Detachable hinging mechanism for access panel
AssigneeRuud Lighting, Inc.
InventorsEric Haugaard, Kurt Wilcox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hinging mechanism attaching an access panel to a housing is provided that has a latching device rigidly mounted to the inner surface of the panel and releasably pivotally secured to the interior surface of the housing, whereby the panel is detachable from the housing and free to move between open and closed positions. Preferably, the mechanism further includes a linkage member movably mounted to the interior surface, whereby the mechanism has articulation at independent points between the housing and the panel. The mechanism is also preferably one where the latching device includes a latch-bracket and a latch, the latch being pivotally attached to the latch-bracket.
Claims18
A hinging mechanism attaching an access panel to a housing, the housing having an interior surface and the access panel having an inner surface, the mechanism comprising a latching device rigidly mounted with respect to the inner surface and releasably pivotally secured with respect to the interior surface such that the panel is free to move between open and closed positions and the panel is detachable from the housing.
In an area lighting fixture of the type utilizing power-related components and a high-intensity-discharge lamp and having a housing with an interior surface and an access opening, an access door with an inner surface and sized to cover the opening, and a hinging mechanism attaching the housing to the door for movement of the door between open and closed positions, an improvement wherein the hinging mechanism comprises:
- a linkage member movably mounted with respect to the interior surface and having a hinge-bar;
- and
- a latching device rigidly mounted with respect to the inner surface and releasably pivotally secured to the hinge-bar,
- whereby the door is detachable from the housing and the mechanism has articulation at independent points between the housing and the door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.