To Counterbalance Weight Of Hinged Member (e.g., Closure Biased To Open Position) Patents (Class 16/289)
  • Patent number: 11781362
    Abstract: A multi-link door hinge is proposed. The multi-link door hinge includes: a main body frame provided in a main body of an apparatus having a door; a door frame provided on the door; a body frame rotatably connected to one side portion of the main body frame; an inner link and an outer link rotatably connecting the door frame to the body frame; a leaf spring link rotatably connecting the main body frame to the outer link; an upper cam coupled to a portion connecting the body frame to the inner link in a co-rotatable manner, provided between first and second side portions of a sidewall of the inner link, and securely coupled to the body frame; an upper elastic member having a first side portion provided inside the inner link and a second side portion rollably coupled to the upper cam and elastically supporting the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: June Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11519211
    Abstract: A stowage bin assembly includes a bin bucket assembly having a bin bucket which includes at least one sidewall, the at least one sidewall including a notch and the at least one sidewall having an interior surface. The stowage bin assembly also includes at least one hinge assembly. The at least one hinge assembly includes a housing which is received in the notch, the housing having an interior surface, wherein the interior surface of the housing is substantially flush with the interior surface of the at least one sidewall when the housing of the at least one hinge assembly is received in the notch. The stowage bin assembly also includes a stowage bin door pivotably coupled to the bin bucket assembly via the at least one hinge assembly, the stowage bin door moveable between an open position and a closed position. Related components, assemblies, and devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Harper Engineering Company
    Inventors: David Chadwell, Richard J. LaConte
  • Patent number: 11261638
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hinge assembly for rotatably mounting a trunk lid to a vehicle body. The hinge assembly for a trunk lid of a vehicle, includes a hinge arm configured to be coupled to the trunk lid, a hinge bracket configured to be coupled to a vehicle body and having a hinge shaft, the hinge arm being rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket, a torsion bar configured to be coupled to the hinge arm and to provide an elastic force to the hinge arm in an opening direction, and a cushion assembly provided at one end of the hinge arm adjacent to the hinge shaft and configured to adjust a rotation speed of the hinge arm in response to the elastic force of the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GUMCHANG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Yel Song, Hai-Tai Choi, Sae-Gil Shin, Sang-Ho Lee, Yong-Hyeon Joo
  • Patent number: 11178299
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, including: a hinge configured to support an original conveying unit pivotably relative to an image reading unit; a swing pedestal configured to support the hinge; a swing axis configured to support the swing pedestal swingably relative to the image reading unit; and a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion configured to abut the image reading unit so as to form a space between the image reading unit and the original conveying unit, wherein the first abutment portion that is in a state not in contact with the image reading unit can be brought into contact with the image reading unit by the swing pedestal swinging about a swing axis in a state in which the second abutment portion is in contact with the image reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryo Aihara
  • Patent number: 11142934
    Abstract: A counterbalance assembly, including a housing, a pivot nose pivotably connected to the housing, and a spring pack disposed within a volume formed by the housing, the spring pack including a first end engaged with the housing, a second end engaged with the pivot nose, an energy storage device arranged between the first end and the second end, and a spring retainer operatively arranged to adjust a force of the energy storage device on the pivot nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Weber Knapp Company
    Inventor: Daniel M. Graham
  • Patent number: 11136806
    Abstract: To provide an opening and closing device for opening and closing body having a rotation torque controlling module and a torque peak adjusting module, solution was sought by an opened and closed body and the opening and closing body which comprises an attaching part, an opening and closing part rotatably attached to the attaching part via a hinge shaft, a rotation torque controlling module for controlling a rotation torque of the opening and closing part, a torque peak adjusting module for adjusting a torque peak of the opening and closing part at the time of its opening and closing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: KEM HONGKONG LIMITED
    Inventor: Ryuta Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 11111712
    Abstract: An appliance lid hinge assembly includes a cam arm pivotally connected a base. A cam arm control system includes a spring rod adapted to move in a sliding reciprocal manner. A spring urges the spring rod toward an extended position. The spring rod is movable toward a retracted position. The cam arm is engaged with the spring rod through a cam follower such that: (i) pivoting movement of the cam arm in an opening direction corresponds with movement of the spring rod from the retracted position toward the extended position; and, (ii) pivoting movement of the cam arm in a closing direction opposite the opening direction corresponds with movement of the spring rod from the extended position toward the retracted position. An optional damper exerts a damping force on the spring rod or other part of the cam arm control system when the cam arm moves in a closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Collene, Nicholas R. SirLouis
