Including Means To Render Spring Ineffective Through All Or A Portion Of Swing Patents (Class 16/278)
  • Patent number: 11414908
    Abstract: A decelerated hinge for supporting, so as to oscillate, a door of an item of furniture, which comprises a first hinge part which can be affixed to a fixed part of the item of furniture, a second hinge part which can be affixed to a door of the item of furniture and connected to the first hinge part by way of an articulation system which comprises a plurality of connecting levers and at least five articulation axes, and a deceleration device which comprises an actuating member that is moveably arranged in a first connecting lever of the articulation system, and at least one actuation surface for the actuating member of the deceleration device is provided inside a second connecting lever which is adjacent to the first connecting lever of the articulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ARTURO SALICE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Salice
  • Patent number: 11162287
    Abstract: A multi-link door hinge capable of facilitating the closing of a door and implementing the shock-absorbing performance of the door during the closing thereof. To this end, the multi-link door hinge includes: a main frame mounted to a main body of an object having a door; a door frame mounted to the door; a body frame rotatably connected to a first side of the main frame; an inner link and an outer link connecting the door frame to the body frame; a plate spring link allowing the outer link to be rotatably connected to the main frame; a locking piece rotatably mounted between side walls of the inner link; an elastic member; and a hook, a first side of which is fixed in the body frame and a second side of which is configured to be held in a second side of the locking piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: June Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11066864
    Abstract: An aircraft electric door for a pressurized airframe having a locking system for locking a safety catch, a system for moving a door arm, and an electric motor activated by a door computer to actuate both systems. The system for moving the door arm includes a guideway linked to the door arm. The guideway is in a mobile cylindrical support rotated by the electric motor. A fixed guide is fitted in a cylindrical sleeve around the cylindrical support. The fixed guide includes a vertical camway and a horizontal camway. The door arm pivots around a vertical hinge and is linked with door lifting devices. The door lifting devices are mounted between a shaft of the safety catch and the door arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Latecoeye
    Inventors: Cyrille Bessettes, Damien Buchet, Nicolas Lutzi, Renaud Othomene
  • Patent number: 10767407
    Abstract: A hinge for door leaves of furniture and the like, which comprises a fixed part that can be connected to a body of a piece of furniture and a movable part that can be connected to a door leaf of the piece of furniture, the fixed part and the movable part being mutually connected in an oscillating manner by way of an articulation system that comprises at least one articulation axis and a rocker, the hinge comprising elastic means for opening the hinge which are functionally connected to the at least one rocker; the fixed part of the hinge is shaped so that it can be inserted into a seat defined within the thickness of an upper or lower wall of a piece of furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ARTURO SALICE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 10486568
    Abstract: Seat assemblies are provided. In one example, a seat assembly includes a seat base portion and a seat backrest portion. An armrest is disposed adjacent to the seat base portion and forward of the backrest portion. The armrest includes a fixed armrest portion that is coupled to the seat frame. An armrest lid is configured to move relative to the fixed armrest portion between a closed position overlying an upper section of the fixed armrest portion and an open position allowing access to the upper section of the fixed armrest portion. A hinge arrangement is pivotally couples the armrest lid to the fixed armrest portion. The hinge arrangement includes a damper and a damper gear that meshes with the damper to dampen movement of the armrest lid between the closed and open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Davis
  • Patent number: 10407963
    Abstract: A hinge for leaves of furniture and the like, which comprises a fixed part which is shaped to be inserted in a seat provided within the thickness of an upper or lower wall of a piece of furniture and a moveable part which can be connected to a leaf of the piece of furniture, the fixed part and the moveable part being mutually connected so as to oscillate by way of an articulation system which comprises at least one articulation axis and a rocker, the hinge further comprising elastic elements for closing the hinge which are functionally connected to the at least one rocker, and a deceleration device which is adapted to decelerate at least part of the closing and/or opening motion of the hinge, the deceleration device being actuated by actuation elements which are entirely concealed within the fixed part of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ARTURO SALICE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 10240383
    Abstract: An aircraft electric door including a locking system for actuating a safety catch for locking the door, a system for moving the door between open and closed positions, and a single electric motor for actuating both the locking system and the system for moving the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LATECOERE
    Inventors: Cyrille Bessettes, Damien Buchet, Nicolas Lutzi, Renaud Othomene
  • Patent number: 10066775
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure for ducts or receptacles for pressurized fluids, including an annular supporting structure (10), which defines an opening (11) for accessing the duct or receptacle, and a hatch (30), connected in an articulated manner to the supporting structure (10), with the ability to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the supporting structure (10) includes a sealing surface (13), characterized in that it includes a sealing element (20) that can be positioned in the opening (11), the sealing element (20) including an expansible portion (21) with an inner surface (24) facing the duct and an outer surface (23) facing the sealing surface (13), the expansible portion (21) being able to expand as a result of the pressure of the fluid that acts on the inner surface (24) so that the outer surface (24) is placed in contact with the sealing surface (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FULGOSI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Davide Fulgosi
  • Patent number: 9816307
    Abstract: An aircraft electric door including a locking system for actuating a safety catch for locking the door, a system for moving the door between open and closed positions, and a single electric motor for actuating both the locking system and the system for moving the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Latecoere
    Inventors: Cyrille Bessettes, Damien Buchet, Nicolas Lutzi, Renaud Othomene
  • Patent number: 9777525
    Abstract: A hinge (10) for mounting a door on a piece of furniture or the like comprises a hinge arm (11) securable to a fixed part (12) of the piece of furniture, a box (14) securable to a door of the piece of furniture and connected to the hinge arm (11) by an articulation system (15) comprising a plurality of swinging connecting levers and spring means (27) acting in the closing direction of the hinge (10); the hinge (10) further comprises a decelerating device (29) comprising a housing body (30), supported and configured in such a way so as to be disposed at one of the front or side walls (11?, 11?) of the hinge arm (11), and a linearly movable actuating member (31) actuatable by one (18) of the swinging connecting levers of the articulation system (15) of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 9683398
    Abstract: A multiple-stage positioning structure of dual shafts includes a dual shaft assembly, which includes first and second rotary shafts that are connected to each other with coupling members for being rotated synchronously. The first rotary shaft has a curved section and a planar section. Positioning sleeves are fit over the first and the second rotary shafts. Bearing members bear a positioning bar in such a way to have the planar section of the first rotary shaft in contact engagement with a lateral planar section of the positioning bar. When the first rotary shaft is rotated to have the curved section engage the lateral planar section of the positioning bar, an effect of outward expanding and stretching the positioning sleeves is induced. When the first rotary shaft is rotated to have the planar section re-engage the lateral planar section of the positioning bar, an effect of positioning is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: DEDA METALS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kun-You Chuang
  • Patent number: 9556552
    Abstract: A door hinge apparatus having a coupling structure between a door and a cabinet, and a drum-type washing machine having the same. The drum type washing machine includes an inlet formed through the cabinet to allow laundry to be inserted or withdrawn therethrough, a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the inlet, and a hinge between the door and the cabinet. The hinge includes a cabinet bracket coupled to a front surface of the cabinet, a door bracket coupled to the door, a first moving unit coupled to the door bracket to allow the door to be pivoted with respect to the cabinet, and a second moving unit coupled to the cabinet bracket to allow the door to protrude forward from the cabinet and be substantially parallel and spaced from the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan Gi Park, Chul Yong Cho, Seon Ju Lee, Ji Hoon Choi, Kab Jin Jun, Jong Su Jeon
  • Patent number: 9328544
    Abstract: A hinge device includes a fitting, a connecting arm, a cam, an elastic member, and a sleeve member. The connecting arm is pivotally connected to the fitting. The cam is located at the connecting arm. The elastic member is mounted to the fitting and includes an end portion having a non-circular cross section. The sleeve member is attached to the elastic member and is in contact with the cam. The sleeve member includes a cavity in which the end portion of the elastic member can be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Ken-Ching Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 8424160
    Abstract: An asymmetrical resistant hinge set includes at least a resistant hinge and an elastic element coaxially positioned. The resistant hinge is hinged on a first pivotal means located on the bottom side of a body. The elastic element provides action forces on the resistant hinge and one-way resistance to generate an asymmetrical hinge effect with a greater resistance in one direction and a smaller resistance in another direction when a support lid is flipped in forward and reverse directions to reduce the resistance of the resistant hinge. As a result, when the support lid is flipped to a selected angle it still can bear the weight of the body of a portable electronic device at the anchored position without drifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: E-Lead Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen Chen
  • Patent number: 8307503
    Abstract: A self-closing hinge comprises a stationary assembly comprising a hollow cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end having a clutch stationary assembly secured thereto. The hinge further includes a first torsional spring positioned within said tube and secured at the first end thereof, and has a pin secured at a second end of said first torsional spring whereby said spring biases said pin in a first direction and whereby said pin rotates to engage said clutch assembly at a at least one point. A rotating intermediate tube assembly comprises a generally hollow cylinder having a first end positioned over said stationary assembly, and a second end having a clutch rotating assembly, whereby said pin of said torsional spring engages said clutch rotating assembly at a point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: George Burger
  • Publication number: 20110215606
    Abstract: Embodiments of vehicle consoles and hinges for vehicle consoles are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a hinge for a vehicle console has a fixed component attached to the base structure of the console, a movable component attached to the lid of the console and a shaft connecting the fixed component to the movable component. A spacer is positioned on the shaft between and in contact with at least a portion of both the fixed and movable components and a securing member is positioned on the shaft to apply pressure against at least one of the fixed component and the movable component to produce friction between the movable component and the spacer and to resist rotational movement of the lid about an axis of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Alpesh Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20080209681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge, preferably a furniture hinge, comprising a hinge arm which is pivotably supported on a joint axle which is non-displaceably held in a cup-shaped hinge part and which is provided with a tongue projecting beyond the joint axle or with a cam eccentric with respect to the joint axle or with a control edge which slide on a leaf spring whose one end region is held at the pivotable hinge part and which generates a closing torque in the closing region. In accordance with the invention, the leaf spring has at least two portions of different widths, with the at least one narrower portion of the leaf spring passing through a center recess of the hinge arm, with a tongue being cut from the lower edge of said recess. The at least one wider portion of the leaf spring is pressed against the base of the hinge cup by a transversely extending pin and thus fixedly held by a transversely extending pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 7275285
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Lorell, Patrick J. Champagne
  • Patent number: 6952860
    Abstract: In a hinge structure suitable for use in a foldable mobile phone, the initial unfolding action is effected by converting a pushing stroke of an operating member into a rotational movement of the hinge by using a cam/cam follower mechanism. Thereby, an unexpected reaction force resulting from the inertia force acting between the two parts that are to be unfolded relative to each other can be avoided, and a favorable unfolding action without a shock can be achieved. In particular, it may be arranged such that the hinge is normally urged in the unfolding direction while a clutch is kept engaged to retain the hinge in the fully folded state, and that the hinge is resiliently driven in the unfolding direction by pushing the operating member and thereby disengaging the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Masanobu Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 6647593
    Abstract: A hinge assembly has a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, a peripheral surface, and a slot formed in the peripheral surface. A button member extends into the tubular member to undergo sliding movement in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member and to undergo rotational movement relative to the tubular member. A pin member is connected to the button member and extends into the slot of the tubular member to undergo movement therein during sliding and rotational movement of the button member relative to the tubular member. The button member is biased in a preselected direction of rotation relative to the tubular member by a first biasing member. The button member is biased in an axial direction by a second biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Katsunobu Iguchi, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 6386621
    Abstract: A reverse opening vehicle door is provided (10), including a door body (16) having a fore portion (18) and an aft portion (20), a catch mechanism (50), and a hinge mechanism (70). The catch mechanism (50) and the hinge mechanism (70) permit the door body (16) to move between at least three positions including a closed position (22) having a fore closed position (30) and an aft closed position (32), an intermediate position (24) having an aft intermediate position (34) located outboard and rearward of the aft closed position (32) and a fore intermediate position (36) located rearward of the fore closed position (30), and an open position (26) in which the fore portion (18) is rotated rearward about the aft intermediate position (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Thomas Kozak, James A. O'Brien, II
  • Patent number: 6233785
    Abstract: Described is a torque hinge mechanism which includes a shaft and at least two ring like friction plates pressed against each other by a pressure and through which the shaft passes. A non-penetrating recess is formed on a friction surface of one of the ring like friction plates. The non-penetrating recess can be a closed type non-penetrating recess. A scatter of a lubricant can be prevented by using such friction plates. A wedge effect is increased by using such friction plates so that the torque hinge mechanism can be stably operated over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kosei Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 6164592
    Abstract: In order to provide a container 1 having a door 2, in particular a luggage compartment for aircraft, the door 2 being mounted via at least one hinge or the like on the container 1 such that it can pivot, having an apparatus for assisting the movement of the door 2 into the open position and for holding the door 2 in the open position, and having an apparatus for holding the door 2 in the closed position, in the case of which container the structural components have as small a physical size as possible and thus occupy as little volume in the container 1 as possible. It is provided that the apparatus for assisting the movement of the door 2 and, possibly, an apparatus for damping the movement of the door 2 are arranged essentially around the pivoting axis of the door 2. The components relating to this are ideally integrated in the or each hinge. The damping of the movement of the door 2 advantageously reduces as the opening angle .alpha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Fischer Advanced Composite Components Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Walter A. Stephan, Hermann Filsegger
  • Patent number: 6125508
    Abstract: A snap-action hinge for the opening and closing of a furniture door includes: a cup part designed to be embedded in a recess of the door, a hinge arm designed to be fixed to the furniture unit with and having one end connected to the cup part by a hinge pin, a rigid component supported by the hinge arm in such a way as to lie parallel to the hinge pin at a defined limited distance from it measuring away from the abovementioned end, and spring means housed in the cup part and acting with a pressing action on the rigid component to allow snap-action closing of the hinge. The rigid component is advantageously made of a wear-resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Formenti & Giovenzana S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Formenti
  • Patent number: 5898976
    Abstract: A female hinge member, and a hinge assembly including the member, includes a pair of spaced ears between which a cylindrical roller is supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis about which the female hinge member and a pivotally attached male hinge member are relatively rotatable. The hinge assembly is connected to opposite end portions of a framework forming part of a handbag. As the hinge members are relatively rotated in moving between open and closed positions, the roller moves along the surface of a cantilever spring on the male hinge member, in rolling contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Leonardi Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ezio Leonardi, Sr., Joseph Leonardi
  • Patent number: 5765261
    Abstract: An X-shaped automatic hinge structure serving as a fulcrum for supporting and pivotally connecting a swinging cabinet door board to a cabinet body. At a final stage of closing the door board, the hinge structure aids in speedily closing the door board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: I-Tsung Hung
  • Patent number: 5617612
    Abstract: A furniture hinge (10) comprises a first cup-shaped element (11) and a second arm-shaped element (12) pivoted together to rotate reciprocally from an open position to a closed position. The arm-shaped element (12) is made of sheet metal with one end (20) bent to wind round a hinge pin (21) supported in the cup (11). The bent end of the arm-shaped element (12) also defines bearing surfaces (22) for a double twist pressure spring (23) which pushes the first and second element towards the closed position starting from a position close to the latter. A U-bolt forms the hinge pin (21) and a pin (26) supporting the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Franco Ferrari
    Inventors: Franco Ferrari, Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 5604956
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Grass AG
    Inventor: Alfred Grass
  • Patent number: 5546633
    Abstract: A hinge comprises a seat, an elastic pressing member, a pivoting member and a cam member. The seat is provided with a receiving space in which the pivoting end of the pivoting member and the cam member are pivoted such that the pivoting member is capable of turning on the pivoting end acting as a fulcrum, and that the cam portion of the cam member is pressed by the elastic pressing member so as to regulate the angle at which the seat and the pivoting member are caused to intersect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Sunny Liu
  • Patent number: 5465862
    Abstract: A closure apparatus for a subsurface pit for servicing an aircraft located beneath an aircraft servicing surface across which aircraft travel is provided with an improved spring biasing arrangement. The system employs separate springs interposed between the hollow body of the pit and the lid so as to urge the pit lid from its horizontal seated position toward a fully raised position. Obstructions are provided for separately intercepting and disengaging the springs from acting against the pit lid as the pit lid is opened through intermediate angular positions between the horizontal seated position and the fully raised position. By sequentially isolating the pit lid from the action of each of the springs, one at a time, the moment of spring force opposing closure of the lid more closely follows the moment of the force of gravity tending to close the lid. This substantially reduces the maximum manual force that is thereby required to overcome gravity in opening the pit lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Dabico, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Devlin
  • Patent number: 5444895
    Abstract: A hinge includes a stationary fitting base plate part, which fitting base plate part is connected with a pivotal fitting part. The hinge is able to be pivoted for lateral adjustment of a door or flap carried by the pivotal fitting part, in relation to the base plate part by a setting device in the pivot plane of the hinge. A stop member which bears on a hinge arm and is acted upon by a resilient element, is, via a cam, able to be pivoted with the pivotal fitting part and urges the pivotal fitting part in the closing part of its range of movement towards its closed position whereas outside such closing range it is rendered ineffective by the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 5369841
    Abstract: A hinge, particularly for furniture doors, in which two fastening elements are connected via inner and outer link elements to form a linkage, the outer link element of which has a curved face and a vertex on which a longitudinally extending, active leg of a leg spring slides and holds the hinge both in its closed position and in its open position, when it presses on the vertex, but has no effect when it is seated against the curved face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Jorge Bembnowski
  • Patent number: 5355359
    Abstract: A cartridge ejector of an optical disc player, which softly accomplishes ejection of the cartridge in two steps. An elastic devices, which biases a lever which makes a shutter of the cartridge open and close and ejects the cartridge, is a torsion spring having a coil portion combined at a hinge of the lever, a first support portion formed at one end of the coil portion, a second support portion formed at the other end of the coil portion, and a third support portion which is formed at the end of said second support portion, and of which selectively comes into contact with the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-wan Lee
  • Patent number: 5272789
    Abstract: A spring biased hinge for refrigerator doors and the like includes a stationary mounting bracket, a bent-wire spring mounted between the door and bracket, and a pivot pin for pivotally mounting the door to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is reversible so that it can be used on either side of the door, and includes a slot for receiving an end of the spring, the slot and spring being located so that as the door is opened, the door travels through a first arcuate segment where the spring is compressed and oriented to bias the door closed, through a second arcuate segment where the spring is compressed and oriented to bias the door open, and a third arcuate segment where the spring is not compressed but rather slides in the slot allowing the door to swing freely open until an end of the slot is engaged to limit the maximum door open movement. The hinge is characterized by its low profile and low number of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Quest Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Terry L. Mitchell, Todd A. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5208944
    Abstract: A hinge device for a casing of the type having a body portion and an upper cover includes a substantially L-shaped mount plate adapted to be securely mounted to the body portion of the casing, two washers respectively attached to both sides of the mount plate, a pivotal axle having a mounting portion adapted to be securely mounted to the upper cover of the casing, an extension pivotally received in a hole of the mount plate, a spring member mounted on the extension of the pivotal axle, a sleeve member, a torsion spring mounted on the sleeve member, a follower securely mounted on the extension, and a nut mounted on a threaded end portion of the extension. The nut biases the spring and allows the pivotal axle to be freely pivotable relative to the spring. When a desired position of the upper cover relative to the body portion of the casing is reached, the spring member biased by the nut exerts a longitudinal force on the pivotal axle to retain the pivotal axle in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Sheng N. Lu
  • Patent number: 5158503
    Abstract: A double-pivot door hinge is disclosed that is particularly suited for household appliances such as refrigerators or microwave ovens. The hinge arrangement allows the appliance door to be opened a full 180 degrees from its closed position without coming into contact with a flush mounted wall such as an abutting kitchen cabinet. The hinge has a first pivot pin and a stop arrangement which allows a door to be swung outwardly until a 90-degree position is reached whereby the stop arrangement is engaged. Upon further outward movement, the assembly shifts to a second hinge pin until a 180-degree position is reached. The movement from the 90-degree position to a 180-degree position requires the overcoming of a spring force of the hinge arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5121521
    Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing an openable apparatus has a body consisting of a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion is rotated about a pivotal axis between the closed position and the fully opened position. An arcuated gear portion having a center falling on the pivotal axis is provided. A one-way damper mechanism is connected to the gear portion directly or via a transmission gear and comprises a rotary gear rotated in cooperation with the opening and closing movements of the first body portion and a rotational speed control device for controlling the rotational speed of the first body portion when the first body portion is closed. In cooperation with the movement of the first body portion between the closed position and the fully opened position, the rotary member is rotatable about the pivotal axis between a first position at which the first body portion is closed and a second position at which the first body portion is fully opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Casio Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Katsumi Yawata, Tatsumi Shimanari
  • Patent number: 5077864
    Abstract: A swing door hinge is provided comprising a first hinge member having a projection of approximately rectangular block shape and provided with at least two engaging recesses, the first hinge member being intended to be mounted to either a wall frame or a swing door, and a second hinge member having at least two engaging arms inserted into respective engaging of the first hinge member for pivotal movement and guide openings provided in the engaging arms. The second hinge member, which is also intended to be mounted to the wall frame or the swing door whichever does not carry the first hinge member, has pivot pins mounted in the guide openings and yieldingly urged by respective springs in the inward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventor: Junzaburo Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5058238
    Abstract: A crosslink hinge for hanging a door on a cabinet has two crosslink arms attached in the middle in a scissors-like manner. One end of one of the crosslink arms is coupled directly to the cabinet-related part of the hinge, which can be fastened on a mounting plate to the cabinet, and one end of the other crosslink arm is coupled directly to the door-related part which is a cup which can be set in a mortise in the door, and at the other end they are coupled indirectly each by a link to the other part of the hinge. The crosslink arm that is directly pivoted at one end on the door-related hinge part is formed by two flanges disposed parallel to one another at a distance apart and joined together at least section-wise by a web to form a channel shape. The hinge furthermore contains a closing mechanism urging it resiliently into the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 5008977
    Abstract: Cabinet hinge having a door-related part configured as a plug-in cup and a carcass-related part configured as an elongated supporting arm, which are articulated relative to one another by two hinge links journaled at their ends in the cup at one end and on the supporting arm at the other. The hinge has a closing mechanism having a cam element disposed at the inner end of the inner hinge link, which is joined corotationally with the hinge link, and on whose cam surface a resiliently flexible section of one leg of a substantially U-shaped leaf spring lies under bias while its second leg is joined to the outer end of the resiliently flexible leg in the interior of the supporting arm by a bridging section and thrusts against the interior of the supporting arm. The inner hinge link has at its inner end two parallel ears spaced apart from one another, between which the cam element is disposed for corotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Lautenschlager, Gerhard W. Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 4973097
    Abstract: A gas spring is provided in an illustrational example between a framework and a trunk cover of a motor vehicle for compensating for the weight of the trunk cover during movement of said trunk cover. The gas spring is hinged to the framework and to the trunk cover. For eliminating the spring force action on the hinge between the trunk cover and the gas spring in the closed position of the trunk cover, the part of the gas spring hinged to the trunk cover is supported on the framework, when the trunk cover is in its closed position. Alternately, the gas spring is locked when the trunk cover is in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Josef Hosan, Bernd Kortgen, Castor Fuhrmann
  • Patent number: 4894884
    Abstract: Over-center self-closing hinge for cabinet doors, having an inner link and an outer link in a quadrilateral arrangement and a lever in the form of a hairpin spring fulcrumed at one end in the cabinet-wall-related hinge part and thrusting at right angles to the hinge axis against a cam which is journaled on the inner link and abuts in its one position against the pivot eye of the latter and in its other position against the link itself. The cam is of such a configuration that, when the hinge is moved from the open position to the closed position, just before it reaches the closed position, the line of thrust applied by the hairpin spring passes through the pivot axis of the link, but then the spring passes over onto a portion of the cam associated with the second position of the latter, thereby causing the cam to rock over and alter the line of thrust of the spring such that it seeks to close the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karl Lautenschlager, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4891862
    Abstract: A self-closing hinge comprises a pair of hinge leaves pivotally interconnected by an offset hinge pin. One leaf has a flanged head projecting substantially radially with respect to a sleeve of the other hinge leaf, within which the hinge pin is mounted. The external surface of the sleeve serves as a cam surface against which a follower element carried on the head of the other leaf is biased. The cam follower comprises a tubular spring-steel member oriented parallel to the hinge pin and generates a force through the head of the other leaf along an axis distally offset relative to the axis of the hinge pin. During closing of the hinge the follower is brought into registration with a pocket formed in the sleeve to effect a rocking movement of the follower about one edge of the pocket to generate a self-closing moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Leif A. Holan
  • Patent number: 4845810
