Living hinge

• US 7,685,676 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: W. Thomas Mc Clellan
• Original Assignee: W. Thomas Mc Clellan
• Inventors: Mc Clellan, W. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; William L.
• Application Number:
  US11/361,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 16225-227, 163/72, 162/21, 16D/IG.13, 403/291, 403/403, 402/76, 402/77, 402/36, 220/4.21, 220/4.23, 220836-839, 220/847, 215/235, 215/237
• US Class Current: 16/225
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/02 made of one piece

Abstract

A living hinge includes a hinge body formed of a material. The hinge body has attachment edges and a flexing zone between the attachment edges defining a flexing axis. The material of the hinge body has at least one separation formed therein in the flexing zone. The at least one separation describes an angle with the flexing axis being other than 90°.

Claims

1. A living hinge, comprising:

a one-piece hinge body formed of a semi-pliant material with a strength and rigidity providing limited flexibility;

said hinge body having attachment edges;

said hinge body having a flexing zone defining a flexing axis; and

said material of said hinge body having at least two rows of individual separations formed therein in said flexing zone, said at least two rows of individual separations describing an angle with said flexing axis being other than 90°

, said individual separations in each row being off-center from adjacent said individual separations in an adjacent row thereby defining overlaps lapping over and extending over part of said individual separations in said adjacent rows causing said hinge body of said material of limited flexibility to act as a living hinge body and purposefully produce torsion in said overlaps between said attachment edges in said flexing zone.

2. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said separations each describe said angle with said flexing axis.

3. The living hinge according to claim 2, wherein said angle is at least substantially 30°

and at most less than 90°

.

4. The living hinge according to claim 2, wherein said angle is approximately 30°

.

5. The living hinge according to claim 2, wherein said angle is approximately 45°

.

6. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said at least two rows are parallel to said flexing axis.

7. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said at least two rows are oblique to said flexing axis.

8. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said separations are through cutouts.

9. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said separations are scorings.

10. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said separations are recesses.

11. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said separations are channels.

12. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said separations are laser cuts.

13. The living hinge according to claim 1, wherein said material of said hinge body is a metal.