  • Patent number: 11016539
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of first and second chassis that slide to move the axles to varied distances. The first and second axles transfer rotation through one or more belts and first and second transfer pulleys rotationally coupled with members that adjust transfer pulley positions as the distance between the first and second axles change to maintain belt tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 11016540
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second breakaway brackets that define an adjacent position of the first and second housing portions relative to each other and a spread position. The first and second breakaway brackets expand the spacing between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The breakaway brackets bias to the adjacent position with a biasing device and a retainer that maintains the adjacent position unless a predetermined force is applied through the hinge assembly at the breakaway brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 10927577
    Abstract: A device for moving a furniture part held on a furniture body of an item of furniture having a guide with at least one pivot arm for pivoting the furniture part from a closed position into an open position relative to the furniture body and back with a base unit with an anchor plate. The device includes a positioning mechanism with a positioning portion formed in an intermediate region between the at least one pivot arm and the base unit. During a pivoting movement of the pivot arm, the positioning portion contacts an abutment surface on the pivot arm and/or on the base unit. Fine positioning of the pivot arm in an axial direction relative to its pivot axis is configurable by contact of the positioning portion with the abutment surface if the pivot arm has an axial offset with respect to a setpoint bearing position of the pivot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Kruedener, Sebastian Lautenschlaeger, Martin Staude
  • Patent number: 10704311
    Abstract: An appliance lid hinge assembly includes a cam arm pivotally connected a base. A cam arm control system includes a spring rod adapted to move in a sliding reciprocal manner. A spring urges the spring rod toward an extended position. The spring rod is movable toward a retracted position. The cam arm is engaged with the spring rod through a cam follower such that: (i) pivoting movement of the cam arm in an opening direction corresponds with movement of the spring rod from the retracted position toward the extended position; and, (ii) pivoting movement of the cam arm in a closing direction opposite the opening direction corresponds with movement of the spring rod from the extended position toward the retracted position. An optional damper exerts a damping force on the spring rod or other part of the cam arm control system when the cam arm moves in a closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Collene, Nicholas R. SirLouis
  • Patent number: 10623037
    Abstract: This application relates to a computing device case that provides some amount of torsional force in order to cancel at least some static and dynamic loads experienced by the computing device when the case is arranged as a stand. By canceling out these loads, the computing device to be angled at an almost unlimited number of angles relative to a surface on which the computing device is resting. Flexible elements in the case can resist the static and dynamic loads of the computing device, thereby allowing the computing device to receive touch inputs at almost any angle without causing the case and the computing device to collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Stryker, Yoonhoo Jo, Nicholas A. Treadwell
  • Patent number: 10538950
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for pivotally connecting an associated appliance lid to an associated appliance body includes a base adapted to be connected to the associated appliance body. The hinge assembly also includes a snubber housing connected to the base. A cam is rotatably supported on the snubber housing, and the cam is adapted to be engaged by the associated appliance lid and rotate about a lid pivot axis in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. A snubber is operatively connected to the snubber housing. The cam exerts a snubber activation force on the snubber when the cam rotates about the lid pivot axis in the second direction corresponding to movement of the associated appliance lid from an opened position toward a closed position and such that the snubber damps movement of the cam when the cam rotates in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
    Inventor: James Collene
  • Patent number: 10480390
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a blower unit rotatably supported to a vehicle body between a closed position and an open position, and a position adjustment portion configured to adjust a vertical position of the blower unit when the blower unit is at the closed position. The position adjustment portion includes a first plate that is provided on the vehicle body and includes a first through portion vertically penetrating, a second plate that is provided on the blower unit, vertically penetrates, and includes a second through portion communicating with the first through portion from below when the blower unit is at the closed position, and an adjustment bolt that includes a shaft portion inserted into the first through portion and the second through portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10443285
    Abstract: A damping hinge includes a first joining part; a revolving part pivotably connected to the first joining part and being capable of revolving among a first position, a second position and a third position; a supporting module arranged within the first joining part for pressing the revolving part to keep the revolving part and the first joining part staying in a relative position; a second joining part fastened to the revolving part for connecting the upper cover; a first enforcement frame arranged on the first joining part; and a damping module including a damper holder pivotably connected to the second joining part, a damper consisting of a damper core fastened on the damper holder as a fixed end and an actuating portion as a free end being able to move up and down, a damper spring connected between the second joining part and the damper holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing Hua Fang, Pei Chun Lu
  • Patent number: 10407962
    Abstract: An actuating drive for moving a flap includes a housing, an actuating arm pivotably mounted on or in the housing for the moving flap, a spring apparatus for applying force to the actuating arm, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a force of the spring apparatus onto the actuating arm, an adjusting apparatus by which a lever geometry of the transmission mechanism and/or the force of the spring apparatus, which force acts on the actuating arm, can be variably adjusted, and a damping apparatus by which a movement of the actuating arm can be damped by a damping power in the event of a damping stroke. The adjusting apparatus is coupled to the damping apparatus by a coupling apparatus, and the position of the damping apparatus relative to the housing, the damping stroke of the damping apparatus, and/or the damping power of the damping apparatus can be variably adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Philip Schluge
  • Patent number: 10352081
    Abstract: The invention relates to a furniture hinge (10) with a hinge arm (20) and a fastening portion (30), wherein the hinge arm (20) and the fastening portion (30) are pivotably connected to one another via a multi-axis articulated connection (40), and wherein a damping element (60), which damps in a deflection direction, for damping the movement of the hinge arm (20) and a spring (76) for adjusting the hinge arm (20) with respect to the fastening portion (30) are provided. It is provided here that the damping element (60) is mounted in such a way that, during a folding movement of the hinge arm (20) from a first end position into a second end position, a maximum or a minimum deflection of the damping element (60) is carried out within an adjusting movement of the damping element (60) caused by said folding movement. As a result, a furniture hinge which can be produced cost-effectively and which allows damped opening and closing of the hinge arm is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Samet Kalip Ve Maden Esya San. Ve Tic. A.S.
    Inventors: Artur Hirtsiefer, Bernd Rödder, Nurettin Güzeltepe
  • Patent number: 10317092
    Abstract: A horizontal hinge for a cooking appliance door includes a hinge housing having a front face and a rear face. A rotatable hinge arm protrudes from the front face of the hinge housing for retaining the cooking appliance door. Protruding from the rear face of the hinge housing is a lifting rod which is coupled to the hinge arm and pivotable when the hinge arm is caused to rotate. Placed over the lifting rod outside the hinge housing is a compression spring which is held under compressive stress between the hinge housing and a bearing portion of the lifting rod. A tilting element tiltably bears against the hinge housing between the compression spring and the hinge housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Desor, Jérémy Buchmann
  • Patent number: 10306087
    Abstract: A hinge for a cover of an image forming apparatus has a hinge housing to be movably positioned into an opening in a body of the image forming apparatus, a hinge cam to couple to the cover and to pivotably couple to the hinge housing to support pivoting of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HP PRINTING KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong-ha Choi
  • Patent number: 10203149
    Abstract: The present application relates to a freezer and a hinge for the same. The hinge comprises a base, in which a left side of the base is provided with a first flange portion, a right side of the base is provided with a second flange portion opposite to the first flange portion, and the first flange portion and the second flange portion is provided with sliding grooves opposite to each other; a connecting seat; a first pivot shaft; a second pivot shaft parallel to the first pivot shaft, in which both ends of the second pivot shaft may slide in the corresponding sliding grooves respectively; a guide rod; a supporting seat; a positioning part; a spring sheath fitted over the guide rod and movable between the positioning part and the supporting seat; and a spring fitted over the spring sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD., HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao Liu, Xianghai Pu, An Wu
  • Patent number: 10012225
    Abstract: A tubing pump for transferring a fluid in a detachably attached tube 30 by a pump mechanism 50, the tubing pump is equipped with: a pump body 10 having a base 11 to and from which the tube 30 can be attached and detached; a door 20 pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect to the pump body 10, so as to open or close the base 11; switching urging unit A for urging the door 20 in an opening direction in a first rotation range R1 on a completely opened side and switching an urging direction to a closing direction in a second rotation range R2 on a completely closed side; and closing suppression unit B for suppressing an urging force in the closing direction by the switching urging unit A in the second rotation range R2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: Adamant Namiki Preccision Jewel Co., Ltd., NAMIKI PRECISION SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Koyama, Shouta Nakamura, Makoto Kashiwagi, Hiroyuki Kogure, Hiroyuki Tajima
