Hinge structures

• US 5,537,716 A
• Filed: 01/24/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takeo Komamura
• Original Assignee: Takeo Komamura
• Inventors: Komamura, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachuba, M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gurley, Donald M.
• Application Number:
  US08/185,502
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 16/355, 16/362, 40/152.1, 40/155, 40/156
• US Class Current: 16/355
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0611 the profiles having clamping action; Elongated clips
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/10 Corner clips or corner-connecting appliances for frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/101 for insertion within frame members
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/0694 comprising means allowing the frame to be supported on a horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/04 with guide members shaped as circular arcs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furniture, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

The present invention presents hinge structures for pivotably and detachably coupling two members, i.e., an axial member and an axial member support, in which a pivotal portion is provided at the base edge of an axial blade of the axial member; a disengaging protrusion is provided at the tip edge of the axial blade; a pivotal rotation guide is extended from near the disengaging protrusion; an engaging extension is provided at the tip edge of the pivotal rotation guide; an opening is formed in the axial member support; a pivotal portion rest is formed on one side face of the opening, while an engagement rest is formed on the other side face opposite to said one side face; a curvature is formed from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed; a lock member is pivotably or slidably provided in the axial member, with its locking claw to be engaged with the engagement rest; and said hinge structure can be pivotably and detachably provided with various auxiliary devices.

Claims

1. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as a fastener and a pair of axial member supports to use as adjacent frame members, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of each of a pair of axial blades of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of each of the axial blades;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation extending from the axial blades near each of the disengaging protrusions;

an engaging extension as a back face of the fastener provided at tip edges of the pivotal rotation guides, said engaging extension including a pair of fastener depth portions extending toward a back face of an exhibited object and a fastener contact face provided in parallel to the engaging extension and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest to be engaged with a corresponding pivotal portion, said pivotal portion rest formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping the surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between said curved retainer and said engaging extension, said curved retainer formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest to be engaged with a corresponding disengaging protrusion or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said projected engagement formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of a corresponding pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed; and

a pair of lock members pivotally or slidably provided in the axial member for locking such that a locking claw protruded from the main body of each of the locking members engages with a portion immediately below a corresponding engagement rest.

2. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as a fastener and a pair of axial member supports used as adjacent frame members, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of each of a pair of axial blades of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of each of the axial blades, a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation extending from the axial blades near each of the disengaging protrusions;

an engaging extension as a back face of the fastener provided at tip edges of the pivotal rotation guides, said engaging extension including a pair of fastener depth portions extending toward a back face of an exhibited object and a fastener contact face provided in parallel to the engaging extension and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest to be engaged with a corresponding pivotal portion, said pivotal portion rest formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping the surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between said curved retainer and said engaging extension, said curved retainer formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest to be engaged with a corresponding disengaging protrusion or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said projected engagement rest formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of a corresponding pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed;

a pair of cut out spaces with an opening respectively formed by cutting out the engaging extension and fastener depth portions;

a pair of mutually facing pivotal portions of the fastener formed in parallel to the fastener depth portion below each of the cut out spaces;

each of a pair of lock members provided with a locking claw protruding horizontally from its main body pivotally provided in each of the cut out spaces;

a pair of pivotal portions of each of the lock members to be pivotally engaged with the pivotal portions of the fastener, said pair of pivotal portions being formed at a base edge of the main body of the lock member; and

each of a pair of finger action parts accessible from the opening of the disengaging extension in each of the cut out spaces formed a top of the main body of the lock member.

3. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as a fastener and a pair of axial member supports to use as adjacent frame members, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of each of a pair of axial blades of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of each of the axial blades;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation extending from the axial blades near each of the disengaging protrusions;

an engaging extension as a back face of the fastener provided at tip edges of the pivotal rotation guides, said engaging extension including a pair of fastener depth portions extending toward a back face of an exhibited object and a fastener contact face provided in parallel to the engaging extension and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest for engaging with a corresponding pivotal portion, said pivotal rotation rest formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping a surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between said curved retainer and said engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest for engaging with a corresponding disengaging protrusion or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said protected engagement rest being formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of a corresponding pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed thereon;

