Thrust bearing assembly in a pinless hinge structure
OwnerAustin R. Baerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thrust bearing assembly for a pinless hinge structure having two longitudinally extending hinge members which are rotatory joined to each other and a longitudinally extending clamp member. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust bearing member having multiple bearing support surfaces which are longitudinally joined to each other. Each bearing surface is preferably non metallic and extends laterally across adjacent longitudinal edges of the hinge members to inhibit relative longitudinal movement between the hinge members.
Claims15
A thrust bearing assembly for and in combination with a pinless hinge structure including two longitudinally extending geared hinge members and a clamp member, said geared hinge members being rotatably joined to each other and having a plurality of recesses, each of which is common to the two hinge members, said clamp member holding the gear members together so that they do not separate laterally, said thrust bearing assembly comprising:
- a thrust bearing member having multiple projections which are joined longitudinally to each other and extend into the recess where they are provided with bearing support surfaces that extend laterally across adjacent longitudinal edges of said hinge member to inhibit relative longitudinal movement between said hinge members, each bearing member corresponding in cross-sectional configuration substantially to the interior of the clamp member and being long enough to inhibit twisting of the bearing member.
A thrust bearing assembly for and in combination with a pinless hinge structure including two longitudinally extending geared hinge members which are rotatably joined to each other and a clamp member for holding the gear members together so that they do not separate laterally, said thrust bearing assembly comprising:
- a thrust bearing member having a series of longitudinally spaced lateral projections which are substantially fixed in position with respect to each other on the bearing member and extend through a series of longitudinally spaced, coextensive lateral recesses defined along adjacent longitudinal edges of said hinge members so that each recess lies in both of the hinge members, each of said projections on said bearing member defining upper and lower bearing support surfaces which extend across the upper and lower margins of a respective lateral recess to inhibit longitudinal movement of the hinge members relative to each other, the bearing member also having a web connecting the projections and being located within the clamp member, the web having concave surfaces which conform to and receive the gear segments on the hinge members.
A thrust bearing assembly for and in combination with a hinge structure including two longitudinally extended and intermeshed geared hinge members which are longitudinally movable relative to each other, unless restrained, and a clamp member for maintaining the geared hinge members in mesh as they rotate, each geared hinge member including a gear segment extending along a longitudinal edge thereof, said bearing assembly comprising:
- a longitudinally extended bearing member with at least two longitudinally joined and spaced lateral projections extending through longitudinally spaced lateral recesses defined along adjacent longitudinal edges of said hinge members, each of said projections being joined to another by a web configured with a cross-sectional thickness which resists breakage when a cantilevered force is applied by either hinge member to the projection joined thereto, and wherein each projection extends across the adjacent longitudinal edges of the hinge members to inhibit longitudinal displacement of one hinge member relative to the other, the bearing member being formed from a non-metallic material.
A hinge comprising:
- first leaf formed from metal and having a gear segment along one of its longitudinal edges and notches which open laterally out of the gear segment;
- a second leaf formed from metal and having a gear segment along one of its longitudinal edges and notches which opens laterally out of its gear segment, the gear segment of the second leaf being coupled with the gear segment of the first leaf so that the second leaf can rotate relative to the first leaf, the notches in the second leaf opening into the notches in the first leaf;
- a clamp engaged with the gear segments of the leaves and holding the gear segments together while permitting the second leaf to rotate relative to the first leaf;
- a bearing member extended along the gear segments and having a plurality of projections which fit into the notches of the leaves to prevent the leaves from being disposed longitudinally with respect to each other, the bearing member further having reduced web sections located between adjacent projections and generally preventing the projections from twisting with respect to each other, the bearing member being formed from a nonmetallic material with each of its projections being thicker than the leaves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.