ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HINGE

• US 3,857,625 A
• Filed: 07/16/1973
• Issued: 12/31/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bertram M. Shean, Burke J. Crane
• Original Assignee: Bertram M. Shean, Burke J. Crane
• Inventors: Crane, Burke J., Shean, Bertram M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/379,758
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 339/4,5,8 16/149,169
• US Class Current: 439/31
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/102 Pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/28 tubular
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members

Abstract

An electrical connector pivot hinge comprising jamb and door hinge portions each having a knuckle. The jamb knuckle is formed with a through bore, and the door knuckle is formed with a partial bore. Both bores are axially aligned. A pivot tube is located within both bores, and a sleeve bearing housed within the jamb knuckle envelopes the portion of the pivot tube located within the jamb knuckle bore to provide relative rotation between the knuckles. An electrical conductor extends through passageways formed in both the jamb and door hinge portions as well as the bores of the knuckles so that the hinge serves the dual functions of both a pivot hinge and an electrical connector.

Claims

1. An electrical connector hinge comprising a hinge jamb portion having a knuckle and a hinge door portion also having a knuckle with the jamb knuckle being formed with a through bore and the door knuckle being formed with a partial bore with both bores being axially aligned, a pivot tube located within both bores and having a tight fit with the adjacent surface of the door bore and a loose fit with the adjacent surface of the jamb bore, a sleeve bearing housed within the jamb knuckle to envelope the portion of the pivot tube located therein and having a tight fit with the adjacent surface of the jamb bore and a loose fit permitting relative rotation with the adjacent and enveloped portion of the pivot tube, and an electrical cable extending through the passageway formed by the bore of the pivot tube within both knuckles.

2. The inge of claim 1 including retaining means coupled to an end of the pivot tube adjacent the sleeve bearing to limit thereBy the axial movement of the pivot tube relative the sleeve thus locking the two hinge portions together.

3. The hinge of claim 1 in which the end of the pivot tube located within the door knuckle is slotted with the electrical cable passing through the slot.

4. The hinge of claim 1 in which a cap covers the end of the through bore of the jamb knuckle removed from the door knuckle to enclose thereby a central portion of the electrical cable within the hinge knuckles.

5. The hinge of claim 1 in which a central portion of the electrical cable is helically wound within the confines of the pivot tube.

6. The hinge of claim 1 in which the pivot tube is formed with a centrally disposed bearing flange housed within a counterbore located within the door knuckle to support thereby the hinge door portion on the jamb door portion.

7. The hinge of claim 6 in which the pivot tube is formed with a smaller diameter on one side of the bearing flange with the sleeve bearing loosely enveloping the smaller diameter portion of the pivot tube.

8. An electrical connector hinge comprising a first hinge portion having a knuckle and a second hinge portion also having a knuckle with the first knuckle being formed with a through bore and the second knuckle being formed with a partial bore with both bores being axially aligned, a pivot tube located within both bores and having a tight fit with the adjacent surface of the second bore and a loose fit with the adjacent surface of the first bore, a sleeve bearing housed within the first knuckle to envelope the portion of the pivot tube located therein and having a tight fit with the adjacent surface of the through bore and a loose fit permitting relative rotation with the adjacent and enveloped portion of the pivot tube, and an electrical cable extending through the passageway formed by the bore of the pivot tube within both knuckles.

9. The hinge of claim 8 including retaining means coupled to an end of the pivot tube adjacent the sleeve bearing to limit thereby the axial movement of the pivot tube relative the sleeve thus locking the two hinge portions together.

10. The hinge of claim 9 in which the retaining means is a split ring located within a groove formed in the pivot tube.