# US 2024/0189730 A1 · Bistable pivot hinge

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- Number: US 2024/0189730 A1
- Document ID: US20240189730A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/537,624
- Filed: 2023-12-12
- Published: 2024-06-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-13
- Assignees: Lovefrom, Inc.
- Inventors: Patrick Kessler; Jeremy Bataillou; Benoit Louzaouen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240189730A1

## CPC

- A63H 33/003: {Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes}
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

## Abstract

Embodiments described herein take the form of a bistable hinge. The bistable hinge typically includes an elastic element and a pair of rigid structures. Each rigid structure in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of pivot cylinders connected to a rotating surface, as well as a detent formed on a portion of the rotating surface. The elastic element is retained by the detent, such that the spring force of the elastic element, when stretched, is transmitted to the rigid structure. The rigid structure may incorporate any suitable protrusions, retainers, or the like around which the elastic element extends in lieu of the illustrated detents. As the elastic element is stretched during operation of the hinge, the elastic element maintains contact with the detents. Further, as the hinge transitions from a closed state to an open state, the detents stretch the elastic element, thereby applying tension to it.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A toy, comprising:
an expandable body;
a first rotating surface attached to a first portion of the expandable body;
a second rotating surface attached to a second portion of the expandable body;
a first detent attached to the first rotating surface;
a second detent attached to the second rotating surface;
a bistable hinge, comprising:
an elastic element attached to the first rotating surface and the second rotating surface; and
a pivot structure attached to the first and second rotating surfaces; wherein:
as the first and second rotating surfaces rotate, a tension in the elastic element changes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The toy of claim 1, further comprising a securement strip affixing the first rotating surface to the second rotating surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The toy of claim 2, wherein:
the securement strip is a first securement strip; and
a second securement strip further affixes the first rotating surface to the second rotating surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The toy of claim 2, wherein the securement strip is affixed to a first surface of the first rotating surface and affixed to a second, opposing surface of the second rotating surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The toy of claim 1, wherein:
the tension in the elastic element increases as the first and second rotating surfaces move further from one another; and
the tension in the elastic element decreases as the first and second rotating surfaces move towards one another.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The toy of claim 1, wherein:
The expandable body defines a honeycomb shape; and
the expandable body expands as the first and second rotating surfaces move away from one another.

### Claim 7

A bistable hinge, comprising:
an elastic element;
a first rotating surface attached to the elastic element;
a second rotating surface attached to the elastic element;
a first detent attaching the first rotating surface to the elastic element; and
a second detent attaching the first rotating surface to the elastic element; wherein:
the elastic element biases the first and second rotating surfaces to a first position when the elastic element is on a first side of a pivot plane; and
the elastic element biases the first and second rotating surfaces to a second position when the elastic element is on a second side of the pivot plane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The bistable hinge of claim 7, wherein the pivot plane includes a pivot axis about which the first and second rotating surfaces rotate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The bistable hinge of claim 7, wherein:
an internal tension of the elastic element increases as the bistable hinge opens; and
the internal tension of the elastic element decreases as the bistable hinge closes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The bistable hinge of claim 7, wherein:
the first and second rotating surfaces move rotationally about a pivot axis within the pivot plane; and
the first and second rotating surfaces are constrained from moving laterally with respect to one another.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The bistable hinge of claim 10, further comprising at least one securement strip affixed to the first rotating surface and the second rotating surface, wherein the at least one securement strip permits rotational movement of the first and second rotating surfaces but constrains the first and second rotating surfaces from moving laterally with respect to one another.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The bistable hinge of claim 7, wherein the elastic element is in an unstable equilibrium with respect to the pivot axis when the first and second rotating elements are within or parallel to the pivot plane.

### Claim 13

A pivot structure, comprising:
a first pivot cylinder;
a second pivot cylinder abutting the first pivot cylinder;
a first securement strip passing between the first and second pivot cylinders and attached to the first pivot cylinder; and
a second securement strip passing between the first and second pivot cylinders and attached to the second pivot cylinder; wherein:
the first and second pivot cylinders revolve about a pivot axis defined along abutting surfaces of the first and second pivot cylinders.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The pivot structure of claim 13, wherein:
the first securement strip is further attached to the second pivot cylinder; and
the second securement strip is further attached to the first pivot cylinder.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The pivot structure of claim 13, wherein:
the first and second securement strips permit the first and second pivot cylinders to revolve about the pivot axis; and
the first and second securement strips prevent lateral motion of the first and second pivot cylinders with respect to one another.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The pivot structure of claim 13, further comprising:
a third pivot cylinder attached to the first pivot cylinder by a first rotating surface; and
a fourth pivot cylinder attached to the second pivot cylinder by a second rotating surface; wherein:
the third and fourth pivot cylinders revolve about the pivot axis; and
the pivot axis intersects abutting surfaces of the third and fourth pivot cylinders.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The pivot structure of claim 16, wherein:
the first securement strip is further attached to the third cylinder;
the second securement strip is further attached to the fourth cylinder;
the first securement strip passes through the pivot axis; and
the second securement strip passes through the pivot axis.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The pivot structure of claim 17, wherein:
the first securement strip defines a first cutout;
the second securement strip defines a second cutout; and
the first and second cutouts permit the first and second securement strips to pass through the pivot axis without overlapping one another laterally.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The pivot structure of claim 18, wherein the securement strips permit the pivot cylinders to revolve 180 degrees about the pivot axis.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The pivot structure of claim 17, further comprising:
a first rotating structure attached to the first pivot cylinder, second pivot cylinder, first securement strip, and second securement strip; and
a second rotating structure attached to the third pivot cylinder, fourth pivot cylinder, first securement strip, and second securement strip; wherein:
the first and second securement strips permit the first and second rotating structures to rotate about the pivot axis but inhibit lateral motion of the first and second rotating structures with respect to one another.