    Abstract: A self closing hinge having a single unitary spring element which functions to maintain the hinge in the open position and to move the hinge to the fully closed position after the hinge is partially closed. A unitary hinge spring having a base section and a ramp section joined by a resilient section which is typically a C shape in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventors: Ron Brown, Florentino Cabais
  • Patent number: 4819299
    Abstract: A self-closing hinge comprising a pair of hinge leaves pivotally interconnected by an offset hinge pin. A spring tang is formed integrally with one of the hinge members and has a distal end that has a head projecting substantially radially with respect to a sleeve of the other hinge leaf within which the hinge pin is mounted. The external surface of the sleeve serves as a cam surface against which a follower element carried on the head of the spring tang is biased. The line of force exerted by the head of the tang through the follower is distally offset relative to the axis of the hinge pin. During closing of the hinge the follower is brought into registration with a pocket formed in the sleeve effecting a rocking movement of the follower about one edge of the pocket to generate a self-closing moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventor: Leif A. Holan
  • Patent number: 4706333
    Abstract: In an arrangement of gas springs as weight counter-balance and retaining device for a part pivotable substantially about a horizontal axis such as a flap, lid or door, a simple construction is required which guarantees two stable open positions for the pivotable part. This is guaranteed in that two gas springs are arranged where the first of the two gas springs possesses an outward thrust force acting over the entire range of displacement of the pivotable part, while the second gas spring possesses an outward thrust force acting over a part of the displacement range and an additional force-free displacement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Leo Lauderbach
  • Patent number: 4589613
    Abstract: A counterbalancing system (30) for an inwardly/outwardly moving door (20) pivotable about an inclined hinge axis between fully closed and fully opened positions wherein the door (20) moves: (i) upslope through angle .beta. and downslope through angle .theta. as it opens; and (ii), upslope through angle .theta. and downslope through angle .beta. as it closes. The door (20) is hinged to a torque tube assembly (25) coincident with the hinge axis; a radial cam (38) having a profiled cam face (36) is mounted on the torque tube assembly (25) for rotation through the angles .beta. and .theta.; and, springs (31, 32) are mounted within a housing (34) having a reciprocable piston (44) and a cam follower (35) carried thereby for biasing the follower (35) into engagement with the cam face (36). As door (20) moves downwardly through angles .beta. and .theta., the springs (31, 32) are compressed and energy is stored therein. As door (20) is manually shifted upslope through angles .beta. and .theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Allan W. Opsahl
  • Patent number: 4494273
    Abstract: The swing control hinge disclosed is intended to control the rotational speed of a door that is tending to accelerate toward the strike as a result of spring loaded hinges. The hinge is intended to prevent slamming of the door while allowing enough speed to insure latching. The swing control hinge is housed in a hinge body that may be used as a third hinge. The hinge pin is made up of two cams that have cam parts on them which dissipate energy from conventional spring loaded hinges having helical spring or a block of rubber during the opening cycle of the door and the torsional force from the spring loaded hinges is dissipated in checking the door as it closes to keep the door from slamming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: Albert E. Straus
  • Patent number: 4479623
    Abstract: A compact, spring operated, two-way counterbalance system is disclosed for the hinge assembly of an inwardly/outwardly moveable plug-type aircraft passenger door of the type adapted to pivot about an inwardly canted hinge axis whereby a first convolute clock-type spring member is wound during the final stages of downward door-closing movement to provide an outward biasing force for assisting on-board flight attendants in opening the door during that portion of door movement when it must move in an upward direction; and, a second convolute clock-type spring member is provided which is wound during the latter stages of door opening movement when the door is moving in a downward direction, with the second convolute spring member thus providing a biasing force for assisting the on-board flight attendant in pulling the door upwardly and away from the fuselage during upslope door-closing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alex Maraghe, Allan W. Opsahl
  • Patent number: RE46089
    Abstract: A furniture hinge, comprising a fitting part, a hinge cup that is articulated thereto for fastening to furniture parts, and a cushioning apparatus for cushioning a relative movement between the fitting part and the hinge cup, wherein the cushioning apparatus is disposed in or on the hinge cup, wherein the cushioning apparatus comprises a housing having first fastening means, and second fastening means are disposed on the hinge cup, wherein the housing of the cushioning apparatus can be inserted from above into the hinge cup and in the installed position is disposed substantially completely inside the hinge cup, wherein the housing of the cushioning apparatus and hinge cup can be connected to each other in said installed position by the first and second fastening means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Harald Brunnmayr