Sag preventing hinge and its assembly

• US 7,559,118 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shin ZU Shing Company Limited
• Inventors: Lin, Shu-Mu
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; William L.
• Application Number:
  US12/152,235
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 163/67, 163/66, 163/71, 163/02, 163/03, 163/30, 163/40, 163/42, 248919-923, 361681-682
• US Class Current: 16/367
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64

Abstract

A hinge is mounted between a panel and a main frame of a horizontal monitor and has two turning modules, a central bracket, a tilting module and two supporting modules. The turning modules are mounted on the main frame. The central bracket is mounted pivotally between the turning modules. The tilting module is movably mounted to the central bracket. Each supporting module has holding wings abutting each other and connected respectively between the central bracket and the ends of the tilting module. Connection between the central bracket and the tilting module and abutments between the holding wings of the supporting modules form a triple connection between the panel and the main frame so prevent the hinge from sagging.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

two turning modules being disposed facing each other, and each turning module having

a stationary bracket;

a pintle mounted pivotally in the stationary bracket; and

a retaining spacer being mounted securely on the pintle;

a central bracket being connected between the turning modules and having

a couple being mounted securely between the pintles of the turning modules and having a center and two ends; and

a central shaft being formed on and protruding from the center of the couple and having a distal surface;

a tilting module being connected to the central bracket and having

a central sleeve being mounted around the central shaft of the central bracket and having an outside wall;

two connecting bars being formed transversely on and protruding diametrically from the outside wall of the central sleeve and each connecting bar having a distal end; and

a fastening washer being mounted securely on the distal surface of the central shaft; and

two supporting modules being mounted on the ends of the couple of the central bracket and the distal ends of the connecting bars of the tilting module, and each supporting module comprising

a stationary leaf being mounted securely on a corresponding end of the couple and having

a proximal end; and

a holding wing being formed perpendicularly on the proximal end of the stationary leaf and having an arced outer surface; and

a turning leaf being mounted securely on the distal end of a corresponding connecting bar and having

a proximal end; and

a holding wing being formed perpendicularly on the proximal end of the turning leaf and having an arced inner surface corresponding to and selectively abutting the arced outer surface of the stationary leaf.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the stationary bracket of each turning module further has

an end;

and

a connecting wing being formed on and protruding from the end of the stationary bracket and having a central hole; and

the pintle of each turning module further has

a head having an outer side and an inner side;

a pivoting rod being formed axially on the outer side of the head and protruding through the central hole of the stationary bracket of the turning module; and

a securing rod being formed on the inner side of the head.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the connecting wing of the stationary bracket of each turning module further has

an outer side;

an inner side; and

a limiting protrusion being formed on the inner side of the connecting wing; and

each turning module has a limiting spacer being mounted securely around the pivoting rod of the pintle, abutting the inner side of the connecting wing and having

an annular edge; and

an arc recess being formed transversely in the annular edge of the limiting spacer and corresponding to and selectively abutting the limiting protrusion of the connecting wing of the stationary bracket.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein each turning further module has

a stationary positioning spacer being mounted around the pivoting rod of the pintle, abutting the outer side of the connecting wing of the stationary bracket and having

an outer side;

an inner side; and

at least one positioning detent being formed in the outer side of the stationary positioning spacer;

a rotating positioning spacer being mounted securely around the pivoting rod of the pintle, abutting the outer side of the stationary positioning spacer and having

an inner side; and

at least one positioning protrusion being formed on the inner side of the rotating positioning spacer and corresponding to and selectively engaging the at least one positioning detent of the stationary positioning spacer; and

a biasing member being mounted around the pivoting rod adjacent to the rotating positioning spacer.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the connecting wing of the stationary bracket of each turning module has a fastening recess being formed in the outer side of the connecting wing;

and

the stationary positioning spacer of each turning module has a fastening protrusion being formed on the inner side of the stationary positioning spacer and being mounted securely in the fastening recess of the connecting wing of the stationary bracket.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the pivoting rod of the pintle of each turning module is non-circular in cross section;

the limiting spacer of each turning module has a non-circular hole engaging the pivoting rod of the pintle; and

the rotating positioning spacer of each turning module has a non-circular hole engaging the pivoting rod of the pintle.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 6, wherein each turning module has an abrasion spacer being mounted around the pivoting rod of the pintle.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the pivoting rod of the pintle of each turning module has

a distal end;

and

a thread being formed around the distal end of the pivoting rod; and

the retaining spacer of each turning module is a nut engaging the thread of the pivoting rod of the pintle.

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the central shaft of the central bracket has

an annular wall;

and

multiple slots being formed longitudinally in the annular wall and through the distal surface of the central shaft;

the central sleeve of tilting module has

an inside wall; and

multiple projections being formed transversely on the inside wall of the central sleeve; and

the tilting module has multiple abrasion washers being mounted around the central shaft of the central bracket, being mounted in the central sleeve and including

multiple first abrasion washers being mounted securely around the central shaft, and each first abrasion washer having

an inner edge; and

multiple projections being formed transversely on the inner edge of the first abrasion washer and engaging the slots of the central shaft; and

multiple second abrasion washers being mounted securely in the central sleeve, and each second abrasion washer having

an outer edge; and

multiple fastening detents being formed transversely in the outer edge of the second abrasion washer and engaging the projections of the central sleeve.

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central shaft of the central bracket has multiple fastening bosses being formed longitudinally on and extending out from the distal surface of the central shaft and being mounted securely in the fastening washer of the tilting module.

11. The hinge as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the central sleeve of the tilting module has an annular shoulder being formed around the inside wall of the central sleeve;

and

the tilting module has multiple resilient washers being mounted adjacent to the central shaft of the central bracket and being mounted in the central sleeve.

12. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the stationary leaf of each supporting module is mounted securely on a corresponding end of the couple by multiple fasteners;

and

the turning leaf of each supporting module is mounted securely on the distal end of a corresponding connecting bar by multiple fasteners.

13. The hinge as claimed in claim 12, wherein the couple has multiple fasteners being respectively mounted securely through the ends of the couple and the securing rods of the pintles of the turning modules.

14. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the couple has multiple fasteners being respectively mounted securely through the ends of the couple and the securing rods of the pintles of the turning modules.

15. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tilting module has multiple abrasion washers being mounted around the central shaft of the central bracket and being mounted in the central sleeve.

16. The hinge as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the central shaft of the central bracket has

an annular wall;

and

multiple slots being formed longitudinally in the annular wall, through the distal surface of the central shaft;

the central sleeve of tilting module has

an inside wall; and

multiple projections being formed transversely on the inside wall of the central sleeve; and

the abrasion washers include

multiple first abrasion washers being mounted securely around the central shaft, and each first abrasion washer having

an inner edge; and

multiple projections being formed transversely on the inner edge of the first abrasion washer and engaging the slots of the central shaft; and

multiple second abrasion washers being mounted securely in the central sleeve, and each second abrasion washer having

an outer edge; and

multiple fastening detents being formed transversely in the annular wall of the second abrasion washer and engaging the projections of the central sleeve.

17. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central shaft of the central bracket has multiple fastening bosses being formed longitudinally on and protruding from the distal surface of the central shaft and being mounted securely in the fastening washer of the tilting module.

18. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the central sleeve of the tilting module has

an inside wall;

and

an annular shoulder being formed around the inside wall of the central sleeve and has two sides; and

the tilting module has multiple resilient washers being mounted adjacent to the central shaft of the central bracket and being mounted in the central sleeve.

19. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the stationary leaf of each supporting module is mounted securely on a corresponding end of the couple by multiple fasteners;

and

the turning leaf of each supporting module is mounted securely on the distal end of a corresponding connecting bar by multiple fasteners.

20. A hinge assembly comprising two of the hinges as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the turning modules of one hinge respectively corresponding to the turning module of another hinge;

and

the stationary bracket of each turning module of the one hinge is integrated with the stationary bracket of the corresponding turning module of the another hinge.