Including Camming Or Sliding Surface To Deflect Spring Perpendicularly To The Hinge Axis Patents (Class 16/296)
  • Patent number: 12173551
    Abstract: A decelerated hinge for furniture, which comprises a hinge arm, a hinge box fixable to a door and swingably connected to the hinge arm by an articulation axis at a rear wall of the hinge box, elastic closing means for closing the hinge and a linear-type decelerating device comprising a housing body, a slider, a fluid damper and elastic return means, wherein the hinge box has at least one opening in at least one of a front and/or side walls, and wherein the housing body has at least a retaining protrusion conformed and arranged to be inserted in the at least one opening in such a way to be protruding outside the hinge box, wherein the retaining protrusion inserted in the opening cooperates with fixing means by which the housing body is fixed in the hinge box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: ARTURO SALICE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Salice
  • Patent number: 12139008
    Abstract: A fuel tank cap includes: a cap body which opens and closes a fuel supply port of a fuel tank; a ring member which is disposed around the fuel supply port and is shaped so as to surround the cap body; and a hinge member which is coupled to the ring member to support the cap body in a turnable manner between a closed position and an open position. A first peripheral part of the ring member, which is opposed to an outer periphery of the cap body, has a larger dimension in a circumferential direction than a dimension of a second peripheral part of the hinge member, which is opposed to the outer periphery of the cap body. The ring member and the hinge member are made of mutually different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignees: Kawasaki Motors, Ltd., Sankyo Kinzoku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Takahashi, Daisuke Saeki, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Keiichi Araki
  • Patent number: 11746580
    Abstract: A multi-link hinge is proposed. The multi-link hinge is configured to facilitate closing and opening of a door, is capable of sufficiently securing a maximum opening angle of the door while decreasing a gap between the door and a main body, and is also capable of providing convenience to a user when the user opens and closes the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: June Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9016773
    Abstract: A hinge including a first hinge half rotatably connected to a second hinge half is described. A support mechanism selectively supports the first hinge half at one or more rotated positions relative to the second hinge half. The support mechanism includes a support which is selectively biased toward a support position in which the support is capable of supporting the first hinge half at a rotated position relative to the second hinge half. The support can further be selectively biased into a disengaged position in which the support is not capable of supporting the first hinge half relative to the second hinge half. With the support in a disengaged position, the first hinge half is freely pivotable relative to the second hinge half. An automatic reset mechanism may be utilized in connection with the hinge to reposition the support from the disengaged position to the support position as the hinge approaches a predefined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: E.R. Wagner Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Ryan Tanner, Daniel Danoski, Bradley Gador
  • 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: 8689402
    Abstract: A furniture hinge includes at least one control cam and at least one spring. The control cam moves along on the spring in order to produce a closing force and/or opening force. A sliding element is attached to the spring and/or to the control cam. The control cam or the spring moves along on the sliding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Brunnmayr
  • Patent number: 8650711
    Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a hinge cup, an arm, an installation member and a damping device. The hinge cup has a receiving space and a positioning hole communicating with the receiving space. The bottom wall of the receiving space has at least one first engaging part. The arm is pivotably connected to the hinge cup. The damping device is located in the receiving space and includes a damping member, a slide and a housing. One end of the damping member is mounted in the positioning hole. The damping member has a piston rod which is connected to the slide. The housing has at least one second engaging part which is engaged with the first engaging part on the bottom wall. When the arm is moved toward a closed position relative to the hinge cup, the arm pushes the slide to provide the damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Ting-Tsai Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 8634548
    Abstract: A free-stop hinge apparatus employed in a folding-type mobile terminal preferably includes: a hinge housing; a driving part for providing a free-stop operation, which is received in the hinge housing. A hinge shaft restrains the driving part in the hinge housing, and the driving part includes a rotating driving actuating cam and a driven sliding cam slides according to rotation of the driving actuating cam. The driving actuating cam includes an inner cam formed on one surface of a body, and an outer cam confronting the inner cam, and the driven sliding cam includes an inner valley which is disposed to confront the inner cam and slides together with the inner cam, and an outer valley which is disposed to confront the outer cam and slides together with the outer cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Jun Jung, Hae-Won Sung, Sung-Sun Park
  • Patent number: 8572811
    Abstract: A furniture hinge for a hinged lid is arranged in a horizontally swiveling manner on a body of a piece of furniture includes a fastening plate and a swivel plate that is arranged in a swiveling manner on the fastening plate by two lever arms that are arranged as parallel linkages. The hinge includes a damping device that can be fixed on the fastening plate. The damping, device includes a damping cylinder and a piston rod that can be displaced in a dampened manner inside the damping cylinder, whereby the piston rod is mechanically linked with a lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Horst Lautenschlåger
  • Patent number: 8561262
    Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a housing, an arm and at least one spring. A damping device includes a damper having a piston rod, a maintaining member secured in the housing and an adjustment member. The adjustment member is movably connected to the maintaining member and has a protruded portion located corresponding to the piston rod of the damper. When the adjustment member is moved to a first position relative to the maintaining member, the protruded portion of the adjustment member is located toward the piston rod of the damper, so that the piston rod contacts the protruded portion and retracts to perform damping function. When the adjustment member is moved to a second position relative to the maintaining member, the protruded portion of the adjustment member is moved away from the piston rod of the damper, and no damping function is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Ken-Ching Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang, Yi-Syuan Jhao
  • Patent number: 8490248
    Abstract: A hinge is mounted between a cover and a body of an electronic device and has an eccentric sleeve and a resisting assembly abutting against each other. When the cover is pivoted, the eccentric sleeve is rotated as well. Because the eccentric sleeve has sectors with varied radiuses, the resisting assembly is compressed to conduct various resisting forces when the eccentric sleeve is rotated. When the cover is opened to a normal visual angle, the hinge provides a constant largest torque. Therefore, the cover is held at the normal visual angle even though the user hits the touch panel on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Chih Chen, Chaio-Liang Tseng, Tzung-Yang Tsai
  • Patent number: 8407858
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a swing hinge module. The swing hinge module is configured by comprising: a first member in which through-holes are respectively formed at a space unit and a place distanced from the space unit; a fixing ring which is coupled to the space unit; a second member that is placed at the space unit of the first member and is coupled to the first member in order to rotate with respect to the first member; an elastic member of which one end and the other end are respectively connected to the first and second members and elastically supported by each other; and a cam which is prepared between the first and second members to support one end of the elastic member and forces the elastic member to have an eccentric motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Diabell Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Sung-Sang Ahn
  • Publication number: 20120272478
    Abstract: A sliding arrangement, in particular an extension apparatus for drawers, sliding doors, hinged doors, etc., has an extending arrangement which comprises a sliding piece (21) that is displaceable by means of a spring element (22) between an inserted position and an extended position. In order to enable user-friendly opening of the drawer, provision is made according to the present invention that the sliding piece is displaceable over a first displacement distance in spring-impinged fashion, and in an adjacent second displacement distance is displaceable without spring impingement in a free-running portion of the extension apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Ulrich Bantle
  • Patent number: 8104141
    Abstract: An angle-adjustable hinge in which a pair of floating wedge members are disposed as to be rotation symmetric for 180° around a first axis as an axis of symmetry, and each of wedge faces of four wedge-shaped window portions is serially formed on an arc around a second axis as a center, eccentric from the first axis and rotation symmetric for every 90° around the first axis as the axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Koyo Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadanobu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8011065
    Abstract: A hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device. A lid covers the hinge and is attached securely to the base. The hinge has an arced surface and a rotating shaft. When the cover is pivoted to a certain angle, the rotating shaft abuts the arced surface to lift up the cover so the cover is selectively distant away from the lid. Therefore, the shape of the electronic device does not need to be disfigured and the cover still does not bump against the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Chi Chen, Chia-Hsiang Chen, Weiming Chen
  • Publication number: 20110062837
    Abstract: A washing machine comprising a cabinet open at an upper portion, a top cover coupled to the upper portion of the cabinet and including an opening for loading and unloading laundry therethrough, a lid assembly rotatably coupled to the top cover to open and close the opening, and a first hinge unit connecting the lid assembly with the top cover and reducing a speed of closing the lid assembly is provided. In the washing machine, the closing speed of the lid assembly is reduced to mitigate shock between the lid assembly and the top cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dongyoon KIM, Youngbae Park, Seongno Yoon, Kichul Cho, Younggon Kim
  • Patent number: 7748082
    Abstract: A damper arrangement is provided for parts of furniture that can be pivoted in relation to each other. The arrangement includes at least one damper having a linear damping course, and at least two abutment parts which can be respectively fixed to one of the parts of the furniture, or can be supported thereon in an especially sliding manner. The abutment parts are interconnected in such a way that they can be pivoted by at least one articulated axis. The damper is arranged in such a way that the direction of the linear damping course thereof is at an angle to a parallel line, deviating (offset) from a vertical line, preferably essentially parallel to the articulated axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventors: Sutterlütti Harald, Herbert Isele
  • Patent number: 7685680
    Abstract: A rotatable slide hinge has a stationary leaf, a moving leaf, a spring, a pivot pin assembly and a guide pin assembly. The stationary leaf has a top and a bottom. The moving leaf is mounted on the bottom of the stationary leaf, sliding and turning relative to the stationary leaf and has a top surface. The spring is attached to the top of the stationary leaf and has a stationary end and a moving end. The pivot pin assembly connects the stationary leaf and the moving leaf and allows the moving leaf to slide relative to the stationary leaf. The guide pin assembly extends through the moving end of the spring, the stationary leaf and the moving leaf to connect the stationary leaf, the spring and the moving leaf and allows the moving leaf to slide and turn relative to the stationary leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Hsiang-Chi Chien, Wei-Chen Kao
  • Patent number: 7546663
    Abstract: A vehicle body hinge mechanism includes at least one hinge set carried by a support plate that retains a pivot pin and a retainer bar in a cantilevered manner. Preferably, the plate is stamped, and the pivot pin supports a lever, such as a gooseneck arm, that will be coupled to the hood. The plate includes a mount that will be carried by peripheral body structure around the hood opening. The retainer bar carries a helically wound spring that secures one end of the spring for resistance to rotation about the axis of the bar. The other end of the spring engages a linkage that urges the lever to pivot toward the open position. Preferably, a stop limit is integrally incorporated in the linkage carried by the plate to stop the lever at a desired hood opening limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: M & C Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20090007379
    Abstract: A hinge assembly (100) includes a main shaft (50), a fixing seat (80), a follower (44), a cam (42) and a first elastic element (30). The fixing seat is fixed with the main shaft. The follower is placed around the shaft, and the fixing seat selectively locks with the follower. The cam is placed around the shaft, and engages with the follower. The first elastic element provides an elastic force to make the cam and the follower resist each other and provides a torsional force to make the cam and the follower rotate together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., SUTECH TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: GUANG-XIANG ZHANG, SHI-JIN LONG, XI-QIU WU, GENG-HUI GUO, CHIH-WEI SU, HSIAO-HUA TU
  • Patent number: 7380312
    Abstract: A cover restricting mechanism is adapted for use in a foldable electronic device. The cover (10) has a first barrel portion (13) at one end thereof. The cover restricting mechanism includes a blocking element and a cushion device (20). The blocking element is secured to and protrudes out of the first barrel portion of the cover. The cushion device includes a sleeve (21) and an elastic element (22). The sleeve includes an extending portion (216) extending axially thereof. One end of the elastic element is secured on the sleeve. The other end of the elastic element protrudes out of the extending portion of the sleeve and abuts the blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Sutech Trading Limited
    Inventors: Peng-Jin Ge, Rui-Hao Chen, Xing-Huang Luo, Ye Liu, Shui-Yuan Qin, Hsiao-Hua Tu
  • Patent number: 7350845
    Abstract: A vehicle body decklid hinge includes at least one hinge set carried by a bracket that retains a pivot pin and a retainer bar in a cantilevered manner. The pivot pin supports a lever, such as a gooseneck strap, that will be coupled to the hood, while the bracket includes a mount that will be carried by peripheral body structure around the decklid opening. The retainer bar carries a helically wound spring that secures one end of the spring for resistance to rotation about the axis of the bar. The other end of the spring engages an adjustor that variably urges the lever to pivot toward the open position. The method and apparatus reduce specificity of components and improve adaptably to various models and styles by reducing adjustments to tension variability in adjusting the biasing force applied to the decklid strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: M & C Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Duffy
  • Patent number: 7140137
    Abstract: A spring loaded holder with a holder plate which is rotatable between a deactivated zone and an activated zone. When the holder plate is manually moved to the activated zone a cam action will be activated to apply a holding force to the holder plate for firmly holding objects of varied thickness. Such holders can be installed in a picture frame for holding a stack of art sheets. For a vertically mounted art frame a displayed art sheet smaller than the internal size of the art frame can also be held by this holder without shifting. Unused art sheets and associated mat boards can be mounted along with the displayed art sheet. Since all art sheets and mat boards are kept together, the change of art sheet display can be easily achieved any time if desired. Such picture frame can also be used for displaying and storing expired calendar books. The holder can be further modified and used in a variety of holding boards including fun boards, bulletin boards and poster boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Cherng Chang
  • Patent number: 6594864
    Abstract: A cushioning device (10, 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Utescheny AG
    Inventors: Verena Epp, Uwe Luksch
  • Patent number: 6539580
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for use in connecting a cover to a frame of a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like. The hinge assembly is arranged so that the cover will auto-close or auto-open depending on the angular orientation of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Wee Loon Jason Lim
  • Publication number: 20030005548
    Abstract: A hinge device coupling a cover to a container body is minimized so as not to project from the container body to achieve a neat appearance, and is simplified to facilitate efficient production and installation. The hinge device includes a housing having a cavity and attached to one of the cover and the container body, a hinge shaft having a cam part rotatably housed in the housing and having a major axis and a minor axis in cross-section, an insert part extended from the cam part to protrude from the housing and connected to the other one of the cover and the container body, and a pair of leaf springs disposed in the housing to press respective outer surfaces of the cam part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Myoung Kim, Jeong-Man Nam
  • Patent number: 6473937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door hinge having an integrated braking and holding function. Said door hinge is comprised of a first hinge half which acts upon a door assembly part, a door, or a door pillar, and of a second hinge halve which acts upon another door assembly part. The door hinge also comprises a hinge pin which pivotally connects both hinge halves to one another. The hinge pin is made of a solid material and is accommodated in at least one hinge eye of a hinge half with a running fit and is accommodated in at least one hinge eye of the other half with a close fit. A braking and holding device which is integrated in the hinge comprises at least one spring-loaded braking and holding body. Said braking and holding body is aligned in a radial manner relative to the hinge pin and interacts with a circumferential profile of the hinge pin, said profile extending over a part of the circumference thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Ed. Scharwaechter GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Morawetz
  • Patent number: 6442800
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door brake which has an opening end stop and which is integrated in a hinge. The hinge is comprised of two hinge halves which are interconnected in a jointed manner by means of a hinge pin. Said hinge halves can alternately engage with one of both door assembly parts, the door, or the door pillar. The hinge pin is connected to the first hinge half in a rotationally fixed manner and is accommodated in the hinge eye of the first hinge half in a rotational manner. In addition, the door brake comprises at least one engaging part which is supported against one of the hinge halves, and has at least one braking or stopping part. Said braking or stopping part is assigned to the engaging part and is supported against the other hinge half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ed. Scharwaechter GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Morawetz
  • Patent number: 6352295
    Abstract: There is described an improved fuel door assembly and methods for assembling same. In one preferred example the fuel door assembly comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation and has a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward the axis of rotation, and a fuel door received in the housing and rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position. The fuel door has a first cam surface and a second cam surface. The retaining surface contacts the first cam surface and urges the fuel door toward the closed position when the fuel door is at the closed position, and contacts the second cam surface and urges the fuel door toward the open position when the fuel door is at the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: American Moto Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst Leitner
  • Patent number: 6289556
