Rolling hinge assembly
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly, comprising:
- a base member with a front surface;
a pivoting body with a front end and a rear end, the pivoting body being attached to and pivotable relative to the base member about an axis that is rear of the base front surface, the pivoting body including a friction reducing member biased against the base front surface, and the friction reducing member being retractable relative to the pivoting body in a rear-to-forward direction, whereinthe friction reducing member is maintained by a plate that is maintained in a slidable relationship within a track in the pivoting body, andthe front surface has a first inclined portion and the pivoting body is maintained in a rest position with the friction reducing member abutting an apex in the front surface, the pivoting body is pivotable in a first direction which causes the friction reducing member to move along the first inclined portion while retracting forward relative to the pivoting body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge assembly includes a pivoting body attached to a base with a front surface. The pivoting body has a front end and rear end and at least one friction reducing member biased rearwardly against the front surface of the body. The friction reducing member is retractable relative to the pivoting body substantially parallel to the direction of the bias. The front surface has an inclined portion and an apex. When the pivoting body is in a rest position the at least one friction reducing member is maintained at the apex. The pivoting body is pivotable in a first direction to an activation that causes the friction reducing member to roll along the inclined portion with the friction reducing member retracting in the forward direction against the bias. When force is removed from the pivoting body in the activation position, the bias against the contoured front surface returns the pivoting body to the rest position via indirect forces.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A hinge assembly, comprising:
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a base member with a front surface; a pivoting body with a front end and a rear end, the pivoting body being attached to and pivotable relative to the base member about an axis that is rear of the base front surface, the pivoting body including a friction reducing member biased against the base front surface, and the friction reducing member being retractable relative to the pivoting body in a rear-to-forward direction, wherein the friction reducing member is maintained by a plate that is maintained in a slidable relationship within a track in the pivoting body, and the front surface has a first inclined portion and the pivoting body is maintained in a rest position with the friction reducing member abutting an apex in the front surface, the pivoting body is pivotable in a first direction which causes the friction reducing member to move along the first inclined portion while retracting forward relative to the pivoting body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hinge assembly, comprising:
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a base member; a pivoting body with a front end and a rear end, and attached to the base member with a friction reducing member attached to the pivoting body in abutment with a surface on the base member, the pivoting body being rotatable relative to the base member, wherein the friction reducing member is maintained by a plate that is maintained in a slidable relationship within a track in the pivoting body, and the pivoting body is pivotable from a rest position with the friction reducing member in a first position against the base member surface to an activation position with the friction reducing member in a second position against the base member surface, and wherein the friction reducing member moves against the base member from the first position to the second position while retracting relative to the pivoting body when the pivoting body is pivoted from the rest position to the activation position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 22, 23, 24)
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20. A hinge assembly, comprising:
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a base member defining a rolling surface with a lower ramp portion and an upper ramp portion that meet at an apex; a pivoting body extending from a front end to a rear end and being attached to the base member via rotatable engagement, the pivoting body being rotatable relative to the base member about an axis positioned rear of the rolling surface; a friction reducing member comprising a bearing maintained by a plate that is maintained in a slidable relationship within a track in the pivoting body, the plate and friction reducing member being reciprocable relative to the pivoting body in a rear-to-forward direction and biased relative to the pivoting body toward the rear direction, wherein the friction reducing member is maintained against the rolling surface in an intermediate position at the apex by the rearward bias, the pivoting body is pivotable about the axis in a first direction from the intermediate position to a lowered position with the bearing rolling along the lower ramp, and the pivoting body is pivotable about the axis in a second direction opposite from the first direction from the intermediate position to a raised position by disengaging the bearings from the apex. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification