Having Axially Biased Camming Surface Patents (Class 16/303)
  • Patent number: 6652030
    Abstract: A chair seat that is movable between an upright and a forward position includes a spring mechanism that biases the seat toward the upright position. The spring mechanism includes camming structures that utilize both compressional and torsional forces from the spring to bias the seat toward the upright position. The compression of the spring exerts a positive force that must be overcome before the seat can be moved out of its upright position. The chair seat is constructed from a number of discrete components that are secured together without the use of welding or separate fasteners, such as via snap-fits. The discrete components include positioning tabs, special shapes, and other features that prevent them from being improperly assembled. The components of the chair seat may all be constructed out of suitable durable plastics, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and glass filled thermoplastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Irwin Seating Company
    Inventors: John Conner, Tim Coffield, Robert Russell, Steve Finney
  • Patent number: 6612668
    Abstract: An articulate base for a portable computer, a portable computer having such a base and a method of configuring a portable computer. In one embodiment, the base includes a front segment and a rear segment pivotable with respect to one another about a hinge to move the base from a flat configuration to an angled configuration. In the angled configuration, the hinge is elevated and the front and rear segments are both inclined upwardly toward the hinge. This allows a keyboard 80 carried by the upper face of the base to be presented to the user at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung Quoc Doan
  • Patent number: 6543088
    Abstract: A bottom portion 11a is formed on an external end portion of a support sleeve portion 11 which is located on an external side, and an engagement recess 43 is formed in an inner peripheral surface of a support sleeve portion 21 which is located on an internal side. That end face of the engagement recess 43 which faces the support sleeve portion 11 side serves as an engagement surface 44. An engagement piece 45 is formed on one end portion of a hinge body 3. The engagement piece 45 is elastically deformed such that its distal end portion is displaced radially inward of the hinge body 3, thereby the engagement piece 45 is allowed to extend beyond a bottom surface of a key groove 41. Thereafter, the engagement body 45 is elastically restored such that its distal end portion is displaced radially outward of the hinge body 3, thereby the engagement piece 45 is engaged with the engagement recess 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Koshikawa
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6530121
    Abstract: A hinge unit is formed of a case with an inside wall, a rotating cam freely rotatably accommodated inside the case, a slide cam accommodated inside the case such that the slide cam is prevented from rotating relative to the case and is moved freely in an axial direction along the inside wall of the case, and an urging device accommodated inside the case to urge the slide cam toward the rotating cam. Cam surfaces are formed on the rotating cam and the slide cam to abut against each other. The cam surfaces has a contact range from a full-surface contact to a partial contact according to a relative rotational angle of the slide cam and rotating cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6493542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement at a cellular mobile telephone apparatus (1), comprising a protective hatch or flip (2) pivotably arranged on a housing (3) of said apparatus (1). The flip (2) is pivotable around an axis and arranged to at option physically cover at least parts of a front surface (5) on said apparatus (1), said axle comprises at least one active hinge means arranged in a cavity (7) each, at the end of said housing (3), of which at least one of said hinge means is aimed to positively urge said flip (2) to take a certain predetermined open position, when released. The active hinge means (6) comprise a shaft arrangement, colinear with said axis, comprising at least one unit (6) built from an end piece (9) and an elongated core (10) fixedly connected thereto, around which core (10) a torsion spring (11) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Stig Frohlund
  • Publication number: 20020069482
    Abstract: An abutment member 4 of a first hinge member A1 is pressed against a cam member 8 of a second hinge member A2 by a coiled spring 6. By this, an interval between an enlarged diameter portion 31 of an insertion member 3 of the first hinge member A1 and a connecting plate portion 72 of the second hinge member A2, is restricted to a predetermined interval. In other words, an interval between the end faces 31a, 72a of the enlarged diameter portion 31 and the connecting plate portion 72 is restricted to a predetermined interval. A friction member 10 composed of an elastic material such as a rubber is disposed between the end faces 31a, 72a. The thickness of the friction member 10 in the opposing direction of the end faces 31a, 72a is larger than the interval between the end faces 31a, 72a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Oshima, Katsuya Imai
  • Patent number: 6401298
    Abstract: A furniture hinge comprises a hinge casing and a hinge arm, each adapted to be mounted on different furniture parts and connected by means of hinge links, and a pressure spring acting on one hinge link. The pressure spring is a leg spring which is mounted on a hinge axle connecting a hinge link to the hinge arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Günter Lenz
  • Patent number: 6389611
    Abstract: A hinge device for use to support a seat and seat lid of a toilet bowl openably and closably is provided which can also be implemented even without any rubber ring and provide a delicately controlled feeling with the sea and seat lid when being opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Oriya Fujita
  • Publication number: 20020038493
    Abstract: A hinge structure for use in an electronic device such as a digital camera for connecting two elements and making the two elements turn against each other. A gear unit is provided, which has two gears engaging with each other and turning in opposite directions. The two gears connect respectively with the two elements. When one element is turned in one direction, through the transmission of the gear unit, another element will be driven to turn in the opposite direction, to thereby change the angle between the two elements and enhance picture taking flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Ko, Heem-Hoe Chee
  • 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: 6321415
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided in connection with a cellular mobile telephone, having a protective hatch or flip pivotably arranged on a housing of the telephone. The flip is pivotable around an axle and is arranged to be able to physically cover at least parts of a keypad on the telephone. The axle includes passive hinges at its one end for establishing a physical pivotable connection along an axis of pivot for the flip, and an active hinge arrangement at its other end for positively urging the flip to occupy at least one predetermined position. The active hinge arrangement is arranged in a substantially closed compartment or cavity at one end of the housing and is formed from a shaft and a combined torsion/pressure spring arranged thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Stig Frohlund
  • Patent number: 6305050
    Abstract: There is provided a hinge device for a foldable apparatus which comprises a first member provided with a first hinge sleeve rigidly secured thereto and with a first abutment peripheral edge and a second member provided with a second hinge sleeve with a second abutment peripheral edge slidably held in abutment with the first abutment peripheral edge; wherein said hinge device further comprises a first disk unrotatably fitted into said first hinge sleeve and a second disk unrotatably fitted into said second hinge sleeve; and either the first abutment facet of the first disk or the second abutment facet of the second disk being provided with a plurality of engaging recesses arranged at predetermined angular positions thereof; the other being provided with a plurality of engaging projections adapted to become engaged with the each engaging recesses under the effect of resilient force of a coil spring, the engagement of said engaging projections and said engaging recesses being switched by an opening or closing mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Imai
  • Patent number: 6292980
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hinge mechanism for use in a portable phone having a phone body and a cover, the hinge mechanism configured to mechanically couple the cover to the phone body. The hinge mechanism includes at least one hinge module mounted to the phone body and configured to hinge the cover with respect to the phone body for opening and closing the cover. The hinge module includes a hinge housing having a bottom wall and a pair of opposite lateral end walls spaced from each other, one of the lateral walls having a hole. The hinge housing also has a pair of opposite longitudinal end walls spaced from each other. A hinge shaft is mounted in the housing and has a mountain-shaped portion provided with a pair of opposite cam surfaces at one longitudinal portion thereof and a shaft portion at the other longitudinal portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltc.
    Inventors: Young-Jin Yi, Young-Bae Ji, Cheon-Gyun Oh
  • Patent number: 6178597
    Abstract: An operative hinge for use with an opening/closing body is provided which comprises a hinge case to be installed to a toilet bowl body for operating the opening/closing body; a shaft provided rotatably within the hinge case to support the opening/closing body; a stationary cam fixed within the hinge case and having formed therein a central through-hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated; a cam provided within the hinge case and having formed therein a central through-hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated to be slidable on, and rotatable with, the rotating shaft; and a resilient means for urging the rotatable sliding cam toward the stationary can, the hinge further comprising, to further positively control the rotation or the rotating means, a damping means consisting of a rubber ring fitted on the rotating shaft and interposed between the outer surface of the rotating shaft and the inner wall of the hinge case; and a viscous oil applied between the outer surface of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naokazu Suzuki, Isao Nagashima, Akira Sorimachi, Oriya Fujita
  • Patent number: 6178598
    Abstract: An adjustable hinge assembly for swingably joining hinging panel members together, where improved mounting capability is provided, and adjustability of a pin and the hinge components in multiple directions relative to the hinging panels and to each other is provided, where a base member is mounted to a first hinging member and a pin-carrying member is connected to the base, and a base member mounted to a second hinging member and maintains an adjustable pin-receiving component thereon. Stops are provided to regulate the pivot of the members over a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Creely, III, Gert Berg, Andreas A. Bolinas, David Giles, Thomas D. Goham, Thomas E. Hall, Lynn A. Handley, Eli J. Holtman, Stefan M. Koveal, H. Allen Riblett, Wolfgang Strasky
  • Patent number: 6175990
    Abstract: In order to fabricate a hinge device for opening and closing an opening and closing member which is opened and closed one-sidedly or relatively in respect of a main body of the device in a small size, with a structure as simple as possible and inexpensively, the device is constituted by a shaft installed with a flange portion at one end portion thereof, a fixing member having a rotational lock which is engaged with other end portion of the shaft such that the fixing member does not come of f the other end portion and fixed to one connecting portion of the opening and closing member which is constituted to be rotatable along with the shaft, a fixed cam having a rotational lock which is fixed to other connecting portion of the opening and closing member while rotatably inserting the rotating shaft through a central portion thereof on a side of the flange portion of the rotating shaft, a rotary sliding cam which is installed between the fixed cam and the fixing member, engaged with the shaft inserted through a c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Kato, Oriya Fujita
  • Patent number: 6158085
    Abstract: In order to provide a closing device for an original cover in which a spring case is not cracked or broken during use even if zircon by which the spring case can be cheaply manufactured and which has excellent mechanical characteristics is especially used, the closing device has the spring case made of a synthetic resin provided for either an attaching member attached to a machine body or a supporting member for holding the original cover rotatably connected to the attaching member via a hinge pin and the rotation moment of the original cover attached to the supporting member is controlled by using a compression force of a compression coil spring housed in the spring case, wherein a reinforcing frame member made of a metal for reinforcing the spring case is attached to the spring case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Oshiro
  • Patent number: 6148480
    Abstract: A hinge construction for a two part folding mobile phone body has a spindle provided at one end with a torsion spring for applying torque in a closing direction to the two parts of the phone body. A first cam member is mounted on the spindle for movement axially thereof and has a portion engaged with one part of the phone body to prevent reciprocal rotation therebetween. A second cam member is attached to the other part of the phone body. A helical compression spring surrounding the spindle urges the first cam member into engagement with the second cam member. Push-button is disposed at the opposite end of the spindle for applying axial thrust to the first cam member to release the first cam member from the second cam member and allow opening movement of the body parts out of the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Paul Cooke
  • Patent number: 6141831
    Abstract: A hinge adapted to pivotably connect a hinged member to a device housing is provided. The hinge is adapted to maintain the hinged member in one of an open position and a closed position relative to the device housing. The hinge includes a first hinge part having an axis and a cam follower. The first hinge part is adapted to be connected to one of the hinged member and the device housing. A second hinge part is provided which is aligned with and rotatable about the axis of the first hinge part. The second hinge part has a cam surface. The cam follower on the first hinge part contacts the cam surface. The cam surface has a first position and a second position. The second hinge part is adapted to be connected to the other of the hinged member and the device housing. A spring is provided which urges the cam follower against the cam surface with a spring force. The first and second hinge parts each have an axial bore defined therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: CEMA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Novin, David A. Lowry
  • Patent number: 6122801
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism in provided with a first hinge portion, a second hinge portion, and a third hinge portion coupled to said first hinge portion. The third hinge portion includes a first end and a second end. A first axle is coupled to the first end of the third hinge portion. A second axle is coupled and locked to the second end of the third hinge portion. A compressible resilient device is abutted to the second axle. The second hinge portion is coupled to the third hinge portion via the first axle and the second axle. The second axle comprises an engaging member and the third hinge portion comprises a groove, wherein the engaging member mates with the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Armin Reichert, Karl-Heinz Rademacher
  • Patent number: 6115886
    Abstract: A hinge apparatus for portable electronic devices such as portable telephones and handheld personal computers can be manufactured with a small and simple structure at a low cost. The hinge apparatus has a shaft with a flange, a cam engaged with an end of the shaft and; a slide cam engaged with the shaft between the cam and the flange. The slide cam is rotatably with the shaft and slidably in an axial direction. A compression spring is rolled around the shaft, and elastically provided between the slide cam and the flange. The cam has a pair of projections on one side surface at opposite positions, and the slide cam has cam members press-contacted with the projections. Otherwise, provided is a hinge apparatus which connects a microphone and a earphone of a portable telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Oriya Fujita
  • Patent number: 6091938
    Abstract: A radio phone having a microphone attachment for electrically connecting the microphone and an audio circuit. The radio phone having a flip with the microphone embedded therein, a telephone body and connecting device for connecting the flip and the telephone body to hingedly and electrically connect the microphone with the telephone body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Soo Go
  • Patent number: 6085387
    Abstract: A hinge for coupling a body and a button cover of a radiotelephone has a can, a first member, a second member and a spring. The can has an partially closed end and an open end. A retaining protrusions are provided to close the open end by way of bending. The first member has a shaft protruding through the partially closed end of the can and two protrusions defining a cam follower. The second member has a cam portion interacting with the cam follower. The cam portion includes at least a peak and two valleys separated by the peak and slopes connecting the peak and the valleys. The spring pushes the second member toward the first member. The first member, the second member and the spring are contained within the can in turn. Then, the protrusions are bended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Phoenix Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Soo Han
  • Patent number: 6070298
    Abstract: According to the invention, in order to obtain hinges which, even if small-sized, can create a great rotational torque and, moreover, permit ready alignment of details with the rotational moment of an opening/closing body, such as a lavatory seat or lid or accentuation of any part of the action thereof, there is provided a pair of composite torque hinges each consisting of; a rotating cylinder disposed to be rotatable around a fixed shaft; a cam mechanism which is provided within the rotating cylinder and on which a compression spring is caused to work so as to control the rotational torque of the rotating cylinder; and a torsion spring which is also provided within said rotating cylinder and functions in a direction to cancel the rotational torque of the rotating cylinder in a specific rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Ratoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Sorimachi
  • Patent number: 6065187
    Abstract: A hinge assembly (2800) for a wireless communication device (100) having a body (104), and a cover (102) including a barrel (216) integrally formed thereon. The hinge assembly (2800) includes a follower (2802), a cam (2804) coupled to the follower (2802) and a spring (2806) coupled to the cam (2804) and coiled around a segment of the follower (2802). The hinge components can be fully assembled and self contained apart from manufacture of the wireless communication device (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Mischenko
  • Patent number: 6048125
    Abstract: An article includes an articulation pin (4) engaged in first and second elements (2,3A), to secure the same together, with a tongue and groove respectively formed in the elements and pin to prevent relative rotation. A blocking arrangement fixes the second element and the pin to prevent relative rotation when they are in a predefined relative axial and angular position. The first and second elements (2,3A) and also the pin (4) cooperate so that the application of a force between the first elements (2) and the second element (3A) at least equal to a predetermined threshold, when the pin (4) and the second element (3A) are in the predefined relative axial and angular position, produces a relative axial movement between the pin and the second element, freeing the blocking arrangement so that the pin is free to rotate in the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: I.T.W. de France
