CN-122003537-A - Hinge with double pivot shafts

CN122003537ACN 122003537 ACN122003537 ACN 122003537ACN-122003537-A

Abstract

A hinge with dual axes, the hinge comprising two hinge members, each hinge member having a hinge leaf and one or more knuckles, a pivot pin received in a longitudinally extending bore in each knuckle, each pivot pin further received in one of two openings on one or more connector plates interconnecting the hinge members, and one or more springs biasing the hinge members toward a closed position such that the knuckles are rotatably disposed adjacent one another, each hinge member being independently rotatable about one of the two pivot axes, and there being only a single seam between the two knuckles as the hinge members move between open and closed configurations. In one embodiment, the connector of the integrated connection board covers and conceals the springs.

Inventors

A. L. Dubois
DUBOIS LAWRENCE H.

Assignees

意驰珠宝有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20240726
Priority Date: 20230808

Claims (20)

1. A hinge having dual pivot axes, the hinge comprising: Two hinge members, each hinge member having a hinge leaf and one or more knuckles, each of the one or more knuckles extending along an inner edge of the hinge leaf and having an axially extending bore, Two or more pivot pins, and One or more connector plates, each having two spaced apart axially extending openings, Each of the two or more pivot pins is received in the aperture of the one or more knuckles of one of the hinge members and in one of the two openings of each of the one or more connector plates such that each of the one or more connector plates connects at least two of the two or more pivot pins, each pivot pin defining a pivot axis about which one of the hinge members pivots, Such that the one or more connector plates connect the hinge members such that the knuckle of one of the hinge members is disposed immediately adjacent to the knuckle of the other of the hinge members to form a slot, and each of the hinge members is independently rotatable about the pivot axis of one of the two or more pivot pins to enable the hinge leaves to pivot relative to each other between open and closed configurations.
2. The hinge of claim 1, further comprising: The one or more connector plates, including top and bottom connector plates, A coupler comprising the top and bottom connector plates and a connector body extending between and integrally connecting the top and bottom connector plates, each of the openings of each of the one or more connector plates being axially aligned with the aperture of the one or more knuckles of one of the hinge members.
3. The hinge of claim 2, further comprising: two or more coil springs, the coils of each spring defining a central bore, each of the springs having two ends, One of the pivot pins is received in the central bore of each of the two or more coil springs, One end of each of the two or more springs is biased against the connector body and the other end of the spring is biased against one of the hinge leaves, such that the two or more coil springs bias the hinge leaves to the closed configuration.
4. The hinge of claim 1, further comprising: Any structural connection between the hinge leaves is substantially hidden behind the adjacently disposed knuckles when viewed from the front.
5. The hinge of claim 4, further comprising: The distance between the inner edges of the hinge leaves along the slit defines a pitch, The inner edge of each of the hinge leaves has an arc shape with a radius about the joint thereof such that the spacing between the inner edges remains constant during the pivoting movement of the hinge leaves.
6. The hinge of claim 1, further comprising: The one or more joints of each hinge member comprise two or more joints comprising a top joint and a bottom joint spaced from the top joint, the top joint having a bottom end and the bottom joint having a top end, A length of each pivot pin extends between the bottom end of the top knuckle and the top end of the bottom knuckle of one of the hinge members, and The one or more connector plates, including top and bottom connector plates, A coupler comprising the top and bottom connector plates and a connector body extending between and integrally connecting the connector plates, the connector body and connector plates forming an inner cavity within which the length of the pivot pin is maintained so that they are hidden.
7. The hinge of claim 6, further comprising: The connector body has a rear wall and two side walls extending from the rear wall, the side walls intersecting the top and bottom plates, the rear wall, side walls, and top and bottom plates defining the cavity.
8. The hinge of claim 6, further comprising: the connector plate is disposed between the top and bottom knuckles of the hinge.
9. The hinge of claim 1, further comprising: One or more elastomers biasing the hinge leaves toward the closed configuration.
10. The hinge of claim 9, further comprising: the one or more elastomers include two or more coil springs, each of the springs having two ends, each end secured to one of the pivot pins.
11. The hinge of claim 10, further comprising: The inner edge of each of the hinge leaves has an arcuate shaped section extending between the top and bottom knuckles thereof, The arcuate shaped section is movable between an open configuration in which the arcuate shaped section of the hinge leaf is disposed in a retracted position relative to the one or more springs and does not contact or hardly contact the one or more springs, and a closed configuration in which the arcuate section is disposed in a rearwardly projecting position in contact with the one or more springs and tightens them such that the springs urge the hinge leaf toward their position in the closed configuration.
12. The hinge of claim 10, further comprising: One or more additional joints disposed between the two coil springs.
13. The hinge of claim 9, further comprising: each hinge leaf of the two hinge parts has a free end, The one or more elastomers include a leaf spring having a middle portion and two opposing outer portions, the middle portion being trapped between the inner edge of the hinge leaf and the two pivot pins, each of the outer portions being captured against one of the hinge leaves between the pivot pin and the free end thereof.
14. The hinge of claim 13, further comprising: each hinge leaf has a slit in which each outer portion of the leaf spring is captured in the slit of one of the hinge leaves.
15. The hinge of claim 14, further comprising: A retaining bar having opposite ends attached to the hinge leaves, the retaining bar having an intermediate portion between the opposite ends, the intermediate portion being spaced apart from the hinge leaves, thereby forming the slit.
16. The hinge of claim 14, further comprising: At least one of the outer portions of the leaf spring has a slot, A fastener secured to one of the hinge leaves by the slot, the fastener having a head with a width greater than a width of the slot, The outer portion of the leaf spring is slidably captured between the head of the fastener and the hinge leaf such that the outer portion slides against the hinge leaf during pivotal movement of the hinge member.
17. The hinge of claim 1, further comprising: The two pivot pins being connected by a bridge.
18. A hinge with dual pivot axes, comprising: two hinge members, each hinge member having a hinge leaf and top and bottom knuckles, each knuckle extending along an inner edge of the hinge leaf and having an axially extending bore, the top knuckle having a bottom end and the bottom knuckle having a top end, the knuckle of each hinge member being disposed immediately adjacent the knuckle of the other hinge member, Two pivot pins, each pivot pin having a length extending between the bottom end of the top knuckle and the top end of the bottom knuckle of one of the hinge members, and A coupler having top and bottom connector plates, each of the top and bottom connector plates having two spaced apart openings extending axially in parallel alignment with the two pivot pins, and an inner cavity, the coupler being disposed between the bottom end of the top knuckle and the top end of the bottom knuckle, the length of the pivot pins being maintained within the cavity such that they are hidden, Each of the two pivot pins is received in the apertures of both the knuckles of one of the hinge members and in one of the openings of each of the top and bottom connector plates of the coupler, each pivot pin defining a pivot axis about which one of the hinge members pivots, Such that the couplers connect the hinge members such that each hinge member is independently rotatable about one of the pivot axes to enable the hinge leaves to pivot between open and closed configurations.
19. A hinge with dual pivot axes, comprising: Two hinge members, each hinge member having a hinge leaf and top and bottom knuckles, each knuckle extending along an inner edge of the hinge leaf and having an axially extending bore, the top knuckle having a bottom end and the bottom knuckle having a top end, Two pivot pins, each pivot pin having a length extending between the bottom end of the top knuckle and the top end of the bottom knuckle of one of the hinge members, and A coupler having a rear wall, opposite side walls extending from the rear wall, and having top and bottom connector plates and an interior cavity, the rear wall, side walls and top and bottom connector plates defining the cavity, each of the top and bottom connector plates having two spaced apart openings, the length of the pivot pin being disposed within the cavity so that they are hidden, Each of the two pivot pins is received in the apertures of both the knuckles of one of the hinge members and in one of the openings of each of the top and bottom connector plates of the coupler, each pivot pin defining a pivot axis about which one of the hinge members pivots, Such that the coupling connects the hinge members such that the knuckle of one of the hinge members is disposed adjacent to the knuckle of the other of the hinge members, and such that each hinge member is independently rotatable about one of the pivot axes, thereby enabling the hinge leaf to pivot between open and closed configurations.
20. A hinge having dual pivot axes, the hinge comprising: two hinge members, each hinge member having a hinge leaf and top and bottom knuckles, each knuckle extending along an inner edge of the hinge leaf, each knuckle having a top end, a bottom end and a bore extending axially between the top and bottom ends, The two pivot pins are provided with a plurality of pivot pins, A coupler having a top connector plate, a bottom connector plate, and a connector body extending between and integrally connecting the top and bottom connector plates, each of the top and bottom connector plates having two spaced apart axially extending openings, and Two coil springs, the coils of each spring defining a central bore, each of the springs having two ends, each of the two pivot pins being received in the central bore of one of the two coil springs, one end of each of the springs being biased against the coupler, the other end of the spring being biased against one of the hinge leaves, One of the openings of each of the top and bottom connector plates of the coupler is axially aligned with the aperture of the knuckle of one of the hinge members, and one of the two pivot pins is received in the aperture of both the top and bottom knuckle of one of the hinge members, and is received in one of the openings of each of the top and bottom connector plates of the coupler, Such that the couplers connect the hinge members such that the knuckle of one of the hinge members is disposed immediately adjacent to the knuckle of the other of the hinge members, and such that each of the hinge members is independently rotatable about one of the pivot pins, thereby enabling the hinge leaves to pivot between open and closed configurations.

Description

Hinge with double pivot shafts Background Technical Field The present invention relates generally to hinges, and more particularly to hinges having dual pivot axes, some embodiments of which are spring biased or hinges that conceal the hinge joint and form a single visible seam between two adjacent hinge leaves. Background In many hinge mechanisms and applications (e.g., hair accessories, jewelry, folding electronics, cabinets), it is desirable that only a single external slit be present, with no visible joints. This may be achieved by a plurality of approximately parallel pins. Furthermore, some applications require independent movement of the two leaves of the hinge. Other applications require a large range of motion (> 180 °). Still other applications require a spring mechanism to return the blade to its original position. The previous inventions do not address all of these issues. Disclosure of Invention The invention disclosed herein relates to a functional hinge with only a single slit between the leaves that is easily visible from the outer portion. The hinge can open more than 180 deg. without requiring a visible joint (although they are not excluded). This is accomplished by using one or more pairs of approximately parallel pins. There is an auxiliary inner part guiding the rotation axis. This may be an additional body member, one or more springs, or a combination of body members and springs that allow the blade to be easily opened and closed back to its original state. It is critical that the vanes not be coupled and independently movable (although coupling is not precluded by the present invention). One or more springs may be used to provide tension to the hinge assembly and return the leaves toward their original position. Drawings Fig. 1A is an upper perspective elevation view of a hinge with dual pivot axes according to the present invention shown in a closed configuration. Fig. 1B is an exploded upper perspective rear view thereof shown in a partially open configuration. Fig. 1C is a rear perspective view of the upper left thereof showing the hinge in an assembled partially open configuration. Fig. 1D is an upper front view of a connector according to the present invention. FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1E-1E of FIG. 1C. Fig. 1F and 1G are a perspective view and a plan view of the upper left side of the connector board according to the present invention. Fig. 2A is an upper perspective elevation view of a second embodiment of a hinge with dual pivot shafts according to the present invention shown in a closed configuration. Fig. 2B is an exploded upper perspective rear view thereof shown in a partially open configuration. Fig. 2C is a rear perspective view of the top left thereof showing the hinge assembled and in a closed configuration. Fig. 2D is a rear perspective view of the upper left thereof showing the hinge in an assembled open configuration. Fig. 2E is an upper perspective rear view of a third embodiment of a hinge similar to the hinge shown in fig. 2A-2C, shown in a partially open configuration. Fig. 3A is an upper perspective elevation view of a hinge with dual pivot shafts according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in an open configuration. Fig. 3B is an upper perspective rear view thereof shown in a closed configuration. Fig. 3C is an exploded top left perspective rear view thereof shown in a closed configuration. Fig. 3D is an upper left perspective rear view of an explosion shown in a partially open configuration. Fig. 3E is a perspective view of the fastener seen in fig. 3D. Fig. 4A is an upper perspective view of a bracelet using a biaxial hinge according to the invention. Fig. 4B is an enlarged upper perspective rear view of the hinge of the bracelet shown in fig. 4A. Fig. 5A is a rear perspective view of the upper left side of a hairpin using a biaxial hinge according to the invention. Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the right side thereof. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a hinge having two axes. Fig. 7 is an upper perspective view of another embodiment thereof. Fig. 8A is an upper perspective rear view of another embodiment thereof shown in an open configuration. Fig. 8B is an upper perspective rear view thereof shown in a closed configuration. Fig. 8C is an upper perspective elevation view thereof shown in a closed configuration. Fig. 8D is an upper perspective rear view thereof shown in a partially open configuration. Fig. 8E is an exploded upper perspective rear view thereof. Detailed Description A hinge having dual pivot shafts according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A hinge with dual pivot axis (generally referenced 100 in fig. 1A and 1B) comprises two hinge members 101, each hinge member having one or more knuckles 120 extending along an inner edge 105 of the hinge member and a hinge leaf 102, the hinge leaf 102 having a mounting hol