AU692826B2

AU692826B2 - A hinge assembly

Info

Publication number: AU692826B2
Application number: AU15037/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Robert Upton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-03-23
Filing date: 1995-03-23
Publication date: 1998-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-23
Also published as: AU1503795A

Description

Regulation 3.2 -1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 G42DI:PT-,12r- :IE: S rPE G- X :U X C1-3 -7I- X C)

APPLICANT:

NUMBER:

FILING DATE: ANTHONY ROBERT UPTON Invention Title: A HINGE ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: "A HINGE ASSEMBLY" The present inv-'ation relates to a hinge assembly, and in particular to a hinge assembly which releasably locates the angular position of one hinge member with respect to the other hinge member.

The invention is herein described with reference to a barbeque wherein a leg of the barbeque is one hinge member and the body of the barbeque is the other hinge member. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

For example, the ilinge members may be respectively attached to a working surface such as a table and a folding leg.

Barbeques having folding legs which facilitate transport and storage are well known. Such a barbeque is exemplified in the present applicant's US Patent 5,174,197. In such constructions the legs are pivotably 9; mounted to the body of the barbeque and the angular 20 extent of rotation of each leg is limited by some form of abutment. The legs must be positively retained at the folded or extended positions in order to avoid the tendency of the legs to swing open during transport or collapse when the barbeque is deployed with its legs 25 extended.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprising:a first hinge member; a second hinge member pivotably mounted with respect *o0 9 .9 to the first hinge member for relative rotation about an axis; wherein the first hinge member includes a resiliently displaceable flexible portion extending substantially orthogonally to the axis and the second hinge member includes guide means adapted to be engaged by the resiliently displaceable portion during relative rotation of the hinge members to resiliently flex the resiliently displaceable flexible portion in a direction T I III I I r~1 parallel to the axis.

Preferably also, the resiliently displaceable portion defines a periphery of non-constant radial dimension from the axis, the periphery being engaged by the guide means during relative rotation of the hinge members. In an alternative embodiment the resiliently displaceable portion includes a dimple which protrudes in a direction generally parallel to the axis, the dimple engaging the guide means during relative rotation of the hinge members.

In the preferred embodiment the periphery is bounded by first rotation limiting means which limits relative rotation of the hinge members in a first direction. It is preferred that the first rotation limiting means includes first abutment means.

Most preferably, the periphery defines a first maximum radial dimension adjacent the first abutment means which facilitates an overcentreing effect adjacent the first abutment means. It is also preferred that the 20 periphery is bounded at its other extent by second rotation limiting means which limits relative rotation of the hinge members in a second direction. It is preferred that the second rotation limiting means includes second abutment means. In this embodiment the periphery defines a second maximum radial dimension adjacent the second oe abutment means which facilitates an overcentreing effect adjacent the second abutment means.

Preferably also, the first and second hinge members are hinged together by pintle means. Preferably, the first hinge member includes a pair of axially spaced resiliently displaceable portions, the pintle means includes a pair of opposed pintles disposed on the second hinge member and adapted to be received in a pair of complementary apertures provided in the first hinge member, the opposed pintles and the guide means defining a necked recess in the second hinge member, the opposed pintles defining the open neck of the open recess and the "aTR/ guide means defining the closed end a I I I I- of the recess. In this embodiment the first of the pair of resiliently displaceable portions engages a first side of the recess during relative rotation of the hinge members and the second of the pair of resiliently displaceable portions engages an opposing second side of the recess during relative rotation of the hinge members, whereby the respective resiliently displaceable portions are mutually urged into engagement with opposing sides of the recess.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a portable barbeque assembly including:a cooking plate; a plurality of leg members; and a plurality of hinge assemblies as above.

The first hinge member may be the cooking plate and 15 the second hinge member may be the leg member. However, it .9 -99 S is preferred that the first hinge member is the leg member and the second hinge member is the cooking plate.

In order that this invention may be more easily 9***9 S"understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG 1 is a series of three orthographic views of the first hinge member; FIG 2 is a pair of orthographic views of the hinge 25 assembly according to the invention; S. FIG 3 is a pair of orthographic views similar to FIG 2 in which the hinge members are being rotated relative to one another; FIG 4 illustrates an embodiment wherein the resiliently displaceable portions include axially extending dimples; and FIG 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the second hinge member.

Referring to FIG 1, there is shown in isolation first hinge member 2 of the hinge assembly. First hinge member 2 terminates in an axially spaced pair of resiliently displaceable portions 4. Resiliently displaceable portions 4 each include respective aligned apertures 6 which are s I ~L II L adapted to receive pintles disposed on a second hinge member thereby facilitating relative rotation of the hinge members about axis 8. Resiliently displaceable portions 4 define a periphery 10 of non-constant radial dimension from axis 8. Periphery 10 is bounded on one side by first rotation limiting means, in the form of first abutment means 12, and has a first maximum radial dimension point 14 adjacent first abutment means 12 and a second maximum radial dimension point 16 adjacent second rotation limiting means, in the form of second abutment means 24.

Turning now to FIGS 2 and 3, there is shown a hinge assembly comprising first hinge member 2, as described above, and second hinge member 18 which includes pintles which are received in apertures 6 provided in resiliently 15 displaceable portions 4 of first hinge member 2 to facilitate relative rotation between the two hinge members.

In the illustrated embodiment, pintles 20 are inwardly directed or converging. In an alternative embodiment, pintles 20 are outwardly directed or diverging.

FIG 2 shows first hinge member 2 and second hinge member 18 disposed generally orthogonally with respect to each other. In a barbeque, first hinge member 2 may be a leg of the barbeque and second hinge member 18 may be the body of the barbeque. Accordingly, FIG 2 corresponds to a 25 situation wherein the legs of the barbeque are unfolded and i deployed.

In FIG 2 first abutment means 12 prevents rotation of second hinge member 18 in a clockwise direction with respect to first hinqe member 2. Anticlockwise rotation of second hinge member 18 with respect to first member 2 is resisted by interference with resiliently displaceable portions 4. Accordingly, the relative angular position of one hinge member with respect to the other is releasably located. It will be appreciated that in the case of a barbeque this means the leg of the barbeque is securely retained in the extended position thereby preventing unintentional folding and collapse.

Referring now to FIG 3, there is shown the hinge L L~ I II i i 6 assembly in a state of partial collapse. It will be readily apparent that resiliently displaceable portions 4 must be deflected inwardly by guide means 22, in the form of an arcuate recess, in order to allow anticlockwise rotation of second hinge member 18 with respect to first hinge member 2. Resiliently displaceable portions 4 are progressively deflected inwardly until guide means 22 contacts first maximum radial dimension point 14.

Thereafter, further anticlockwise rotation of second hinge member 18 with respect to first hinge member 2 allows resiliently displaceable portions 4 to recover to their initial state.

This creates an "overcentering" effect between the two hinge members, ie from the unstable position shown in FIG ~15 3, the resilience of resiliently displaceable portions 4 tends to urge second hinge member 18 in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction with respect to first hinge member 2 to a stable position wherein resiliently o displaceable portions 4 have recovered to their undisplaced states.

Second maximum radial dimension point 16 acts in a similar manner to positively but releasably locate the second hinge member 18 at a point of maximum anticlockwise rotation with respect to first hinge member 2. In this 25 position, second hinge member 18 engages second abutment means 24 thereby preventing further rotation.

With further reference to the hinge assembly's utility in a barbeque it will be appreciated that the position in which second hinge member 18 engages second abutment means 24 corresponds to a situation in which the leg of the barbeque is folded for storage or transport. Accordingly, the leg is also positively but releasably located in the folded position.

In FIG 4, the axially extending dimples 30 engage second hinge member 18 during relative rotation to resiliently displace portions 4.

In FIG 5, pintles 20 are outwardly directed to engage first hinge member 2.

-r i i i LI _I I I I II It Uil of course be realised that whilst the above has bei iven by way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

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Claims

1. A hinge assembly comprising:- a first hinge member; a second hinge member pivotably mounted with respect to the first hinge member for relative rotation about an axis; wherein the first hinge member includes a resiliently displaceable flexible portion extending substantially orthogonally to the axis and the second hinge member includes guide means adapted to be engaged by the resiliently displaceable portion during relative rotation of the hinge members to resiliently flex the resiliently displaceable flexible portion in a direction parallel to the axis.

2. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the resiliently displaceable portion defines a periphery of :non-constant radial dimension from the axis, the periphery being engaged by the guide means during relative rotation of the hinge members.

3. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the periphery is bounded by first rotation limiting means which limits relative rotation of the hinge members in a first direction.

4. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the periphery defines a first maximum radial dimension adjacent the first rotation limiting means which facilitates an overcentreing effect adjacent the first rotation limiting means.

A hinge assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the periphery is bounded at its other extent by second rotation limiting means which limits relative rotation of the hinge members in a second direction.

6 A hinge assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the i i i r- II I~ I '9 I periphery defines a second maximum radial dimension adjacent the second rotation limiting means which facilitates an overcentreing effect adjacent the second rotation limiting means.

7. A hinge assembly as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second hinge members are hinged together by pintle means.

8. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the first hinge member includes a pair of axially spaced resiliently displaceable portions, the pintle means includes a pair of opposed pintles disposed on the second hinge member and adapted to be received in a pair of complementary apertures provided in the first hinge member, the opposed pintles and the guide means defining a necked recess in the second hinge member, the opposed pintles defining the open neck of the open recess and the guide means defining the closed end of the recess. 20

9. A hinge assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the first of the pair of resiliently displaceable portions engages a first side of the recess during relative rotation of the hinge members and the second of the pair S 25 of resiliently displaceable portions engages an opposing "second side of the recess during relative rotation of the Shinge members, whereby the respective resiliently displaceable portions are mutually urged into engagement with opposing sides of the recess.

"1 0. A portable barbeque assembly including:- a cooking plate; a plurality of leg members; and a plurality of hinge assemblies as defined in any preceding claim.

11. A portable barbeque assembly as defined in claim Swherein the first hinge member is the leg member and the -oYFr a -0 ry) second hinge member is the cooking plate.

12. A hinge assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying FIGS. a s it 11 ABSTRACT A hinge assembly comprising:- a first hinge member a second hinge member (18) pivotably mounted with respect to the first hinge member for relative rotation about an axis and means for releasably locating the angular position of one hinge member with respect te the other, wherein the hinge members are configured such that relative rotation of the hinge members causes engagement of the hinge members and resilient deflection of at least one of the hinge members in an axial direction. *r ft*