Hinge Mechanisms and Foldable Furniture

A hinge mechanism comprising:

• a central cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central cylinder comprising a first collar pin and a second collar pin axially spaced from the first collar pin protruding outwardly from a surface of the central cylinder;
• a first collar disposed about the central cylinder, the first collar comprising a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis and a first locking channel extending from first rotate channel in an axial direction, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween and the first locking channel extending from the first end of the first rotate channel in the axial direction;
• wherein the first collar pin of the central cylinder cooperates with the first rotate channel of the first collar to limit an axial range of movement between the first collar and the central cylinder in the axial direction;
• wherein the first collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the first collar pin is positioned within the first rotate channel;
• wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;
• the first configuration defined by:
• the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the second end of the first rotate channel of the first collar;
• the second configuration defined by:
• the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the first end of the first rotate channel of the first collar;
• wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the second configuration, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar to position at least a portion of the first collar pin of the central cylinder within the first locking channel of the first collar to transition the hinge mechanism to a first locking configuration
• wherein the central cylinder further comprises an axial channel extending in the axial direction and an axial lock channel extending from the axial channel in a direction transverse to the hinge axis;
• and
• wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a locking collar, the locking collar comprising a locking collar pin protruding inwardly into the axial channel;
• wherein the central cylinder has an axial range of motion relative to the first collar when the locking collar is rotated such that the locking collar pin is positioned within the axial channel and when the hinge mechanism is in the second configuration;
• and wherein the axial range of motion between the central lock cylinder and the first collar is reduced when the locking collar is rotated such that the locking collar pin is positioned within the axial lock channel.

A hinge mechanism comprising:

• a central cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central cylinder comprising:
• a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween;
• a first locking channel extending from the first end of the first rotate channel in an axial direction;
• an axial channel extending in the axial direction;
• and
• an axial lock channel extending from the axial channel in a direction transverse to the hinge axis;
• a first collar disposed about the central cylinder, the first collar comprising a first collar pin protruding inwardly from the first collar into the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;
• a locking collar comprising a locking collar pin protruding inwardly into the axial channel of the central cylinder;
• wherein the first collar pin of the first collar cooperates with the first rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the first collar and the central cylinder in the axial direction;
• wherein the first collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the first collar pin is positioned within the first rotate channel;
• wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;
• the first configuration defined by:
• the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the second end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;
• the second configuration defined by:
• the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the first end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;
• wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the second configuration, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar to position at least a portion of the first collar pin of the first collar within the first locking channel to transition the hinge mechanism to a first locking configuration;
• wherein the central lock cylinder has an axial range of motion relative to the first collar when the locking collar is rotated such that the locking collar pin is positioned within the axial channel and when the hinge mechanism is in the second configuration;
• and
• wherein the axial range of motion between the central lock cylinder and the first collar is reduced when the locking collar is rotated such that the locking collar pin is positioned within the axial lock channel and when the hinge mechanism is in the first locking configuration.