    Inventors: Emile Droche, Eric Leverger, Olivier Dordet
  • Patent number: 5996178
    Abstract: A foldable device (100) includes two housings (102, 108) rotatably coupled by a hinge (3800) about an axis of rotation (211). The hinge (3800) has a stationary element (3802) and a movable element (3804) positioned in a pocket (3858) of one of the housings (102, 108). The movable element (3802) is restricted to movement along the axis of rotation (211). This prevents the generation of audible clicking noises that are characteristic of existing hinge arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Patrick Murray
  • Patent number: 5996179
    Abstract: A device for preventing inadvertent pressing of push button keys of an article, including an upper cover means, a turning axle means, and a pivot joint means. When an upper cover plate of the upper cover means is lifted, pointed portions of two curved projections of a relay axle of the turning axle means will displace along end recesses to pointed portions of two curved ends, so that the relay axle presses a retractable spring and displace radially in a transverse direction, so that its end wings extend into a wing chamber while two side wings extend into an end chamber. When the pointed portions of the two curved projections pass over the pointed portions of the two curved ends, since the pointed portions of the curved projections lose support thereof, they turn axially along the end recesses by means of the resilience of the spring until being positioned. Hence, the upper cover plate can automatically be uplifted about a certain angle to facilitate pressing of the push button keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Chin-Fu Huong & Li-Hua Liu
    Inventor: Chin-Fu Huong
  • Patent number: 5996132
    Abstract: A compound torque hinge comprising a first rotating shaft rotatably mounted through a partition wall within a hinge case having the partition wall; a first rotation control working on the first rotating shaft and mounted on one side of the partition wall of the hinge case; and a second rotation control mean coaxially mounted on the other side of the partition wall of the hinge case. The first rotating shaft is connected to the second rotating shaft of the second rotation control. The first rotating is a cam mechanism provided with spring and the second rotation control is a fluid damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Sorimachi
  • Patent number: 5970819
    Abstract: An operating device of an opening-closing body is supported on both sides on a single rotating shaft and controls the turning torque of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Katoh
  • Patent number: 5966776
    Abstract: A hinge device is disclosed for interconnecting a first member with a second member for relative rotational movement, the hinge device comprising: a rod means connected with the first member; a sleeve member for receiving the rod means for relative rotation therewithin, the sleeve member being connected with the second member and having an interior surface extending longitudinally therethrough, the interior surface being in contact with the outer surface of the shaft means in order to provide a friction force between the shaft means and the sleeve member, the interior surface including a plurality of contact regions for exerting different friction forces on the shaft means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Strawberry Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Ona
  • Patent number: 5915440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge mechanism for a foldable device. The previously known devices of this type do not stay in the open position in the desired manner, but they either open too much or close too easily. The hinge mechanism according to the invention locks the device in the open position, from which it does not open further even by using more force. Closing takes place using little force, whereby the amount of the force required is easy to adjust by altering the shape of the hinge pins. The hinge pin is divided into two parts (10a, 10b). The first hinge pin (10a) is locked in axial transition to the first hinge lug (8a), and the second hinge pin (10b) is locked into the second lug (8b) correspondingly. One end surface of the hinge pin has ridges (12a, 12b), and the other end surface has corresponding slots (11a, 11b). In the open position of the device the ridges and slots are matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
    Inventor: Markku Repo
  • Patent number: 5799371
    Abstract: A pivoting joint connected between a first part and a second part of an instrument, permitting the first part to be turned relative to the second part and retained at one of a series of angular positions, including a first coupling member with a ratchet fastened to the first part of the instrument, a shaft mounted in an axle hole in the second part of the instrument, a sleeve and a spring holder mounted around the shaft within the axle hole of the second part of the instrument and forced by spring means to hold down the shaft, and a second coupling member fixedly mounted on the shaft and having a ratchet meshed with the ratchet of the first coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Tamarack Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jim Lin
  • Patent number: 5724683
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism for a toilet bowl seat or seat lid has improved control of rotation due to torque exerted by a cam member working with a compression spring and slider, such that the torque varies depending on the angle of the seat or seat lid to the plane of the toilet bowl. The slider and cam member are mounted on a shaft having an axially directed oval hole in which a complementary shaped hinge pin is received to connect the seat and the seat lid to the mechanism. A stop mechanism prevents the shaft from turning beyond a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Sorimachi, Kanetsugu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5715576
    Abstract: A hinge device for coupling two rotatable members includes a stud and a shaft extended from one rotatable member and a barrel secured on the other rotatable member. The stud has a coarse wedge shaped projection. The barrel includes a coarse frustum shaped inner peripheral surface for engaging with a coarse frustum shaped outer peripheral surface of an actuator. The actuator includes a notch having a coarse tapered surface for engaging with the coarse projection. A spring may bias the coarse surfaces to engage with each other for allowing the rotatable members to be maintained in any suitable relative angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Tai-Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 5704094
    Abstract: An electronic device (100) that has an housing assembly and electrical circuit therein includes a first housing portion (116), a second housing portion (118) coupled to the first housing portion (116), and a cam assembly (102) rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions (116, 118). The cam assembly (102) includes a cam (220), a cam follower (205), and a spring (224). The spring (224) resiliently biases the cam (220) and the cam follower (205) into engagement. At least one of the cam (220) and cam follower (205) is depressible within one of the first and second housing portions (116, 118) for permitting their assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hartigan, Scott R. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5682644
    Abstract: The self-closing hinge assembly has a pair of cam members which are biased against each other by a pair of coil springs. The outer coil spring serves to bias the cam members together under a first restoring force and is effective during an initial opening of a door, for example to a 90.degree. position. The second inner spring becomes compressed only after the outer coil spring has been compressed. Compression of the second coil spring occurs as a door is opened beyond the 90.degree. position. The door may be held in one of two dwell positions corresponding to the cam surfaces on the movable cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Component Hardware Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Bohacik, Bernard Parisi
  • Patent number: 5673459
    Abstract: Deployment hinge apparatus comprises a stationary U-shaped bracket including a flange defining a retention recess. A hinge arm for supporting an operating structure such as a communication antenna reflector is pivotally mounted on the stationary bracket for movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. The hinge arm includes a deployment and latching cam which extends to a projecting nose member. A latch arm is pivotally mounted at one end to the stationary bracket and includes a cam follower at its other end operatively engageable with the cam. A spring biases the cam follower into engagement with the cam and is thereby effective to rotate the hinge arm from the stowed position to the deployed position such that, in the deployed position, the nose member and the cam follower are together snugly received in the retention recess, locking the hinge arm in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.
    Inventor: Varouj G. Baghdasarian
  • Patent number: 5628089
    Abstract: A radio telephone (100) has a hinge (301) for joining a body (101) a cover (103) along an axis. The hinge (301) contains the axial force generated by an urging mechanism (403,404,405) by locating the urging mechanism (403,404,405) in a can (303) and attaching a cap (305) to the can (303).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Wilcox, Brian J. Hassemer, Stephen J. Gaynes
  • Patent number: 5479678
    Abstract: A hinge includes a first clevis (30), defining a vee-block support (12) and a first limiter surface (44, 46, 48). A cylindrical hinge shaft is supported by the vee-block (12). A second clevis (140) is affixed to the shaft, whereby the second clevis may rotate in response to torques. The second clevis has a limiter surface (148) which coacts with the first limiter to limit rotation of the shaft and second clevis past the deployed state. The second clevis (140) has a cam follower (158) at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation (2). A cam (100, 104) affixed to the first clevis (30) rotates about a cam axis (3'). The deployed-state engagement between the cam and the follower snugs one end of the shaft into the vee-block, while the rotation limiters snug the other end. A rotational driver (50, 54, 70, 75, 90, 110) urges the cam (100, 104) to rotate in a direction which tends to move the second clevis (140) from the stowed state toward the deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corp.
    Inventors: David G. Reed, Philip Olikara
  • Patent number: 5398378
    Abstract: A hinge includes a housing, a barrel rotatably engaged in the housing, a shaft extended in the housing and the barrel, two rings engaged on the shaft and movable along the shaft, springs engaged on the shaft for biasing the rings toward each other, one of the rings has a pair of helical surfaces, and the other ring has two projections for slidably engaging with the helical surfaces. The rings are separated from each other to compress the springs when the door is opened, and the rings are forced toward each other by the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Chi-Chung Lin
  • 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: 5274882
    Abstract: In a hinge mechanism, a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion are urged toward predetermined angular relationships relative to one another. A force, directed outwardly from the first hinge portion, is applied by an axle pivotally connecting the first and second hinge portions and having a V-shaped tip against a V-shaped groove in the second hinge portion, urging the V-shaped tip and groove to engage. In addition to being urged toward predetermined angular relationships, the first and second hinge portions are kept in predetermined angular relationships until a torsional force is applied to one of the hinge portions to overcome forces keeping the V-shaped tip and groove in engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ericsson GE Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Per-Hakan Persson
  • Patent number: 5222260
    Abstract: Disclosed is a toilet seat cover closure device responsive to the flow of water in a toilet tank during a flushing operation to operate a push pin to urge the cover from a substantially vertical position to a horizontal position over a toilet seat on a toilet bowl. In a first embodiment the push pin is operated by a bowden wire in response to the pressure of water filling the water tank. In a second embodiment the push pin is operated by a cable arrangement responsive to the lowering of the water in the toilet tank during the first part of the flushing operation. With both embodiments a dampening mechanism is provided to control the rate of descent of the cover, comprising a spring-biased cam element cooperating with cam faces on the cover pivot shaft connected to move with said cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventor: Dean E. Piper
  • Patent number: 5205015
    Abstract: A door hinge with automatic returning means composed of; a male hinge member (1), a female hinge member (2), an inner sleeve (3), a transmission rod (4), main spring (5), a driving element (6), a buffer spring (7) and a retainer (8), in which, the male and female hinge members will take an angle of rotation in anti-clockwise when the door is proceeding to its open position, and in turn to effect the driving element and transmission rod to rotate in synchronized operation respectively. When the movement for driving element is being effected through a helical motion of external/internal thread engagement, and with the restraint imposed onto this element by outer sleeve of female hinge member, this element will move upward to press the main spring to retract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: Hao-Tang Huang
  • Patent number: 5138743
    Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet has a door closing device integral with a door top hinge member to fit within the door. The mechanism includes a bearing member secured to the door and a cam member nonrotatably secured to the hinged pin below the bearing member and having a cam follower engaging a cam surface on the lower face of the bearing member. A spring is secured around the lower end of the hinge pin to force the cam member upward against the bearing member and its cam surface, with the cam surface and a cam follower on the cam member being configured to provide a closing bias when the door is near the closed position and detent positions when the door is opened a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5052078
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus has a body portion with a keyboard on a front upper part thereof, and a display portion which is connected to a higher position at the rear of the body portion through a hinge portion such that the display portion is folded down and pulled up with respect to the body portion. The display portion is provided with a large-sized display screen such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) on a front surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takashi Hosoi
  • Patent number: 5039153
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a housing which is adapted to be mounted to the roof structure of a vehicle and a generally L-shaped pivot rod with one end locked to the housing and an opposite end pivotally mounted to a vanity mirror frame. The pivot rod includes an offset portion defining a cam which engages a cam surface on the frame to control the pivotal motion of the frame with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lindberg, Craig Robbins
  • Patent number: 5033162
    Abstract: A hinge for a cover of a cooking vat, comprising an axle (3) mounted on a bearing (4) secured to the vat and on which pivots the cover, as well as at least one compressible coil spring (5) whose one end (6) is secured to the cover (1) and whose other end (7) is connected to the vat (2). The spring (5) comprises a braking device which comprises a first and a second element (8 and 9) connected for relative rotation, respectively to the ends (6, 7) of the spring and comprising couping means having cam surfaces (12, 13) for axial driving and for braking adapted to compress the spring (5) so as to obtain a shock absorption at the end of the opening movement of the cover. The hinge is applicable particularly to the covers of electric deep fat fryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Moulinex (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Robert C. J. Jacob, Sylvain A. B. Giffard