HINGE DEVICE

• US 20130205540A1
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nifco Korea Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nifco Korea Inc.
• Inventors: KIM, Joon Seob
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/65
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/20 in hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/00 Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence ; xerographic printers for data processors per se G06K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B

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.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A hinge device comprising:

a housing adapted to be fixed to a main body of a product;

a pivotal lever adapted to be fixed to a cover of the product and having a hinge connector attached to a rear lower portion thereof, the hinge connector being rotationally coupled to an upper end of the housing;

a compressive coil spring installed in the housing; and

a slider installed in an upper portion of the housing and elastically supported by the compressive coil spring to contact with a lower end face of the hinge connector of the pivotal lever at an upper end thereof,

wherein the pivotal lever includes a cam at a lower portion thereof having a cam center, an outer cam surface and a nose in which a distance from the center to the outer cam surface is gradually increased to the nose and then reduced again, and

the slider includes a bearing surface having front and rear portions and a peak between the front and rear portions to gradually increase a height to the peak at the front portion and reduce the height from the peak so that when the nose of the cam passes through the peak of the bearing surface, a direction to which an elastic force of the compressive coil spring is applied is changed.

3. A hinge device according to claim 2, wherein the cam is formed around the hinge connector and is integrally formed together.

4. A hinge device according to claim 3, wherein the housing has a pair of hinge holes formed at an upper portion thereof, and the hinge connector has a hinge hole rotationally coupled to an upper portion of the housing,

the hinge device further comprising a hinge shaft inserted into and coupled to the hinge hole of the housing and the hinge holes of the pivotal lever to rotationally support the pivotal lever and the cover.