Closure mechanism for hinged devices

• US 7,155,777 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Connors, William M., Washnock, Gregory P., Spitz, Donald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/883,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 16/65, 16/70, 162/86, 16289-292, 16296-297, 16362-364, 163/74, 16/60, 16343-346, 493/86, 493/87, 493/86.X, 292/95, 292/121.X, 292/126, 292/128, 292/219, 292/DIG.61, 312/324, 312/326, 312/329, 312/295, 312/223.1, 312/319.5, 312/319.6, 312/319.8, 361680-683, 296/76, 355/75, 355/40, 355/75.X, 358/497, 358/474, 399379-380
• US Class Current: 16/65
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0926 Spring projected

Abstract

A closure mechanism for hinged devices having an upper member and a lower member. The closure mechanism includes a track disposed on the upper member and at least one support arm pivotally attached to the lower member. A biasing element is adapted to urge the support arm to engage the upper member and urge it to pivot to an open configuration. The arm includes a contact element that engages the track such that an upper end of the arm moves along the track as the upper member pivots to an open position. The arm includes a hook that engages a positive stop to prevent over-rotation of the arm. In other embodiments of the closure mechanism, the arm is pivotally attached to the upper member and moves against the lower member, and the biasing element extends between the arm and either the upper member or the lower member.

Claims

1. A closure mechanism for a hinged device having an upper member pivotally attached to a lower member, comprising:

a support arm pivotally attached to one of the upper member and the lower member; and

a biasing element adapted to urge a free end of the support arm against the other member, thereby urging the upper member to pivot to an open position whereby the support arm cams against the other member as the other member pivots, wherein the upper member is a scanner assembly and the lower member is a printer assembly of an all-in-one device, wherein the support arm includes a hook member shaped to engage the other member, thereby preventing over-rotation of the support arm relative to the other member, and further comprising a positive stop formed in the other member shaped to receive the hook member.

2. A closure mechanism for a hinged device having an upper member pivotally attached to a lower member, comprising:

a support arm pivotally attached to the lower member; and

a biasing element adapted to urge the support arm against the upper member, thereby urging the upper member to pivot to an open position whereby the support arm cams against the upper member as the upper member pivots, wherein the upper member is a scanner assembly and the lower member is a printer assembly of an all-in-one device, wherein the biasing element includes a pair of resilient elements cooperating to urge the support arm to pivot to open the upper member, and wherein one of the resilient elements is a compression spring.

3. A closure mechanism for a hinged device having an upper member and a lower member, comprising:

a track and a positive stop disposed on the upper member;

a support arm having a hook member and being pivotally attached to the lower member;

a roller element rotatably attached to the support arm; and

a torsion spring adapted to urge the roller element against the track, thereby urging the upper member to pivot until the hook member engages the positive stop when the upper member reaches a predetermined pivot angle relative to the lower member, wherein the upper member is a scanner assembly and the lower member is a printer assembly of an all-in-one device, and further comprising a second resilient element cooperating with the torsion spring to urge the support arm to pivot to open the upper member, wherein the second resilient element is a compression spring.