Hinge

A collapsible accessory comprising:

• a frame having at least a first structure and a second structure;
• and
• a hinge located between and attached to the first and second structures, the hinge further comprising:
• a forked body portion;
• a tanged body portion, wherein the tanged body portion is received in and pivotally connected to the forked body portion;
• and
• a latch pivotally connected to one of the forked body portion and tanged body portion, the latch having a hook and a lever portion, the lever portion extending from the latch and generally parallel to the hook;
• a biasing means engaging the lever portion, the biasing means having a longitudinal axis;
• and
• an indentation formed in the one of the forked body portion and tanged body portion not pivotally connected to the latch, wherein the collapsible accessory is prevented from collapsing when the hook is engaged with the indentation and the collapsible accessory can collapse when the hook is disengaged from the indentation;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal axis of the biasing means is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hinge when the collapsible accessory is prevented from collapsing.

A hinge comprising:

• a first body having a latch, the latch is pivotally connected to the first body, at least a portion of the latch extends inside the first body, a grasp connected to a first end of the latch, and a hook portion extending from the first end of the latch;
• a second body attached to the first body and having a catch;
• and
• a biasing means having a longitudinal axis and located entirely within the first body and exerting a force on a second end of the latch, wherein the force urges the latch into retention with the catch;
• wherein when the latch is retained by the catch, the first body cannot move with respect to the second body and when the latch is free from the catch, the first body can move with respect to the second body;
• and
• wherein the latch is movable from retention by the catch to being free from the catch when the grasp is lifted upwards, and
• wherein the longitudinal axis of the biasing means is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first body.

A hinge for pivotally connecting a first structure to a second structure, the hinge comprising:

• a first portion with a fork, a cavity, a recessed portion formed in an outer surface of the first portion and a first boss, the first boss adapted to receive the first structure, wherein the first structure is secured to the first boss by a first fastener and the fork has a first bore formed therein;
• a second portion with a tang, a socket and a second boss, the second boss adapted to receive the second structure, wherein the second structure is secured to the second boss by a second fastener and the tang has a second bore formed therein;
• a first pin received within the first bore and second bore when the tang is within the fork;
• a latch with a hook, wherein the latch is pivotally attached to the second portion and the latch is sized to fit within the cavity and the recessed portion;
• and
• a spring received within the socket and exerting a force on the latch such that the latch is urged towards a locked position, the spring having a longitudinal axis;
• wherein the latch is movable between the locked position in which the hook is engaged in the cavity and the second portion cannot rotate pivotally with respect to the first portion and an unlocked position in which the hook is disengaged from the cavity and the second portion can rotate pivotally with respect to the first portion;
• wherein when the latch is in the locked position, the latch is seated in the recessed portion such that the latch is generally flush with the first portion and the second portion;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal axis of the spring is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first portion and the second portion when the latch is in the locked position.