CN108652212B

CN108652212B - Double-hinge magnetic cover device

Info

Publication number: CN108652212B
Application number: CN201710207302.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: H.梁; J.杨; C.Y.尹
Original assignee: Haworth Inc
Current assignee: Haworth Inc
Priority date: 2017-03-31
Filing date: 2017-03-31
Publication date: 2021-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-31
Also published as: CN108652212A

Abstract

The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus includes a lid and a rim. The cover includes a ferromagnetic U-shaped detent disposed on an inner surface of the cover and proximate the first and second longitudinal sides of the cover. The bezel includes first and second spaced-apart pairs of hinge housings and a magnet disposed in each hinge housing. A first latch is received between the first pair of hinge housings defining a first pivot axis and a second latch is received between the second pair of hinge housings defining a second pivot axis. The cover is non-simultaneously pivotable about first and second pivot axes to provide access through the access aperture in the work surface from both sides of the longitudinal axis of the dual-hinge magnetic cover device.

Description

Double-hinge magnetic cover device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cover device adapted to be mounted in an access hole provided through a surface, and more particularly to a dual-hinge magnetic cover.

Background

On work surfaces, such as tables, often include a desktop computer port or receptacle to connect the electronic device to a power and data source remote from the electronic device. Some desktop computer ports have unsightly exposed electrical and data connections. Some worksurfaces provide a desktop computer port that can be opened and closed so that the port can be hidden from view when not in use. However, these ports typically open in only one direction, thus effectively limiting access to the wiring passing through the port to one side of the work surface.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus, for example, which may be mounted in an access hole through a work surface to provide access through the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus from either longitudinal side of the work surface.

In one embodiment, a dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus includes a lid and a bezel. The cover includes: at least one first detent disposed on the inner surface of the cover and proximate to the first longitudinal side of the cover; and at least one second detent disposed on the inner surface of the cover and proximate the second longitudinal side of the cover. The bezel includes first and second hinge housings. The at least one first latch is received by the first hinge housing, the at least one first latch defining a first pivot axis. At least one second latch is received by the second hinge housing, the at least one second latch defining a second pivot axis. Each of the detents is magnetically attracted to an associated one of the housings. The cover is non-simultaneously pivotable about first and second pivot axes to provide access through access holes in the work surface from both sides of the longitudinal axis of the dual-hinge magnetic cover device.

According to another embodiment, a magnet is disposed in each hinge housing and each said detent is ferromagnetic such that each magnet attracts a respective ferromagnetic detent.

In another embodiment, a dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus includes a lid with at least one first ferromagnetic detent defining a first axis and at least one second ferromagnetic detent defining a second axis parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis. The cover device includes a bezel with first and second spaced-apart pairs of hinge housings. Each housing has a slot through an upper portion of the housing, and a magnet and a damper are positioned in each housing. The first and second detents are received through slots in the housings, and a magnet in each housing attracts a respective at least one first or second detent. The cover pivots about the first and second pivot axes non-simultaneously, and the damper provides slow pivoting of the cover. The lid pivots between a first open position, a second open position and a closed position, the first and second open positions providing access through the aperture in the work surface from opposite sides of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus.

According to another embodiment, a dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus includes a lid and a bezel. The cover has a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis. The cover also includes at least one ferromagnetic detent extending along each of the first and second pivot axes. The bezel includes laterally and longitudinally spaced hinge housings and magnets disposed in each hinge housing. At least one ferromagnetic detent of the first pivot axis is received between the first opposing hinge housings and at least one ferromagnetic detent of the second pivot axis is received between the second opposing hinge housings. The cover is non-simultaneously pivotable about both the first and second pivot axes between a first open position, a closed position, and a second open position, the first and second open positions being on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the dual-hinge magnetic cover device.

According to another embodiment, a gap is defined between the perimeter of the cover and the perimeter of the bezel, and the wires or wiring may extend through the gap when the cover is in the closed position.

In another embodiment, the longitudinal walls of the bezel and the longitudinal sides of the lid may be lengthened or shortened to change the overall length of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in various other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways alternative methods not specifically disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Additionally, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. The use of enumeration should not be construed to limit the invention to any particular order or number of components unless explicitly stated otherwise. The use of enumeration as such should not be interpreted as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that may be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two dual-hinge magnetic cover devices mounted in holes through a work surface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus illustrating a first open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus, illustrating a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus illustrating a second open position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the hinge housing of the dual hinge magnetic lid apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge housing of FIG. 7, illustrating a closed position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge housing of FIG. 7, illustrating an open position; and

fig. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of a dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating scalability of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus.

Detailed Description

A dual-hinge magnetic cover device 10 installed in a desktop, desk or work surface 12 is shown in fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the example illustrated in fig. 1 shows two cover devices 10 mounted in access holes 14 in a work surface 12 or other similar piece of furniture. Two cover devices 10 are shown in fig. 1; they are open to opposite sides of the work surface 12 and provide access through the cover device 10 from either longitudinal side of the work surface 12. The cover device 10 provides convenient and aesthetic access to power and data lines or sockets located below the work surface 12 for use with electronic equipment or the like atop the work surface 12. Of course, it should be understood that more or fewer cover devices and/or other positioning arrangements may be utilized.

Structure of the product

Fig. 2-6 illustrate the cover device 10 according to fig. 1 in isolation. The cover device 10 includes a cover 20 and a rim 22. The cover 20 is a generally planar member, and is illustrated as rectangular in the example figures. The cover 20 includes first and second

longitudinal sides

24 and 26, first and second

lateral sides

28 and 30, and inner and

outer surfaces

32 and 34. The cover 20 includes a pair of

detents

36, 38 mounted adjacent the inner surface 34. In one embodiment, the

detents

36, 38 include at least one ferromagnetic U-shaped first detent 36 and at least one ferromagnetic U-shaped second detent 38.

Detents

36 and 38 may be disposed proximate first and second

longitudinal sides

24 and 26, respectively. In addition, first latch 36 defines a first longitudinal pivot axis 40, and second latch 38 defines a second longitudinal pivot axis 42 that is parallel to first pivot axis 40 and spaced from first pivot axis 40.

First latch 36 may be received within a channel 48 formed on inner surface 32 of cover 20. In the illustrated example, the first detent 36 extends substantially the length of the cover 20. Alternatively, the first detent 36 may employ two separate and longitudinally spaced

detents

36a and 36 b.

Detents

36a and 36b are positioned adjacent

lateral sides

28 and 30 of lid 20. Second detents 38 and

detents

38a and 38b are substantially and respectively similar to first detents 36 and

detents

36a and 36b and are not described herein for the sake of brevity. Any of the aforementioned detents may be attached to the cover 20 in any suitable manner. For example, the detent may be: integral with the cover 20, inserted into the channel 48 and retained within the channel 48, or mechanically attached to the inner surface 32 of the cover 20 with an adhesive, fastener, clip, weld, or the like.

The bezel 22 includes an outer edge 50 that includes first and second

longitudinal walls

52 and 54 and first and second

transverse walls

56 and 58. The outer edge 50 includes

corners

60, 62, 64, and 66 enumerated in the figures for purposes of description. The bezel 22 further includes a flange or lip 68 around the upper end of the outer rim 50.

Referring now to fig. 2 and 7-9, the bezel includes a plurality of hinge housings 80. The housing 80 is positioned generally adjacent the four corners 60-66 of the bezel 22 and is arranged in longitudinally spaced pairs. Each housing 80 has a central bore 82 and a bore or slot 84 extending from an upper portion of the housing 80 to the central bore 82. In one embodiment, a damper 86 and a magnet 88 are positioned within each housing 80. (see fig. 2) in the illustrated example, the damper 86 is a rotary-type damper that includes a body 90 and a pin 92 extending from the body 90. The pin 92 extends into the central bore 82 of the housing 80 and the magnet 88 is positioned inside the housing 80 below the damper 86.

Referring to fig. 7 and 10, the bezel 22 includes opposing first and second end blocks 98 and 100. The first end block 98 is molded as a single piece including the two spaced apart housings 80, the inner transverse wall 102 and the lower flange 104. The second end block 100 is generally similar and includes the remaining two housings 80, an inner transverse wall 102 and a lower flange 104. The bezel 22 may also include interior side rails 106 and 108. Inner side rails 106 and 108 extend longitudinally between the opposing end blocks 98 and 100, and each side rail includes a lower flange 110. The end blocks 98 and 100 and the interior side rails 106 and 108 are secured to the inside of the bezel outer edge 50 by screws, rivets or other suitable types of fasteners.

The cover 20 is received by the bezel 22. First and

second detents

36 and 38 are received between respective pairs of hinge housings 80 of bezel 22. According to one embodiment, the distal ends of the

first detents

36a and 36b are inserted into the slots 84 of the opposing housing 80, and as shown in fig. 8, each

U-shaped detent

36a and 36b is paired with a respective damper pin 92.

Second latches

38a and 38b are inserted into housing 80 in the same manner. The orientation of the lid 20 of fig. 4, 6 and 8 defines the closed position B. In this closed position B, the

latches

36 and 38 are positioned within the housing 80 generally adjacent to the magnet 88 such that the magnet 88 attracts the

ferromagnetic latches

36 and 38. When the cover 20 is in the closed position B, the

latches

36, 38 are not locked within the hinge housing 80; however, the cover 20 is held to the rim 22 by the magnetic force between the

ferromagnetic detents

36 and 38 and the magnet 88.

The exemplary cover device is illustrated as rectangular; however, circular, oval or other shaped cover devices are within the scope of the present invention. Further, it should be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the magnet and ferromagnetic portion may be exchanged such that the magnet 88 is positioned in the

detents

36, 38 and the housing includes a ferromagnetic surface that is attracted to the magnet. In another embodiment, it is possible that the

detents

36, 38 are only on one end of the cover 20.

Operation of

Referring now to fig. 3-5, the lid 20 is pivotable between a first open position a, illustrated in fig. 3, a closed position B, illustrated in fig. 4, and a second open position C, illustrated in fig. 5, about both the first and second pivot axes 40, 42 non-simultaneously. The first and second open positions a and C provide access from opposite sides of the lid assembly 10 through the open center of the lid assembly 10.

To pivot the cover 20 to the first open position a of fig. 3, the user lifts the second longitudinal side 26 of the cover 20 to overcome the magnetic force between the second detent 38 and the magnet 88. Second latch 38, oriented in the closed position B shown in fig. 8, is lifted out of slot 84 in hinge housing 80 and lid 20 is then free to pivot about first pivot axis 40. As the cover 20 pivots, the first latch 36 and the damper pin 92 rotate about the first pivot axis 40, which is the cross-section of the bezel 22 and the cover 20 oriented in the first open position a, as shown in fig. 9. As cover 20 pivots, first latch 36 is held within central aperture 82 of hinge housing 80 by pin 92 and cannot be pulled out of slot 84, thereby locking first latch 36 within hinge housing 80. In addition, when the user pushes the lid 20 back to the closed position B, the dampener 86 resists pivoting and helps maintain the lid 20 in the pivoted position, also providing a cushioned or slow closure.

To pivot the lid 20 to the second open position C, the lid 20 must first return to the closed position B of fig. 5. The user lifts first longitudinal side 24 of lid 20 from closed position B to overcome the magnetic force between first detent 36 and magnet 88. With the first latch 36 lifted out of the slot 84 in the hinge housing 80, the cover 20 is then free to pivot about the second pivot axis 42. As described above, when the cover 20 pivots, the second latch 38 and the damper pin 92 rotate about the second pivot axis 42, illustrated in fig. 5. Thus, pivoting the cover 20 about either

pivot axis

40, 42 rotates the

respective pawl

36, 38 and damper pin 92 within the hinge housing 80 and locks the

hinge

36, 38 within the hinge housing 80. In addition, the damper 86 enables cushioned pivoting of the lid 20 between the open and closed positions A, B and C.

In use, the cover device 10 may be installed in an aperture 14 through a table top, desk or work surface 12. Referring back to fig. 1, the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus 10 provides access through the work surface 12 so that power cords, cables, wiring and the like can be routed from beneath the work surface 12. Routing wires and cables from under the table keeps the surface of the table clean and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, each cover device 10 may be opened from either side, providing access to the user on either side of the work surface 12. The cover device 10 and the aperture 14 in the work surface 12 may be sized such that the cover device 10 snap fits into the aperture 14. Adhesive, tape, serrations, or other suitable retaining means may also be used to retain the cover device 10 within the aperture 14.

The lid 20 and bezel 22 are sized such that a gap 114 is defined between the outer periphery of the lid 20 and the inner periphery of the bezel 22. Referring to fig. 5, when the cover is in the closed position B, although power lines or wiring are not shown, they may extend through the gap 114. Thus, a user may pivot the lid 20 to one of the open positions a or C, withdraw the wires or cords, and then close the lid 20 with the wires or cords extending through the gap 114. Of course, the lid 20 may also be left in either of the open positions a or C. This aspect of the cover device 10 allows wires or cabling to be routed from beneath the work surface 12 to the user, reducing the length of wire that must be snaked across the work surface 12.

Referring to fig. 10, in another embodiment, the overall length of the cover device 10 is scalable to suit the needs of different customers. That is, the length of the cover 20 and the length of the bezel 22 may be increased or decreased. More specifically, with respect to bezel 22,

longitudinal walls

52 and 54 and

inner rails

106 and 108 may be made longer or shorter. For example,

longitudinal walls

52 and 54, inner side rails 106 and 108, and lid 20 may be made of extruded aluminum for a relatively easy manufacturing method of scaling. The end blocks 98 and 100 are not required to be re-sized and may be used generally with any selected length of cover device 10. This is particularly beneficial if the end blocks 98 and 100 are injection molded, which requires relatively expensive injection molds.

The above description is that of the current embodiment of the invention. Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. The disclosure has been presented for purposes of example and should not be construed as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the particular elements illustrated or described in connection with such embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element of the described invention may be replaced by an alternative element providing substantially similar functionality or otherwise providing suitable operation. For example, this includes presently known substitute elements, such as those that may be presently known to those skilled in the art, and substitute elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that may be recognized as alternatives by developing those skilled in the art. In addition, the disclosed embodiments include multiple features that are described in concert, and that may cooperate to provide an array of benefits. The present invention is not limited to all embodiments that include all of these features or that provide the benefits set forth, unless expressly set forth otherwise in the issued claims. Features from different embodiments may be used in combination with features from other embodiments. Directional terms, such as "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "upper," "lower," "inner," "inward," "outer," "outward," "forward," and "rearward," are used to help describe the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the drawings. The use of directional terms should not be construed to limit the invention to any particular orientation. In the singular, for example, using the articles "a" and "an" or "the," any reference to an element of a claim is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

Claims

1. A dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus adapted to be mounted in an access hole in a work surface, the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus comprising:

a cover defining first and second longitudinal sides and an inner surface and an outer surface, the cover including at least one first detent disposed on the inner surface of the cover and proximate the first longitudinal side, and at least one second detent disposed on the inner surface of the cover and proximate the second longitudinal side;

a bezel comprising first and second hinge housings; and

a rotary damper disposed in each hinge housing;

wherein the at least one first detent is received by the first hinge housing, the at least one first detent defines a first pivot axis, the at least one second detent is received by the second hinge housing, the at least one second detent defines a second pivot axis, each of the detents being magnetically attracted to an associated one of the housings, wherein the cover is non-simultaneously pivotable about the first and second pivot axes to provide access through the access aperture in the working face from both sides of the longitudinal axis of the dual-hinge magnetic cover device,

wherein each damper includes a pin extending from the damper,

the dual-hinge magnetic cover device includes two longitudinally-spaced U-shaped first detents and two longitudinally-spaced U-shaped second detents, wherein the pin of each damper is received within a respective detent.

2. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 1, wherein a magnet is disposed in each hinge housing, and wherein each of the detents is ferromagnetic such that each magnet attracts the corresponding ferromagnetic detent.

3. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lid pivots about one of the first or second longitudinal axes between the open position and the closed position.

4. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 3, wherein pivoting the lid about either longitudinal axis rotates the pawl and damper pin within the hinge housing and locks the pawl within the hinge housing, wherein the damper enables cushioned pivoting of the lid between the open and closed positions.

5. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bezel defines first and second longitudinal walls and first and second transverse walls, the transverse walls being attached between adjacent longitudinal walls, the hinge housing being formed in the transverse walls.

6. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 5, wherein the longitudinal walls of the rim and the longitudinal sides of the lid can be lengthened or shortened to change the overall length of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus.

7. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid and rim are sized such that a gap is defined between the perimeter of the lid and the rim, wherein power wires or cabling can extend through the gap when the lid is in the closed position.

8. A dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus adapted to be mounted in a hole in a work surface, the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus comprising:

a cover comprising at least one ferromagnetic detent defining a first axis and at least one second ferromagnetic detent defining a second axis parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis; and

a bezel comprising first and second spaced apart pairs of hinge housings, each housing including a slot through an upper portion of the housing, and a magnet and a damper positioned in each housing, wherein the at least one first and second detents are received through the slots in the housings, the magnet in each housing attracting the respective at least one first or second detent,

wherein the cover pivots non-simultaneously about first and second pivot axes and the damper provides slow pivoting of the cover, wherein the cover pivots between a first open position, a second open position, and a closed position, the first and second open positions providing access through the aperture in the work surface from opposite sides of the dual-hinge magnetic cover device,

the damper is a rotary type damper and includes a pin extending from the damper,

9. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 8, wherein a gap is defined between a perimeter of the lid and a perimeter of the bezel, wherein wires or cabling can extend through the gap when the lid is in the closed position.

10. The dual-hinge magnetic cover device of claim 8, wherein pivoting the cover rotates the pawl and damper pin within the hinge housing, thereby locking the pawl within the hinge housing.

11. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detent is not locked within the hinge housing when the lid is in the closed position, but the lid is held to the bezel by a magnetic force between the ferromagnetic detent and the magnet.

12. A dual-hinge magnetic lid device, comprising:

a cover including a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis parallel to and spaced apart from the first pivot axis, at least one ferromagnetic detent extending along each of the first and second pivot axes; and

a bezel including laterally and longitudinally spaced hinge housings and magnets disposed in each hinge housing and dampers disposed in at least two of the hinge housings;

wherein the at least one ferromagnetic detent of the first pivot axis is received between the first opposing hinge housings and the at least one ferromagnetic detent of the second pivot axis is received between the second opposing hinge housings, wherein the lid is capable of non-simultaneous pivoting about both the first and second pivot axes between a first open position, a closed position, and a second open position, the first and second open positions being on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus,

wherein each damper includes a pin extending therefrom, wherein the damper is capable of cushioned pivoting of the lid between the first and second open and closed positions,

wherein at least one of the detents of the first and second pivot axes is U-shaped and the pin of each damper is received within the respective detent.

13. The dual-hinge magnetic cover device of claim 12, wherein pivoting the cover rotates the pawl and damper pin within the hinge housing, thereby locking the pawl within the hinge housing.

14. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detent is not locked within the hinge housing when the lid is in the closed position, but the lid is held to the bezel by a magnetic force between the ferromagnetic detent and the magnet.

15. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lid and rim are sized such that a gap is defined between the perimeter of the lid and the rim.

16. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bezel defines first and second longitudinal walls and first and second transverse walls, the transverse walls being attached between adjacent longitudinal walls, the hinge housing being formed in the transverse walls.

17. The dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal walls of the rim and the longitudinal sides of the lid can be lengthened or shortened to change the overall length of the dual-hinge magnetic lid apparatus.