Articulated hinge cooperating with an energy storage device capable of automatically opening and holding open an unlatched compartment door
First Claim
1. An articulated hinge apparatus having a movable pivot axis cooperating with an energy storage device capable of automatically opening and holding open an unlatched compartment door comprising:
- a support member;
a hinge base member;
a plurality of linking members mounted for rotation on said support member and on said hinge base member, said linking members having axes of rotation that are mutually parallel, the axes of rotation of said linking members relative to said support member being spaced from the axes of rotation of said linking members relative to said hinge base member;
first mounting means associated with said hinge base member and said compartment door for rotatively mounting said compartment door on said hinge base member about an axis of rotation parallel with the axes of rotation of said plurality of linking members;
coupling means associated with said plurality of linking members and said compartment door for rotating at least one of said plurality of linking members relative to said support member, whereby the axis of rotation of said first mounting means moves along a predetermined path as said compartment door is rotated about said axis of rotation of said first mounting means; and
an energy storage device associated with said hinge base member and said compartment door, said energy storage device being operable to exert a force on said compartment door for urging said compartment door to rotate from a closed position to a first open position, and for maintaining said compartment door in said first position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulated hinge having a movable pivot axis cooperates with an energy storage device for automatically opening and securing an unlatched compartment door in a first open position. Primary and secondary linking members are rotatively mounted to a support structure adjacent the interior of the compartment door opening, and are also rotatively mounted on a hinge base member. The hinge base member forms a pivot axis about which the compartment door is mounted for rotation. A coupling member is associated with the compartment door and the primary and secondary linking members. When the compartment door is rotated, the coupling member causes the primary and secondary linking members to rotate about their attachment points to the support structure and thereby causes the pivot axis of the compartment door to move along a predetermined path. The energy storage device is associated with the hinge base member and the compartment door and is capable of exerting a force on the compartment door to urge the compartment door to move from a closed position to a first open position and to maintain the compartment door in the first open position.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An articulated hinge apparatus having a movable pivot axis cooperating with an energy storage device capable of automatically opening and holding open an unlatched compartment door comprising:
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a support member; a hinge base member; a plurality of linking members mounted for rotation on said support member and on said hinge base member, said linking members having axes of rotation that are mutually parallel, the axes of rotation of said linking members relative to said support member being spaced from the axes of rotation of said linking members relative to said hinge base member; first mounting means associated with said hinge base member and said compartment door for rotatively mounting said compartment door on said hinge base member about an axis of rotation parallel with the axes of rotation of said plurality of linking members; coupling means associated with said plurality of linking members and said compartment door for rotating at least one of said plurality of linking members relative to said support member, whereby the axis of rotation of said first mounting means moves along a predetermined path as said compartment door is rotated about said axis of rotation of said first mounting means; and an energy storage device associated with said hinge base member and said compartment door, said energy storage device being operable to exert a force on said compartment door for urging said compartment door to rotate from a closed position to a first open position, and for maintaining said compartment door in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification