Knuckle arm

• US 7,617,568 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asia Optical International Limited (Asia Optical Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Jing, Mao-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/486,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 162/39, 162/37, 162/36, 162/87, 162/86, 162/89, 162/90, 162/92, 163/02, 163/03, 163/66, 163/68, 163/69, 361680-683, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.8, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 355/75, 358/497, 358/498, 399/377, 399/379, 399/380
• US Class Current: 16/286
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1276 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines

Abstract

A knuckle arm is connected to a machine body and a top cover of a machine, and includes a mounting seat, a connecting seat, a sliding seat, and a resilient member. The mounting seat includes a mounting block disposed fixedly on the machine body, and a pivot block extending integrally from the mounting block and having a cam edge. The connecting seat is connected pivotally to the pivot block of the mounting seat, and is attached to the top cover. The sliding seat is disposed slidably within the connecting seat, and has an integral projection. The resilient member is disposed between the mounting seat and the sliding seat, and biases the sliding seat to move toward the mounting seat so as to keep the projection of the sliding seat in contact with the cam edge of the mounting seat.

Claims

1. A knuckle arm adapted to be connected to a machine body and a top cover of a machine, said knuckle arm comprising:

a mounting seat including a mounting block adapted to be disposed fixedly on the machine body, and a first pivot block extending integrally from said mounting block and having a first cam edge;

a connecting seat connected pivotally to said first pivot block of said mounting seat and adapted to be attached to the top cover;

a sliding seat disposed slidably within said connecting seat and having an integral first projection; and

a resilient member disposed between said mounting seat and said sliding seat and biasing said sliding seat to move toward said mounting seat so as to keep said first projection of said sliding seat in contact with said first cam edge of said mounting seat;

wherein said mounting seat further includes a second pivot block extending integrally from said mounting block and having a second cam edge, and a mounting groove disposed between said first and second pivot blocks, said wing plates of said connecting seat being located respectively to two opposite sides of an assembly of said first and second pivot blocks of said mounting seat, said connecting seat being connected pivotally to said first and second pivot blocks of said mounting seat;

wherein said knuckle arm further comprises a pivot rod extending through said wing plates of said connecting seat and first and second pivot blocks of said mounting seat;

wherein said sliding seat includes a first wing block having said first projection, a second wing block having an integral second projection, a coupling block interconnecting said wing blocks fixedly, and mounting groove disposed between said first and second wing blocks.

2. The knuckle arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting seat includes two wing plates located respectively to two opposite sides of said first pivot block, a coupling plate interconnecting said wing plates fixedly, and two support plates extending respectively and integrally from said wing plates toward each other so as to define an accommodating space among said coupling plate, said support plates, and said wing plates, said sliding seat being disposed movably within said accommodating space in said connecting seat.

3. The knuckle arm as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a support rod extending through said first and second wing blocks, said resilient member being configured as a coiled tension spring disposed within said mounting grooves in said mounting seat and said sliding seat and having two ends fastened respectively to said pivot rod and said support rod.

4. The knuckle arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting seat further includes a positioning block interconnecting said first and second pivot blocks fixedly, said connecting seat further including an integral stop plate that comes into contact with said positioning block when the top cover is pivoted to a 90°

open position whereat the top cover is perpendicular to the machine body, thereby preventing further rotation of the top cover relative to the machine body.

5. The knuckle arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cam edge is formed with first and second positioning grooves disposed respectively at two opposite ends, said first positioning groove being situated such that said first projection of said sliding seat engages said first positioning groove when the opening angle of the top cover is zero, said second positioning groove being situated such that said first projection engages said second positioning groove when the top cover and the machine body form an angle of 90°

therebetween.

6. The knuckle arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting seat further includes an integral positioning block, said connecting seat further including an integral stop plate that comes into contact with said positioning block when the top cover is pivoted to a 90°

open position whereat the top cover is perpendicular to the machine body, thereby preventing further rotation of the top cover relative to the machine body.