    Abstract: A hinge, preferably a furniture hinge, is provided which comprises a hinge arm (1) pivoted on a hinge axle (3) held with a cup-shaped hinge part (4) and provided with a tongue extending over the hinge axle (3) or a cam eccentric to the hinge axle (3) or a metering notch which slide on a part pivoted or movably guided in the hinge part (4) and charged by at least one spring (28) and provided with a slide surface in a way such that a closing moment to the hinge part (4) in the closing region, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 6092263
    Abstract: The invention features a hinge or coupling two panels (P1, P2), one of which at least opens rotatably about an axis (X) parallel to the planes of the said panels, comprising a mobile fixing element (1) on the opening panel, a fixing element on the other panel and linking means (3) between the fixing elements co-operating with elastic return means of the panel opening to at least a stable angular equilibrium position, characterized in that the said return means consists of a ring (4) located in a cavity (10) of the mobile fixing element (1) and capable of being elastically deformed by the pressing action of a cam (30) rotating about a central shaft (5) parallel to the planes of the panels, being carried by the linking means (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Adler S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Boue, Marcel Bourgain
  • 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: 5655261
    Abstract: A self-closing mechanism for a fully concealed hinge, which has a hinge cup for mounting on a door, and a frame wing pivotally supported thereon for attachment to a frame on which the door is mounted. The mechanism includes a combination compression coil spring retainer and plunger which is mounted on the frame wing, and positioned to be pressed against cam surfaces provided on the hinge cup. The cam surfaces are formed such that force applied to the cam surfaces by the plunger will act to maintain the door in open and closed positions, will apply a force to close the door when approaching the closed position, and otherwise will not exert either an opening or a closing force on the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventor: David R. Cress
  • 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: 5546705
    Abstract: A support for holding a closed element, such as a flap or lid in a closed or open position relative to a container has a first and second arm. One of the arms is connected to the container by a first pivot bearing and the other arm is connected to the closing element by a second pivot bearing. The two arms are connected to one another by a third pivot bearing and by a pressure spring operational between the arms. The two arms are supported relative to one another in a first arm position, which corresponds to the closed position, where the pivot bearings are close to one another, or in a second position, which corresponds to the open position, where the pivot bearings are positioned remote from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Huwil-Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Hirtsiefer
  • Patent number: 5517724
    Abstract: A hinge for use in a piece of furniture includes a casing adapted for attachment to a door of the piece of furniture and having a bottom provided with a bump, and a support member for attachment to a wall of the piece of furniture and including at least one bearing insert projecting into the casing for defining at least one joint connection between the support member and the casing. In the area of the joint connection, the bearing insert includes a peripheral cam which cooperates with a closing and locking member in form of a flat spring during opening motion of the hinge. The flat spring is located the area of the casing bottom, approximately parallel thereto, with the central area of the flat spring being supported by the bump of the casing bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Paul Hettich G.m.b.H. & Co.
    Inventor: Ulrich Beneke
  • Patent number: 5488757
    Abstract: A counterbalance device for a mail processing system includes a cover; a base; a support arm fixedly mounted to one of the cover and the base and articulately mounted to the other of the cover and the base such that the cover and the base pivot relative to each other; a device for counterbalancing the one of the cover and the base to create a predetermined force profile throughout a full range of pivoting movement of the one of the cover and the base from a closed position to a fully opened position relative to the other of the cover and the base. The predetermined force profile represents the net force acting on the one of the cover and the base at each point in the full range of pivoting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Cohen, Arnold T. Eventoff, James A. Salomon
  • Patent number: 5430253
    Abstract: A hinged electrical outlet cover biased rotatably about the hinge axis by an M-shaped spring. In one arrangement, the cover is self-closing throughout its entire range of movement between fully open and fully closed positions. In another arrangement, the cover is positively held open in its fully open position and is self-closing over a limited range of movement from its fully closed position to an intermediate open position. The cover and a support member on which it is hinged are designed for quick snap assembly without requiring the use of special tools or separate fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Pratt
  • Patent number: 5386884
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Tensator Ltd.
    Inventor: David Chisholm
  • 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: 5355557
    Abstract: A concealed self-closing hinge for mounting a door on a frame. The door member of the hinge includes a cup formed with vertically aligned slots. The frame member of the hinge includes an arm whose free end is formed with integral pintles which are pivotally received in the slots. A plastic cam is adapted to be slipped onto the free end portion of the arm between the pintles and coacts with a leaf spring to hold the pintles in assembled relation with the slots and also to effect self-closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Amerock Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Cress, Michael J. Bowers, A. Raymond King, IV
  • Patent number: 5111503
    Abstract: A portable telephone set having a cover attached rotatably to a body. When closed, the cover covers and protects a switch portion of the telephone set, while when opened, it is held in a stable position at a predetermined angle relative to the body by means of a cover holding mechanism. The cover is held with respect to the body by the cover holding mechanism so that the cover is disengaged from the body when it is about to be opened forcibly beyond an allowable range of its rotation. Since the cover when opened can function as a sound collector, it is possible to provide a microphone on the body side and attain the reduction in size of the portable telephone set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hisamitsu Takagi
  • Patent number: 5098150
    Abstract: The present invention includes a spring clip hinge for pivotally attaching a cover to the body of a vehicle accessory such as a visor such that the cover is urged toward an open or a closed position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the spring-clip hinge is an integral S-shaped member defining opposed sockets with one socket receiving the accessory body for mounting the hinge to the body, and the remaining socket cooperatively receiving the cover for urging the cover between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Nels R. Smith, Thomas C. VandenBerge
  • 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: 5029362
    Abstract: A furniture hinge has a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm which are interconnected by inner and outer pivot levers. The inner pivot lever carries a control cam within the first hinge arm for cooperating with an internal coil spring so that the hinge can snap between open and closed positions. A transverse pin within the first hinge arm transmits force between the spring and the control cam. The pin is carried in elongate slots which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coil spring. In the closed position of the hinge, the pin engages a snapping section of the control cam and in the open position of the hinge the pin engages a radiused sliding section of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Lama Okovje
    Inventor: Marino Prodan
  • Patent number: 5022117
    Abstract: Cabinet hinge whose door-related part in the form of a cup set in a mortise is articulated to the carcase-related part configured as an elongated supporting arm of inverted U-shaped cross section by two hinge links whose ends are journaled in the cup at one end and on the supporting arm at the other. A closing mechanism is provided in the door-end of the supporting arm and has a cam surface configured nonrotationally on the inner hinge link. A resiliently deformable section of one leg of a substantially U-shaped leaf spring engages the cam surface with bias, and the end remote from the cup of the other leg is fastened inside of the supporting arm by a section of the web of the latter. The inner hinge link has at the end by which it is mounted in the supporting arm two parallel ears formed by tabs cut and bent at right angles from the lateral margins of its end inside of the supporting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Lautenschlager, Gerhard W. Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 4979634
    Abstract: A hold-open hinge mechanism for a molded plastic rainproof cover for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The hinge mechanism comprises an integrally molded pivot pin on the cover member and a hinge member on the cover base which pivotally engages the pivot pin. When the cover member is opened to a given angle, projections on the cover member engage the surface upon which the cover is mounted to releasably retain the cover member in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul V. Begley
  • Patent number: 4974289
    Abstract: A hinge is made of two elements articulated to one another. One element constitutes at least one fork, supporting the hinge pin, and the other element constitutes at least one hub fitted on the hinge pin supported by the fork. Each bearing of the fork and each hub is connected by a tenon to a leaf of the hinge. The hubs and bearings of the two elements are accommodated in a housing of elastic material such as a metal or other appropriate material, such as a plastic or the like. The housing is rotationally connected with the bearings of each fork, with a longitudinal slot being provided in the housing, arranged parallel to the hinge pin. The slot is designed to allow tenons of both elements of the hinge to pass. The width of the slot is determined, at least by correspondence of the tenon of each hub, as a function of the maximum desired opening angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Gerard Piard
  • Patent number: 4972546
    Abstract: An over-center hinge for cabinet doors with a door-related hinge part in the form of a recess-mounting cup in which one end of each of two links is journaled whose other ends are journaled on a jamb-related hinge part in the form of an elongated supporting arm. On the side of the inner link facing the outer link a cam is articulated with its free end facing the supportring arm and is urged by a spring inserted between the cam and the pivot eye of the inner link against a counter-surface formed by a section of the inner wall of the supporting arm such that its face forces the hinge resiliently into the closed position upon passing a dead point in the closing movement. The section of the wall of the supporting arm that forms the counter-surface is provided at least in the surface area cooperating with the cam with a smooth, wear-resistant and friction-reducing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager, GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Lautenschalger, Jr., Gerhard Lautenschlager