Adjustable bracing device for holding an openable case in an opened position

An adjustable bracing device used for holding an openable case in a partially opened position, the openable case including an upright wall and a lid member which has a proximate edge hinged to the upright wall about a hinging axis, and a major wall extending from the proximate edge, said adjustable bracing device comprising:

• a first mount adapted to extend away from the upright wall to terminate at a first pivot end;
• a second mount adapted to extend away from the major wall to terminate at a second pivot end which, as a result of displacement of a center of gravity of the lid member in the partially opened position and a fully opened position, delivers larger and smaller torques, respectively;
• a carrier frame including an anchoring end pivotally mounted on said first pivot end about a first pivot axis parallel to the hinging axis, a linking end opposite to said anchoring end, and a guiding segment interposed between said anchoring end and said linking end to define a lengthwise path;
• a biasing member which is disposed on said guiding segment, and which has abutment and depressed ends that are opposite to each other, and that are proximate to said anchoring end and said linking end respectively, said biasing member being configured to be compressible along the lengthwise path between a heavily compressed position, where said depressed end is closer to said abutment end to thereby deliver a larger biasing force, and a lightly compressed position, where said depressed end is remote from said abutment end to thereby deliver a smaller biasing force;
• a linking lever including
• a power end pivotally mounted on said second pivot end about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis,
• a fulcrum pivotally mounted on said linking end about a fulcrum axis parallel to the first pivot axis, and
• a weight end having a cam surface which includes first and second regions that are angularly displaced from each other about the fulcrum axis, and that are distant from the fulcrum axis by a first length and a second length, respectively, the second length being shorter than the first length, said first and second regions being configured such that when said second region is brought to abut against said depressed end so as to place said biasing member in the lightly compressed position, the smaller biasing force counteracts the smaller torque, thereby permitting the lid member to be held in the fully opened position by virtue of a balance of forces, and such that once a tipping force is applied to disrupt the balance of forces so as to cause said second pivot end to deliver the larger torque, said weight end is caused to turn about the fulcrum axis against the larger biasing force to bring said first region to abut against said depressed end to thereby place said biasing member in the heavily compressed position, where the larger biasing force counteracts the larger torque, thereby permitting the lid member to be held in the partially opened position;
• and
• an adjusting member disposed to adjust the position of said abutment end relative to said anchoring end so as to vary the biasing force of said biasing member.