Detented and dampened hinge mechanism
AssigneeSouthco, Inc.
InventorFabrice Vitry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A detented and dampened hinge mechanism with push-pull and pull-push operation is disclosed. The present invention relates generally to a hinge mechanism that includes a first arm and a second arm that are pivotally connected to one another such that the arms can be moved relative to one another between a closed position and an open position. A damper is fitted into a cutout of the second arm such that the damper can engage with a length of teeth of the first arm when the hinge mechanism moves between the open and closed positions. Biasing means is fitted between hooks or bosses of the arms, and biases the first and second arms toward the open position.
Claims19
A scissor-type arm hinge mechanism for opening and closing a swinging structure, with a push-pull and pull-push operation, comprising:
- a first fixed arm mounted to a fixture;
- a second movable arm pivotally connected to said first arm, said second arm being connectable to said swinging structure thereby moving it when said second arm is pivoted between open and closed positions;
- a curvilinear guide way in one of said arms for defining the arc swing of the movable arm with respect to the fixed arm;
- a cam follower guide member extending from a face of the other of said arms and into said curvilinear guide way to effect the arc swing;
- an articulation guide way in said second movable arm, extending in a direction which is radial to the arched path of said curvilinear guide way in said first fixed arm as said second movable arm pivots with respect thereto, said articulation guide way being engagable with a connection to said swinging structure;
- and
- means for biasing said first and second arms to a selected position.
A hinge mechanism, comprising:
- a first arm;
- a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm, whereby said arms are moved relative to one another between a closed position and an open position, said second arm having a receiving structure thereon;
- a damper fitted on said second arm receiving structure;
- a track positioned on said first arm for said damper to operate against when said first and second arms move between said first and second position;
- and
- means biasing said first and second arms to a selected position;
- wherein said track is a toothed track and said damper is a friction gear engaging said tooth track;
- wherein said receiving structure is a cutout of said second arm in which said friction gear is mounted;
- and
- wherein said biasing means is a spring member which biases said first and second arms to the open position.
A detented and dampened hinge mechanism with push-pull operation, comprising:
- a first elongate fixed member mountable to a first structure;
- a second elongate movable member mountable to a second structure, said first and second members being pivotally connected for movement in a plane of the elongate extension of each;
- a dampening structure mounted to said second elongate movable member and movable therewith, said dampening structure operating between the first and second elongate members to control the relative rate of pivoting motion there between, said dampening structure including a rotating member on said second elongate movable member which operates against said first elongate fixed member;
- and
- a detent for holding said first and second elongate members in a selected pivoted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.