abstract: A hinge for use in inorganically filled composite materials is provided. The hinge has an inorganically filled structural matrix comprising a water-dispersable organic polymer binder, an aggregate material, and a fibrous material. The hinge allows inorganically filled materials to be bent along a line without breakage of the material. The hinge is preferably formed by scoring a formed sheet of inorganically filled material. The hinge is particularly useful in containers that require bending of various container parts, such as in food containers and boxes made from inorganically filled materials.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming hinged starch-bound matrices. Starch-based compositions are molded between heated molds in order to form a cellular matrix and also to remove the water from the starch-based compositions in order to form a binding matrix of solidified starch. The molding apparatus is configured to form one or more creases within the hinge area in order to define one or more lines upon which the hinge will bend. The molding apparatus is also configured such that the region of the mold corresponding to the inner surface of the hinge area will transfer heat more slowly to the inner hinge surface, resulting in reduced thickness of the skin of the inner hinge. This increases the collapsibility, or ability of the inner surface of the hinge to fold or buckle, during the bending action. This in turn reduces the bending radius of hinge such that the hinging action exerts less strain on the outer surface of the hinge.

Abstract: A display case having a tubular framework with a display window pivotally mounted thereto has a lifting and supporting mechanism for the display window including a strut member having a rod end and a cylinder end. A hinge is pivotally mounted to the cylinder and is adapted to be secured to the display window. A strut body slidably receives a strut member and hinge thereon. A retention arrangement pivotally connects the rod end of the strut and the hinge to the strut body so as to define a strut module which is slidable into and out of the tubular framework of the display case.

Abstract: An enclosure for a terminal block that provides a telecommunications transmission connection. The enclosure includes a housing that defines an interior region adapted to support a terminal block. The housing has an open front face and includes a rear wall, and a number of side walls that border the interior region. A cover is attached to one side wall of the housing for covering the interior region. The cover is moveable to a partially open, a widely open, or a fully open position to allow access to the interior region of the housing. One side wall of the housing includes a socket member that defines a groove. A hinge structure is rotatably moveable within the socket member for attaching the cover to a side wall of the housing. Biasing means are seated within the groove and interposed between the hinge structure and socket member.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) that has an housing assembly and electrical circuit therein includes a first housing portion (116), a second housing portion (118) coupled to the first housing portion (116), and a cam assembly (102) rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions (116, 118). The cam assembly (102) includes a cam (220), a cam follower (205), and a spring (224). The spring (224) resiliently biases the cam (220) and the cam follower (205) into engagement. At least one of the cam (220) and cam follower (205) is depressible within one of the first and second housing portions (116, 118) for permitting their assembly.

Abstract: An engine enclosure assembly for enclosing an engine area of a work machine includes a first fixed horizontal top enclosure and a second horizontal top enclosure which is hinged and moveable between a first closed position and a second open position. First and second hinges are connected to the second top enclosure and first and second opening devices are connected directly to the respective first and second hinges for opening the second top enclosure and for holding it in the open position.

Abstract: A hinge for use in inorganically filled composite materials is provided. The hinge has an inorganically filled structural matrix comprising a water-dispersable organic polymer binder, an aggregate material, and a fibrous material. The hinge allows inorganically filled materials to be bent along a line without breakage of the material. The hinge is preferably formed by scoring a formed sheet of inorganically filled material. The hinge is particularly useful in containers that require bending of various container parts, such as in food containers and boxes made from inorganically filled materials.

Abstract: A radio telephone (100) has a hinge (301) for joining a body (101) a cover (103) along an axis. The hinge (301) contains the axial force generated by an urging mechanism (403,404,405) by locating the urging mechanism (403,404,405) in a can (303) and attaching a cap (305) to the can (303).

Abstract: A hinge with self-closing mechanism includes a hinge arm fastened swivelable to a hinge cup and also includes an elastic element which lies with one end of the elastic element on the hinge arm and disposed outside the hinge cup under the bottom of the hinge cup.

Abstract: A hinge (20) includes two hinge plates (22, 24) and a connecting hinge pin (32). A coil spring (48) supported on a bushing (44) overlies the hinge pin (32), which is free to move along its longitudinal axis (30). A cam follower (42) on the hinge pin (32) engages a cam (32) mounted to one of the hinge plates (22), so that the hinge pin (32) slides longitudinally as the hinge plates (22, 24) pivot relative to each other about the hinge pin (32). As the hinge pin (32) slides longitudinally, it axially compresses or decompresses the spring (48). The cam (32) is oriented such that pivoting of the hinge plates (22, 24) in either direction from an open position compresses the spring (48), providing a restoring force which tends to retain the hinge plates (22, 24) in the open position.

Abstract: A shear viscous damped hinge uses a negator spring and a high viscosity fluid to provide a relatively slow and controlled deployment of the hinge. Shear damping of the fluid slows the angular velocity of the hinge. The invention reduces the end of travel impact loads thereby reducing the risk of damage to the hinge and the object rotated by the hinge. The hinge is particularly useful in, but not limited to, spacecraft applications.

Abstract: A hinge is provided with a tubular hinge pin. This allows the use of a torsion rod, inserted through the tubular hinge pin, of any desired diameter smaller than that of the interior of the hinge pin, thereby permitting easy adaptation of the resistance provided by the torque rod.

Abstract: A single-articulation door hinge with a pressure closing device is associated with a hinge arm mounted in a hinge barrel on a hinge pin. Leg springs engage the hinge pin and, in conjunction with the pressure roller, provide spring mounting for the hinge arm. The leg springs are fixed in place by being clipped on to the hinge pin and function with the hinge arm as a spring clip.

Abstract: A spring assembly of the kind having a coiled strip spring member (34) supported at one end on an arcuate drum portion (16) about which it is reverse wound and coiled at its other end about an abutment (20) further includes a base plate (10) mounting the drum portion (16) and a second base plate (18) mounting the abutment (20), the base plates (10) and (18) being interconnected by pins (32) attached to base plate (18) running in slots (26, 28) provided on base plate (10) so as to prevent relative movement of the base plates which would allow the spring to coil further about the abutment (20). The base plate (10) is provided with a cover (40) with which it forms a housing portion and the base plate (18) is provided with a cover (38) with which it forms a second housing portion. The assembly can be dropped on to support pins (14, 22) attached to respective halves (42, 44) of a hinge, e.g. of an automobile trunk or lid.

Abstract: This invention discloses a hinge for use in a door of a motorized vehicle. The hinge includes a first part rigidly connected to a frame of the vehicle and a second part rigidly connected to the door. The first and second parts of the hinge are both connected to a hinge pin which enables the second part to be rotatable relative to the first part upon opening and closing of the door. A compressible spring mechanism is rigidly connected to the first part and engagable against the second such that upon swinging of the door the spring is compressed. The second part includes two wheels such that the spring mechanism engages one of the wheels when the door is closed, it engages both of the wheels in a door position when the door is partially open, and engages the other detent wheel when the door is fully open.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes an anterior linking and support member and a posterior linking and support member, formed of a resilient material, which act as cantilever flat springs to provide an intrinsic extension bias while furnishing the rigid structure necessary to support the axial loads and extension moments induced by the amputee. A prosthetic knee joint includes a base formed of a resilient polyamide such as nylon 6/6, from which an anterior linking and support member, generally of an L-shape, and a posterior linking and support member, monolithically extend upwards. Formed to provide the inherent stability of four-bar linkage, these resilient linking and support members are pivotally attached to a yoke member to act as cantilever single-leaf flat springs which provide an intrinsic extension moment to the prosthetic knee joint which may vary according to the amount of flexion of the knee joint.

Abstract: A one-way damper comprising a cylindrical outer frame 10 with one end closed within which is provided a cylindrical inner frame 20 in a state rotatable relative thereto, packing material G packed between said inner and outer frames, and when a relative rotation being caused between said both inner and outer frames the rotation of said frame of one side may be capable of giving resistance to the rotation of said frame of other side, and inside of said inner frame 20 being provided with a mechanism which may perform meshing and removal according to a direction of rotation of a rotary shaft 50 for effecting transmission and non-transmission of torque from said rotary shaft 50 to said inner frame 20.

Abstract: A curtain-sided vehicle in which there is a multiple panel curtain suspended from rollers engaging a rail along the roof of the curtain-sided vehicle. On each end of the curtain is attached a sliding door structure which also has rollers engaging the rail running along the roof. Hooks on the bottom of the sliding doors and the curtain slidably engage the platform of the vehicle. The curtain is pleated when one of the doors is slid open to gain access to the cargo area of the vehicle. To aid in pleating the curtain, biased hinge devices, located in each panel, bias the curtain away from the cargo area and facilitate accurate and compact pleating of the curtain.

Abstract: A resilient hinge comprising a first support that can be mounted on a member to be supported, such as the back of a chair, and a second support that can be mounted on a main body, such as the remainder of a chair, wherein the two supports are each connected hingedly to a hood and wherein between each support and the hood two bodies of elastic, resilient material are arranged.

Abstract: A door hinge of the type comprising a first metal plate having one vertical side edge formed integral with a pin and a second metal piece having one vertical side edge formed integral with a second knuckle cylinder into which is fitted the pin. A load plug is slideably fitted into the second knuckle cylinder for engagement with the upper end of the pin and the second knuckle cylinder is formed with an engaging portion for preventing the load plug from being displaced from a predetermined position. A compression spring means is loaded in the second knuckle cylinder above the load plug so as to press the load plug against the engaging portion, whereby a load applied axially to the pin is carried by the compression spring means through the load plug.

Abstract: An expanding fastening element joins two structural members such as two pieces of girder of which one has a slot with lips at the sides thereof, so that the two members may be separated again when desired. The expanding fastening element includes two legs that are hinged together and may be opened out by way of a fixing screw into a locking or gripping position with hook-like heads of the legs hooked onto the lips. Before tightening the screw the fastening element is positioned at the desired position in a hole in one girder by a guide sleeve or plug locking into the second member and springingly pushed outwards from the fastening element by a spring within it.The two legs or gripping members have keeper heads and slots at their ends opposite to the hooked heads to take up a c-like ring spring.

Abstract: A double-action hinge for single-hinge top-mounting flexible or semi-flexible doors, of a type mountable on an upright laterally-facing door jamb support, having an axis of hinge-pivot extending uprightly substantially parallel with a mounting door jamb support, with the upper hinge pivot being fixed to a point of and mounting for pivotal rotation as a hinge-mounted door swings to and from in double action through a doorway space framed by a door jamb, and the lower hinge pivot structure being mounted to move freely along an outwardly-extending elongated slot space of a slot-forming lower hinge-support structure permitting a lower end of the hinge axis to move-away from the door jamb support structure when the door swings away from a center position, and an abutting structure having spaced-apart surface portions adjacent the door jamb support structure being mounted on the lower hinge pivot structure fixedly such that the abutting structure turns as the hinge pivots as in opening the door one direction or the