Double-wall blow-molded article with pinned hinge
First Claim
1. A hinge configuration, comprising:
- a first member formed of a polymeric material having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, at least one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said first member being spaced apart along an axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being radially aligned along said axis of rotation;
a second member formed of a polymeric material having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, at least one of said surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said second member being spaced apart along an axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being radially aligned along said axis of rotation; and
a pin including a shaft extending along said axis of rotation, an end head at one end of said shaft, and an intermediate head spaced apart from said head and extending radially from said shaft, said shaft being in contact with and rotatable relative to said partially cylindrical surfaces of said hinge fingers of said first and second members;
one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers or said second member hinge fingers including a recess that captures said intermediate head of said pin and prevents movement of said pin along said axis of rotation irrespective of the relative rotative positions of said first and second members.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge configuration includes: a first member having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces, wherein at least one of these surfaces is upwardly facing and at least one of these surfaces is downwardly facing, and wherein the hinge fingers are spaced apart along an axis of rotation and the surfaces of the hinge fingers are radially aligned along the axis of rotation; a second member having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces, wherein at least one of these surfaces is upwardly facing and at least one of these surfaces is downwardly facing, and wherein the hinge fingers are spaced apart along the axis of rotation and the surfaces of the hinge fingers are radially aligned along the axis of rotation; and a pin including a shaft extending along the axis of rotation, an end head at one end of the shaft, and an intermediate head spaced apart from the end head and extending radially from the shaft. The shaft is in contact with and rotatable relative to the surfaces of the hinge fingers of the first and second members. One of the surfaces of the first member hinge fingers or the second member hinge fingers includes a recess that receives the intermediate head of the pin. In this configuration, the pin can be retained in the hinge fingers, thereby eliminating the need for an interference fit between the pin and the hinge fingers.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A hinge configuration, comprising:
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a first member formed of a polymeric material having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, at least one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said first member being spaced apart along an axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being radially aligned along said axis of rotation;
a second member formed of a polymeric material having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, at least one of said surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said second member being spaced apart along an axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being radially aligned along said axis of rotation; and
a pin including a shaft extending along said axis of rotation, an end head at one end of said shaft, and an intermediate head spaced apart from said head and extending radially from said shaft, said shaft being in contact with and rotatable relative to said partially cylindrical surfaces of said hinge fingers of said first and second members;
one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers or said second member hinge fingers including a recess that captures said intermediate head of said pin and prevents movement of said pin along said axis of rotation irrespective of the relative rotative positions of said first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hinged carrying case, comprising:
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a double-wall blow-molded container having inner and outer walls enclosing a cavity;
a double-wall blow-molded lid having inner and outer walls enclosing a cavity;
said container including a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, said hinge fingers being attached to said container outer wall, at least one of said surfaces of said container hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said container hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said container being spaced apart along an axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said container hinge fingers being radially aligned along said axis of rotation;
said lid including a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, said hinge fingers being attached to said lid outer wall, at least one of said surfaces of said lid hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said lid hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said lid member being spaced apart along said axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said lid hinge fingers being radially aligned said axis of rotation; and
a pin including a shaft extending along said axis of rotation, an end head at one end of said shaft, and an intermediate head spaced apart from said head and extending radially from said shaft, said shaft being in contact with and rotatable relative to said partially cylindrical surfaces of said hinge fingers of said container and said lid;
one of said surfaces of said container hinge fingers or said lid hinge fingers including a recess that captures said intermediate head of said pin and prevents movement of said pin along said axis of rotation irrespective of the relative rotative positions of said first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of forming a hinged article, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first member having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, at least one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said first member being spaced apart along a first axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said first member hinge fingers being radially aligned along said first axis of rotation;
providing a second member having a plurality of hinge fingers with partially cylindrical surfaces with opposed open ends, at least one of said surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being generally upwardly facing and at least one of said surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being generally downwardly facing, said hinge fingers of said second member being spaced apart along a second axis of rotation and said partially cylindrical surfaces of said second member hinge fingers being radially aligned along said second axis of rotation;
wherein one of said surfaces of said first member hinge fingers or said second member hinge fingers includes a recess;
providing a pin including a shaft extending along said axis of rotation, an end head at one end of said shaft, and an intermediate head spaced apart from said head and extending radially from said shaft;
positioning said first and second members such that said first and second axes of rotation are coincident and such that said surfaces of said first and second members form a pin channel; and
advancing said pin into said pin channel such that said shaft is in contact with and rotatable relative to said partially cylindrical surfaces of said hinge fingers of said first and second members and such that said intermediate head of said pin is captured in said recess and prevents movement of said pin along said axis of rotation irrespective of the relative rotative positions of said first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification