Hinge arrangement
First Claim
1. An over-center two-link hinge mechanism for pivotally connecting a hinged part to a support means, the hinged part having a closed position adjacent to the support means, comprising:
- first pivot means mounted to the support means and pivotally supporting the hinged part at a location radially spaced from the support means;
second pivot means on said hinged part radially spaced from said first pivot means further than said hinged part is spaced radially from said support means;
third pivot means on said support means longitudinally between said first and said second pivot means when said hinged part is in its closed position;
fourth pivot means on said support means longitudinally on the opposite side of said first pivot means from said third pivot means;
first link means pivotally mounted to said second pivot means;
second link means pivotally mounted to said third pivot means;
fifth pivot means pivotally interconnecting said first and second link means; and
pre-tensioned energy storage means connecting said fourth and fifth pivot means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An over-center, two-link hinge mechanism which can be made of simple off-the-shelf components has a hinged part pivotally mounted to a bar spaced apart from a frame. Two pivotally connected links connect the hinged part and the frame in front of the hinged part pivot point. A pre-tensioned volute spring connects an interlink pivot pin with the frame behind the hinged part pivot point. Two hinge mechanisms can be used back-to-back, in which case the pin connecting the link to the frame for one hinge can serve as an attachment point for the spring of the other hinge, and vice-versa.
23 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An over-center two-link hinge mechanism for pivotally connecting a hinged part to a support means, the hinged part having a closed position adjacent to the support means, comprising:
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first pivot means mounted to the support means and pivotally supporting the hinged part at a location radially spaced from the support means; second pivot means on said hinged part radially spaced from said first pivot means further than said hinged part is spaced radially from said support means; third pivot means on said support means longitudinally between said first and said second pivot means when said hinged part is in its closed position; fourth pivot means on said support means longitudinally on the opposite side of said first pivot means from said third pivot means; first link means pivotally mounted to said second pivot means; second link means pivotally mounted to said third pivot means; fifth pivot means pivotally interconnecting said first and second link means; and pre-tensioned energy storage means connecting said fourth and fifth pivot means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An over-center two-link hinge mechanism for pivotally connecting a hinged part to a frame, the hinged part having a closed position adjacent to the frame, comprising:
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a bar mounted to the frame and about which the hinged part is pivotally mounted at a pivot location spaced from said frame in a radial direction relative to a pivot axis of said hinged part; a first pivot pin mounted to said hinged part at a point thereof radially spaced from said hinged part pivot location further than said hinged part pivot location is spaced radially from said frame; a first pivot bearing mounted to said frame at a point along said frame longitudinally between said hinged part pivot location and said first pivot pin when said hinged part is in the closed position; a second pivot bearing mounted to said frame at a point along said frame longitudinally on the opposite side of said hinged part pivot location from said first pivot bearing; a first link pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said first pivot pin; a second link, shorter than said first link, pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said first pivot bearing; a second pivot pin pivotally connecting another end of said first link to another end of said second link; and a pre-tensioned volute spring connected between said second pivot bearing and said second pivot pin. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification