US 7,320,152 B2 | ||
Self-latching hinge assembly | ||
David A. Lowry, Wayne, Pa. (US); and Mark Cooper, Norristown, Pa. (US) | ||
Assigned to Southco, Inc., Concordville, Pa. (US) | ||
Filed on Jul. 22, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/188,228. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/590690, filed on Jul. 24, 2004. | ||
Prior Publication US 2006/0048337 A1, Mar. 09, 2006 | ||
Int. Cl. E05F 1/08 (2006.01); E05C 17/64 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 16—342 [16/303; 16/297; 16/330; 16/334; 16/340; 361/680; 361/681; 361/682; 361/683] | 24 Claims |
1. A hinge assembly, comprising:
a main member having a main cam member and a bore extending generally along an axis of rotation of the main member;
a shaft extending through the bore along the axis of rotation, the shaft having an end;
a pivot member fixed to the end of the shaft and rotatable with respect to the main member, the pivot member having a pivot
cam member that abuts the main cam member;
at least one torque element engaged with the shaft and substantially rotationally fixed with respect to the main member, the
shaft being rotatable with respect to the at least one torque element with the at least one torque element imparting a first
frictional resistance to the shaft with rotation of the shaft in a first direction and a second frictional resistance to the
shaft with rotation of the shaft in a second direction, the first frictional resistance being greater than the second frictional
resistance, wherein interaction of the main cam member with the pivot cam member assists in maintaining the hinge assembly
in at least first and second positions;
a cam insert on which the main cam member is disposed, the cam insert being disposed at least partially within the bore of
the main member and slideable along the axis of rotation of the main member; and
a spring abutting the cam insert to bias the cam insert along the axis of rotation, wherein the cam insert slides axially
along the axis of rotation during rotation of the pivot member with respect to the main member due to the interaction between
the main cam member and the pivot cam member.
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