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Hinge

  • US 9,121,207 B2
  • Filed: 08/06/2008
  • Issued: 09/01/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A hinge including:

  • a first hinge member including a first magnetic element and an overlapping portion;

    a second hinge member including a second magnetic element, wherein the first and second hinge members are hingedly mounted to each other;

    a biasing mechanism, separate from the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element, configured to bias the first hinge member and the second hinge member toward a retained position, wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring; and

    a dampening mechanism configured to slow the movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member, wherein a portion of the dampening mechanism protrudes from a face of the second hinge member when the hinge is moved away from the retained position, and wherein when the first and second hinge members pivot relative to each other toward the retained position the overlapping portion overlaps the face of the second hinge member and urges against the dampening mechanism, thereby slowing the movement of the first hinge member and the second member to the retained position, wherein the overlapping portion abuts the face of the second hinge member when in the retained position;

    wherein magnetic attractive force between the first and second magnetic elements contribute toward maintaining the first and second hinge members in the retained position.

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