a pair of cut out spaces respectively with an opening, said pair of cut out spaces being formed by cutting out the pivotal rotation guides of the axial member and the engaging extension;

a pair of mutually facing pivotal portions of the fastener formed in parallel to the pivotal rotation guide below each of the cut out spaces;

each of the pair of lock members is provided with a locking claw protruding horizontally from its main body pivotally provided in each of the cut out spaces;

a pair of pivotal portions at each of the lock members for pivotally engaging with the pivotal portions of the fastener, said pair of pivotal portions being formed at a base edge of the main body of the lock member; and

each of a pair of finger action parts accessible from the opening of the disengaging extension at each of the cut out spaces is formed as a top of the main body of the lock member.

4. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as a fastener and a pair of axial member supports to use as adjacent frame members, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of each of a pair of axial blades of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of each of the axial blades;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as it center of rotation extending from the axial blades near each of the disengaging protrusions;

an engaging extension as a back face of the fastener provided at tip edges of the pivotal rotation guides, said engaging extensions being further provided with a pair of fastener depth portions extending toward a back face of an exhibited object and with a fastener contact face provided in parallel to the engaging extension and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest to be engaged with a corresponding pivotal portion, formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping a surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between the curved retainer and the engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest to be engaged with a corresponding disengaging protrusion or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of a corresponding pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed;

a pair of cut out spaces respectively with an opening, said pair of cut out spaces being formed by putting out the engaging extension and the fastener depth portion;

a pair of mutually facing sliding portions of the fastener formed at right angles to the fastener depth portion below each of the cut out spaces;

each of a pair of lock members being provided with a locking claw producing horizontally from its main body slidably provided in each of the cut out spaces;

a pair of sliding portions of each of the lock members to be slidably engaged with the sliding portions of the fastener, said pair of sliding portions being formed at the base edge of the main body of the lock member; and

each of a pair of finger action parts accessible from the opening in each of the cut out spaces formed as a top of the main body of the lock member.

5. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as an auxiliary device and an axial member support used as a frame member, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of an axial blade of the axial member used as an auxiliary device;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of the axial blades;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation extending from the axial blades near each of the disengaging protrusions, an engaging extension as a back face of the auxiliary device provided at a tip edge of the pivotal rotation guide, said engaging extension being provided an auxiliary device depth portions extending toward a back face of an exhibited object and with an auxiliary device contact face provided in parallel to the back face of the auxiliary device and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in the axial member support;

a pivotal portion rest for engaging with the pivotal portion formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping a surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between the curved retainer and the engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest for engaging with the disengaging protrusion or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said projected engagement rest being formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of the pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed; and

a support rod for supporting the picture frame in an inclined position said support rod being extended from the auxiliary device contact face of the axial member in a different direction.

6. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as an auxiliary device and an axial member support used as a frame member, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at the base edge of an axial blade of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of the axial blade;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation extending from the axial blade near the disengaging protrusion;

an engaging extension as the back face of the auxiliary device provided at a tip edge of the pivotal rotation guide, said engaging extension being provided an auxiliary device depth portion extending toward a back face of the exhibited object and with an auxiliary device contact face provided in parallel to the back face of the auxiliary, device and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in the axial member support;

a pivotal portion rest for engaging with the pivotal portion formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping the surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between the curved retainer and the engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest for engaging with the disengaging protrusion or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of the pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed; and

a retaining rod with a certain length for pressing the exhibited object from its back said retaining rod extending from the auxiliary device contact face of the axial member.

7. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of two axial members used as an auxiliary device and two axial member supports used as two adjacent frame members, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of an axial blade of each of the axial members;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of the axial blade;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation extending from the axial blades near each of the disengaging protrusions;

an engaging extension as the back face of the auxiliary device provided at a tip edge of the pivotal rotation guide, said engaging extension being provided with an auxiliary device depth portion extending toward the back face of an exhibited object and with an auxiliary device contact face provided in parallel to the back rice of the auxiliary device and in contact with the back face of the exhibited object;

an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest for engaging with the pivotal portion, said pivotal portion rest being formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping the surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between the curved retainer and the engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest for engagement with the disengaging protrusions or the engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of the pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed;

a solid rod extending from the auxiliary device contact face of one of the axial members toward an other frame member; and

an auxiliary device joint for connecting with an other solid rod or with an extension rod connected with the other solid rod, said auxiliary device joint being formed on said solid rod.

8. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as an auxiliary device and an axial member support used as a frame member, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of an axial blade of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of the axial blade;

a pivotal rotation guide with the pivotal portion as a center of rotation provided on the axial blade, said pivotal rotation guide extending from near the disengaging protrusion;

an opening formed in the axial member support;

a pivotal portion rest for engagement with the pivotal portion formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping a surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between the curved retainer and an engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest for engagement with the disengaging protrusion or an engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said projected engagement rest being formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature formed along a circumference of the pivotal rotation guide from the engagement rest to said one side face with the pivotal portion rest formed; and

said engaging extension is formed at a tip edge of the pivotal rotation guide of the axial member, and said engaging extension being provided with an arrestor to be engaged with a rod.

9. A hinge structure for a pivotable picture frame consisting of an axial member used as an auxiliary device and an axial member support used as a frame member, said hinge structure comprising a pivotal portion provided at a base edge of an axial blade of the axial member;

a disengaging protrusion provided at a tip edge of the axial blade;

an opening formed in the axial member support;

a pivotal portion rest for engagement with the pivotal portion formed at one end on one side face of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping the surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between said curved retainer and an engaging extension, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest for engagement with the disengaging protrusion or said engaging extension by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said projected engagement rest being formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature with the pivotal portion test as the center of rotation formed from the engagement rest to said one side with the pivotal portion rest formed; and

said engaging extension is formed at a tip edge of a pivotal rotation guide of the axial member, and said engaging extension being provided with a hanging piece and a hanging portion formed therein.

10. A hinge structure for allowing pivotable picture frames to be presented for exhibition as a pair, consisting of an axial member used as an auxiliary device and two axial member supports used as a frame members, said hinge structure comprising an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest for engagement with a corresponding one of a pair of pivotal portions of the axial member, said pivotal portion rest being formed at one end on one side of the opening;

a curved retainer for keeping a surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between said curved retainer and a pair of engaging extensions, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a projected engagement rest to be engaged with the disengaging protrusion or a corresponding one of a pair of disengaging protrusions or a corresponding one of said pair of engaging extensions by the pivotal rotation of the axial member, said projected engagement rest being formed on an other side face opposite to said one side face;

a curvature with the pivotal portion rest as the center of rotation formed from the engagement rest to said one side with the pivotal portion rest formed;

a pivotal rotation guide for connecting the two axial member supports to have two picture frames kept close to each other back to back or at right angles, said pivotal rotation guide being formed in the axial member and having axial blades extending from both sides;

two pivotal portions for engagement with the pivotal portion rest formed at base edges of respective axial blades;

said disengaging protrusions formed at a tip of at least one of the axial blades; and

said pair engaging extensions to be engaged with the engagement rests of two respective axial member supports kept closely to each other, said pair of engaging extensions being formed at a center of the pivotal rotation guide.

11. A hinge structure for allowing pivotable picture frames to be presented for exhibition as a pair, consisting of an axial member used as an auxiliary device and two axial member supports used as a frame members, said hinge structure comprising an opening formed in each of the axial member supports;

a pivotal portion rest for engagement with a corresponding one of a pair of pivotal portions of the axial member, said pivotal portion rest being formed at one end on one side of the opening;

a curved retainer to keep the surface of the exhibited object pressed and fixed between the curved retainer and an engaging extension of said auxiliary device, said curved retainer being formed at an other end on said one side face of the opening;

a connection board for connecting mutually closely located member frames to keep the two picture frame side by side, said connection board being formed in the axial member;

an insertion hole to be filled with an insert with a wedge portion formed in the connection board;

a pair of engagement claws to be engaged with the pivotal portion rest of the axial member supports, said pair of engaging claws being provided on both sides of the insertion hole to face each other;

wherein said pair of engagement claws are engaged with a pivotal portion rest of the axial member supports, and the wedge potion of the insert is inserted into the insertion hole for holding the two frame members by the wedge portion of the insert and the engagement claws of the connection board.