  • Patent number: 9945169
    Abstract: A hinge, for a movable furniture part, in particular, a door or flap, that is fastened to a body of an item of furniture, wherein the hinge has a first attachment element, which is connected pivotably to a second attachment element via a joint mechanism, wherein the joint mechanism comprises at least one articulated lever, which is mounted pivotably on the first attachment element via a first bearing element. The hinge is characterized in that the articulated lever is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the first bearing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Boris Kruedener, Markus Herper, Sebastian Lautenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 9802706
    Abstract: An adapter for receiving a vehicle attendant seat in a cabin of a vehicle comprises a flat retaining body, a receiving device for a vehicle attendant seat, at least one first pivoting means and at least one first securing means. The at least one first pivoting means is arranged on a pivoting edge of the retaining body and is adapted for forming a hinge with at least one correspondingly formed second pivoting means. The receiving device is arranged on a surface of the at least one retaining body, which surface extends parallel to the plane, and is adapted for mechanically connecting the vehicle attendant seat with the at least one retaining body. Thus in a vehicle cabin a vehicle attendant seat may be accommodated in a very space-saving manner even at locations to which in conventional vehicle operation access is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Maria Theresia Strasdas, Jan-Ole Jedraszczyk
  • Patent number: 9725938
    Abstract: A luggage door hinge includes: a front side attachment section configured to be rotatably supported by a vehicle body; a rear side attachment section that extends along a vehicle body front-rear direction in a closed state of a luggage door that opens and closes a luggage room, and is configured to be fixed to the luggage door; a curved section that curves in a substantially circular arc shape between the front side attachment section and the rear side attachment section, toward a vehicle body lower side in the closed state of the luggage door; and a coupling member that couples together an intermediate portion of the curved section and the rear side attachment section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya Murata
  • Patent number: 9663152
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure for mounting an upper cabin suspension bracket, the structure configured to connect the upper cabin suspension bracket to a main sill front, wherein an upper cabin suspension bracket mount member for mounting the upper cabin suspension bracket is fixed to integrally form a closed curved surface from the bottom of the main sill front to a front side of a dash member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyoon Choi
  • Patent number: 9631408
    Abstract: A hinge structure includes an attachment recessed part, an attachment member, a first rotating body and a second rotating body. The attachment recessed part is configured to have inlet and outlet part in an upper part thereof. The attachment member is configured so that an upper end part thereof is pivotably connected to the document cover. The first rotating body is configured to be provided in the apparatus main body so as to come into contact with a side of the document mounting surface of the attachment member in the inlet and outlet part in the attachment recessed part. The second rotating body is configured to be provided in a lower part of the attachment member so as to come into contact with the attachment recessed part at an opposite side of the position in which the first rotating body is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takehiko Okada
  • Patent number: 9593517
    Abstract: Vehicles incorporating load-transferring hood hinge members are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes an A-pillar portion, an upper side member coupled to the A-pillar portion and extending forward from the A-pillar portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a dash panel coupled to the A-pillar portion and extending in a vehicle lateral direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The vehicle also includes a hood hinge member that is coupled to the upper side member and positioned forward of the A-pillar portion. The hood hinge member includes an attachment portion that is coupled to the upper side member, a flange member that extends upward from the attachment portion, a hood attachment opening passing through the flange member, and a rearward-projecting protrusion having a distal surface that is positioned transverse to the flange member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Young, Corinne D. Uskali, Colin M. Ravenscroft
  • Patent number: 9511867
    Abstract: A device for mounting a vehicle attendant seat in a cabin of a vehicle is provided. The device includes a retaining body, a receiving device arranged on the retaining body for mounting the vehicle attendant seat, a pivoting mechanism arranged on the retaining body, a first locking device and an elongated rail on which the pivoting mechanism is slidably held and connectable to a wall surface in the cabin of the vehicle. External contours of the retaining body span a plane; the receiving device is arranged on a surface of the retaining body, which surface extends parallel to the plane, and is designed to mechanically connect the vehicle attendant seat to the retaining body. The vehicle attendant seat may be stowed, slid into an indentation in the vehicle, and for use may be pulled from the indentation, may be pivoted and may be locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Roland Lange, Jan-Ole Jedraszczyk
  • Patent number: 9451718
    Abstract: Motor control centers have units or bucket assemblies with a front panel configured to pivot about a long axis associated with a bottom long side thereof and slide radially with respect to the shaft, away from the shaft in an open position to thereby position the front panel a distance away from the shaft to be able to fully open to at least ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen William Oneufer, Daniel Boyd Kroushl, Robert Allan Morris
  • Patent number: 9441714
    Abstract: A jacking device is provided to push an object for rotation and upward or downward movement. The jacking device includes a combination of a slave arm and a link arm. The slave arm includes a first end capable of producing rotation and linear movement and a second end pivoted to the link arm. The link arm includes a fixation end disposed on a base and a free end. When the first end of the slave arm is received with an action force, the second end of the slave arm is forced to push the link arm for rotation, and the free end of the link arm is forced to motion between a first position and a second position so as to push an object for rotation and upward or downward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: First Dome Corporation
    Inventors: An Szu Hsu, Chien Cheng Mai, Way Han Dai
  • Patent number: 9140289
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixes a furniture fitting to an item of furniture. The furniture fitting is able to be fixed to the item of furniture using the fixing device, by selectively using a left-hand or a right-hand furniture-fitting side. The device has a connecting element and a fixing body that has a through-passage. The connecting element is at least partially arranged in the through-passage, movable in a limited manner relative to the fixing body, and has at least two connecting element stops as well as two connecting element regions for fixing the furniture fitting to the item of furniture. At least two stops are designed in or on the fixing body, and when in the assembly position, one of these two stops corresponds, in each case, to one of the two connecting element stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Julius Blum GMBH
    Inventor: Harald Sutterluetti
  • Patent number: 9021743
    Abstract: A device is provided to assist the opening of a covering element pivotably mounted relative to an edge of a frame. The device includes an assistance cylinder (6). The assistance cylinder (6) includes a hollow shaft (7), a guide pin (10) inserted in the hollow shaft (7) and comprising at the end thereof opposite the end wall (8) of the hollow shaft (7) a yoke (11), a spring (13) inserted in the hollow shaft (7) surrounding the guide pin (10) and mounted pre-stressed when unloaded between the end wall (4) of the hollow shaft (7) and the yoke (11) of the guide pin (10), and a screw (14) secured to the end of the guide pin (10) and engaging with the end wall (8) of the hollow shaft (7) for keeping the pre-stressed spring (13) in the released state thereof. The invention is useful in the field of road systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: EJ Emea
    Inventor: Alexandre Piermee
  • Publication number: 20150096148
    Abstract: A balanced hinge device with a programmable brake for household appliances has first and second connection members (4, 5) mutually pivoted through a first pivot pin (6) and interconnected by a kinematic device (11) having an arm (8), pivoted via a second pivot pin (9) to one of the two members (4, 5). The arm (8) and one of the two members (4, 5) has a through slot (2) and the other member has a friction element (3) slidably frictionally engaged with the through slot (2) which is approximately shaped to follow a trajectory of the friction element (3) between a full closed condition (C) and a full open condition (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Eros Gherardi
  • Patent number: 8899125
    Abstract: A mechanical arm assembly comprises an arm rotatable about a pivot, a first force generating device for maintaining the arm at a datum, and a second force generating device for compensating for the first generating device to maintain the arm in positions other than the datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robarts Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bax, Aaron Fenster
  • Patent number: 8863359
    Abstract: A vehicle and a hinge assembly for a storage compartment of the vehicle are disclosed. The assembly includes a first component adapted to be attached to the vehicle and a second component. The second component includes a first end portion coupled to the first component and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion. The second component is movable relative to the first component between a first position and a second position such that the second end portion is disposed above the first component when in the second position. The assembly further includes a link coupled to the second component and movable with the second component as the second component moves between the first and second positions. The link extends away from the second component to a distal end. The assembly includes a guard attached to the link and covering at least a portion of the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Krajenke, Himanshu H. Mehta
  • Patent number: 8850660
    Abstract: A hinge device in which a slider elastically supported by a compressive coil spring is put into contact with a pivotal lever installed on a cover of a product which swings open or closed. The hinge device can increase a free stop section and simultaneously prevent the cover from being incidentally open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Korea Inc.
    Inventor: Joon Seob Kim
  • Patent number: 8801320
    Abstract: A joint device connects a first and second members and allows pivotal motion of one or both members. The joint device includes a housing having a slide surface and a guide surface. First and second rotating members are supported for rotation by the housing to pivot one or both members. A slide member carrying a spring is supported for movement on the slide surface with rotation of the rotating members. The spring is coupled to the first rotating member, and has an arm arranged for movement along the guide surface as the slide member moves along the slide surface. The spring member imparts a bias torque on the first rotating member, where the bias torque magnitude changes as the slide member moves along the slide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Koncept Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Ng
  • Patent number: 8701249
    Abstract: A hinge device in a portable terminal is provided, in which a first driving cam is fixed to one end of a hinge shaft by a locking device, for rotating, a second driving cam is provided at the other end of the hinge shaft, for rotating together with the first driving cam and making a linear reciprocal motion along the hinge shaft, a driven cam is interposed between the first and second driving cams, for making a linear reciprocal motion along the hinge shaft as a cam motion with the first and second driving cams, and an elastic member is interposed between a hinge housing and the second driving cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Ahn, Ji-Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 8615847
    Abstract: A counterbalanced hinge assembly for rotatably supporting a decklid of a vehicle includes a hinge box and a support member rotatably attached to the hinge box. A linkage system interconnects the hinge box and the support member, and includes a wind-up link rotatably attached to the hinge box for rotation about a spring axis, and a driven link interconnecting the wind-up link and the support member. A planar coil spring is coiled about the spring axis and is coupled to both the hinge box and the wind-up link. The planar coil spring applies a torque to the wind-up link to rotate the wind-up link about the spring axis to assist movement of the support member from the closed position into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Krajenke, Alvin N. Standard
  • Publication number: 20130214663
    Abstract: Hinge assembly (1) for household appliances (2) having an horizontally-pivoted front door (4), and which comprises: a first coupling element (6) structured for being firmly fixed to the household appliance casing (3); a second coupling element (7) structured for being firmly fixed to the front-door body (4), and which is pivotally jointed to the first coupling element (6) so as to be able to rotate about a given articulation axis (R), between a first working position wherein the front door (4) is arranged in the raised position, and a second working position wherein the front door (4) is arranged in the completely lowered position; and a door-weight balancing device (9) which is interposed between the first (6) and the second coupling element (7) and is structured to elastically hamper rotation of the second coupling element (7) at least from the first to the second working position; the door-weight balancing device (9) in turn comprising a supporting rod (10) which extends in sliding manner through a support
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventor: Luca Marzorati
  • Patent number: 8468653
    Abstract: An actuating drive includes at least one actuating arm for moving a movable furniture part, and a locking device for blocking the motion of the actuating arm. The locking device permits the motion of the actuating arm only after the movable furniture part has been mounted on the actuating arm, and the locking device is released by the mounting of the movable furniture part on the actuating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Tumler
  • Patent number: 8321996
    Abstract: A holding element for adjusting a lid (4) of a piece of furniture between a closed position and an open position has a first fitting part (1) that is connectable to the body (2) of a piece of furniture. A second fitting part (3) is connectable to the lid (4). A first support arm (5) is pivotably fastened around a first body axis (7) to the first fitting part (1) and is pivotably fastened around a first lid axis (8) to the second fitting part (3). A second support arm (6) is pivotably fastened around a second body axis (9) to the first fitting part (1) and is pivotably fastened around a second lid axis (10) to the second fitting part (3). A lever (19) is pivotably fastened around a pivot axis (20) to the first fitting part (1). An adjustment arm (26) is pivotably connected to the lever (19) at a distance from the pivot axis (20). The adjustment arm (26) is pivotably fastened around a third lid axis (28) to the second fitting part (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: HUWIL Bútoripari és Üzletberendezési Rendszerek kft
    Inventor: Artur Hirtsiefer
  • Patent number: 8270169
    Abstract: A translating hinge includes a translation element which provides translational movement between two objects coupled by the translating hinge and a rotating assembly coupled to the translation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paquette, Scott R. Cheyne
  • Patent number: 8201304
    Abstract: An apparatus including a frame, a door and a compliant hinge mechanism hingably mounting the door to the frame, the compliant hinge mechanism including a resistance configured to provide a preload to balance the door in a first open position and an increasing force resisting further opening of the door when the preload is overcome and the door is opened past the first open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian M. Steurer, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8082629
    Abstract: A parallelogram hinge for vertical-movement doors includes a first plate designed to be fastened to the furniture flank, a second plate designed to be fastened to the door and two superposed arms pivotally mounted to the plates to form an articulated parallelogram. A spring for movement balancing is connected to the upper arm at an intermediate position between the arm extremities hinged to the plates and is connected to the first plate at a point below the pivot point of the lower arm on the first plate. This enables very reduced bulkiness in the direction of the furniture depth, achievement of a great opening angle and better operation of the spring embodied by a gas piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Agostino Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 7976079
    Abstract: A retaining element for the lid of a cabinet has a linkage in the form of an eccentric sliding crank drive with an arm (1) as a slider link of the sliding crank drive. The arms (1) can be fixed to a cabinet housing (27) and pivotably connected to the lid and is pivotable around a first arm axis (5) of a first joint (6). A lever (2) can be fixed to the cabinet housing (27) and is pivotable around a first lever axis (7) of a second joint (8). A slider element (3) is guided at the arm (1) and is displaceable along a slider axis (12). The lever (2) is connected to the slider element (3) and is pivotable around a second lever axis (9). A force element (14) force-loads the arm (1) and slider element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toplifter Beteiligungs-und Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Artur Hirtsiefer
  • Patent number: 7917996
    Abstract: The present invention provides an opening-and-closing mechanism capable of reducing a falling momentum due to gravitational force of a lid that is opened and closed past the top in the perpendicular direction and easily raising the lid against the gravitational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventor: Naoki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7810213
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism for a pivotably mounted actuating arm for driving a flap of a piece of furniture includes a spring device and a transmission mechanism. The spring device includes a spring-loaded setting member and the transmission mechanism converts the movement of the setting member into a pivoting movement of the actuating arm. The transmission mechanism includes at least one pivotably mounted interlever interacting between the setting member and the actuating arm so that interaction between the interlever and the setting member or the actuating arm occurs by a setting contour. The transmission mechanism includes at least one adjustment device to alter the transmission ratio between the movement of the setting member and the pivoting movement of the actuating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Julius Glum GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Brüstle
  • Patent number: 7762425
    Abstract: A lid apparatus for opening/closing an opening of a main body includes a lid with working and back faces. An arm attaches the lid to the main body to be operable for opening/closing. The arm includes a first axis pivotally supporting the arm on the main body around the opening, and a second axis swingably supporting the back face of the lid on the arm. The second axis is located between the gravity center of the lid and the first axis. A regulatory member intervenes between the arm and the back face of the lid to set the working face of the lid in parallel with the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kimura, Hiroshi Narushima, Tsutomu Hiroki
  • Patent number: 7707687
    Abstract: An opening/closing device for a double flap door of an item of furniture, wherein the top part and the bottom part of the door are not hinged to each other. The device is connected to the furniture item to cause the top part of the door to rotate with respect to the furniture item and an articulated quadrilateral causes the bottom part of the door to rotate with respect to the top part concomitantly with the rotation of the top part of the door with respect to the furniture item. The articulated quadrilateral includes a first and a second arm each having one end hinged to the bottom part of the door and the other end hinged to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Effegi Brevettie S.r.l.
    Inventor: Antonio Giovannetti