Self-aligning hinge
First Claim
1. A hinge comprising:
- one or more first hinge segments comprising a first surface having supported thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated first lugs each having a first slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated first rods and, each of said first slots being defined by two first slot walls and having a first directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the first slot walls;
one or more second hinge segments comprising a second surface having supported thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated second lugs, each second lug having a second slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated second rods, each of said second slots being defined by two second slot walls and having a corresponding second directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the second slot walls;
the first hinge segments and the second hinge segments positionable between a first configuration and a second configuration whereinthe first configuration is of partial engagement of the first hinge segment with the second hinge segment wherein each of the first slots is aligned and engaged with each of the second rods and wherein the first directional vectors and the second directional vectors project in a common plane; and
the second configuration is of full engagement of the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment wherein each of the first slots is rotatably engaged and each of the first directional vectors project in a different direction than each of the second directional vectors, whereby disengagement of the first hinge segment is prevented.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge is disclosed comprising one or more first hinge segments comprising a first surface having disposed thereon: a plurality of spatially separated first lugs each having a first slot formed therein; and a plurality of spatially separated first rods; one or more second hinge segments comprising a second surface having disposed thereon: a plurality of spatially separated second lugs, each second lug having a second slot formed therein; and a plurality of spatially separated second rods. The hinge has a first configuration of partial engagement of the first hinge segment with the second hinge segment where the first slots are aligned and engaged with the second rods; and a second configuration of full engagement of the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment wherein the first slots are rotatably engaged in a direction different than the first configuration.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hinge comprising:
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one or more first hinge segments comprising a first surface having supported thereon; a plurality of spatially separated first lugs each having a first slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated first rods and, each of said first slots being defined by two first slot walls and having a first directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the first slot walls;one or more second hinge segments comprising a second surface having supported thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated second lugs, each second lug having a second slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated second rods, each of said second slots being defined by two second slot walls and having a corresponding second directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the second slot walls;the first hinge segments and the second hinge segments positionable between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein the first configuration is of partial engagement of the first hinge segment with the second hinge segment wherein each of the first slots is aligned and engaged with each of the second rods and wherein the first directional vectors and the second directional vectors project in a common plane; and the second configuration is of full engagement of the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment wherein each of the first slots is rotatably engaged and each of the first directional vectors project in a different direction than each of the second directional vectors, whereby disengagement of the first hinge segment is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An aerospace vehicle comprising a hingeably attached body attached with a hinge, the hinge comprising:
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one or more first hinge segments comprising a first surface having supported thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated first lugs each having a first slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated first rods and, each of said first slots being defined by two first slot walls and having a first directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the first slot walls;one or more second hinge segments comprising a second surface having supported thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated second lugs, each second lug having a second slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated second rods, each of said second slots being defined by two second slot walls and having a corresponding second directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the second slot walls;the first hinge segments and the second hinge segments positionable between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein; the first configuration is of partial engagement of the first hinge segment with the second hinge segment wherein each of the first slots is aligned and engaged with each of the second rods and wherein the first directional vectors and the second directional vectors project in a common plane; and the second configuration is of full engagement of the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment wherein each of the first slots is rotatably engaged and each of the first directional vectors project in a different direction than each of the second directional vectors, whereby disengagement of the first hinge segment is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of self-aligning a hinge assembly, the method comprising:
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(i) providing a hinge comprising; one or more first hinge segments comprising a first surface having disposed thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated first lugs each having a first slot formed therein; and
a plurality of spatially separated first rods, each of said first slots being defined by two first slot walls and having a first directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the first slot walls; andone or more second hinge segments comprising a second surface having disposed thereon;
a plurality of spatially separated second lugs, each second lug having a second slot formed therein and a plurality of spatially separated second rods, each of said second slots being defined by two second slot walls and having a second directional vector which bisects an angle formed by the second slot walls;(ii) receiving the second rods into the first slots of the first lugs and receiving the first rods into the second slots of the second lugs in an aligned and partially engaged configuration; and (iii) rotating the first segment about its longitudinal axis until the first directional vectors are arranged in a direction different than the second directional vectors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification