US 4,158,902 AGranted

Integral snap action hinge

OwnerMilton P. Chernack, Armand A. Fiorenzainventors

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Abstract

An improved integral snap action hinge comprises first and second main parts joined together by a plurality of hinge straps each of which includes a flexible intermediate portion which portions are aligned to define a hinge line which accommodates opening and closing of the hinge. Improved hinge also includes first and second hinge members, at least one of which is comprised of a flexible, resilient material. The first hinge member extends upward from the first main part between two of the hinge straps. The second hinge member extends upward from the second main part between the same two hinge straps, and confronts the first hinge member when the hinge is in the open position. The hinge members are so spaced that when the hinge is moved to the closed position the terminus of the first hinge member engages and slides along the confronting surface of the second hinge member, the sliding movement being accommodated by the flexing of the at least one flexible, resilient hinge member until the first hinge member is moved through a position substantially normal to the second hinge member whereupon the resiliency of the at least one hinge member acts to snap the hinge to the closed position.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An integral snap action hinge of the type including a first main part;

a second main part;
and a plurality of hinge straps extending between confronting edge portions of said first and second main parts for joining said parts together, each of said hinge straps having a flexible intermediate portion which portions are aligned to define a hinge line for permitting relative pivotal movement of said first and second parts between an open position in which one surface of said first part is exposed and a closed position in which one surface of said second part is in confronting relation with said one surface of said first part, the improvement comprising:
a first hinge member extending out of the plane of said one surface of said first main part at an angle thereto, said member being disposed at said confronting edge portion of said first main part between two of said plurality of hinge straps with one surface of said member confronting said second main part when said hinge is in said open position;
and
a second hinge member extending out of the plane of said one surface of said second main part at another angle thereto, said second hinge member being disposed at said confronting edge portion of said second main part between said two straps with one surface of said second hinge member in spaced confronting relation with said one surface of said first hinge member when said hinge is in said open position, at least one of said hinge members being comprised of a flexible resilient material, the terminus of said first hinge member being spaced from said one surface of said second hinge member for engaging said one surface of said second hinge member and sliding therealong as said hinge is moved to said closed position, said sliding movement being accommodated by the flexing of said at least one hinge member until said terminus is moved through a position substantially normal to said one surface of said second hinge member whereupon the resiliency of said at least one hinge member effects a force on said main parts having a line of action spaced from said hinge line, the moment of said force about said hinge line biasing said first and second main parts to said closed position.

2 more elements

An integral snap action hinge of the type including a first main part;

a second main part;
and a hinge strap extending between confronting edge portions of said first and second main parts for joining said parts together, said hinge strap having a flexible intermediate portion which defines a hinge line for permitting relative pivotal movement of said first and second parts between an open position in which one surface of said first part is exposed and a closed position in which one surface of said second part is in confronting relation with said one surface of said first part, the improvement comprising:
a first pair of hinge members extending out of the plane of said one surface of said first main part at an angle thereto, said members being disposed at said confronting edge portion of said first main part on either side of said hinge strap with one surface of each of said members confronting said second main part when said hinge is in said open position;
and
a second pair of hinge members extending out of the plane of said one surface of said second main part at another angle thereto, said second hinge members being disposed at said confronting edge portion of said second main part on either said of said strap with a surface of each of said second hinge members in spaced confronting relation with the first hinge member opposite thereto when the hinge is in the open position, at least one of the hinge members in each pair being comprised of a flexible resilient material, the termini of said first pair of hinge members being spaced from said second hinge member surfaces for engaging same and sliding therealong as said hinge is moved to said closed position, said sliding movement being accommodated by the flexing of said flexible resilient hinge members until said termini are moved through a position substantially normal to said second hinge member surfaces whereupon the resiliency of said at least one hinge member in each pair effects a force on said main parts having a line of action spaced from said hinge line, the moment of said force about said hinge line biasing said first and second main parts to said closed position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.