GB2327705A

GB2327705A - Receptacle with wide-angle hinge structure

Info

Publication number: GB2327705A
Application number: GB9716026A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi-Meng Liao
Original assignee: Umax Data System Inc
Current assignee: Veutron Corp
Priority date: 1997-07-29
Filing date: 1997-07-29
Publication date: 1999-02-03
Also published as: GB9716026D0

Abstract

A receptacle, e.g. in the casing of a computer, has a hinge structure (2) which allows the cover (3) of the receptacle to be turnable to a maximum opening angle of 270‹. This reduces the risk of the cover being bumped into and damaged. The hinge structure comprises first and second elongate pieces (20,21) extending lengthwise of the hinge, the first piece (20) having couplers (22) which engage first hinge pins on the main body (1) and the second piece (21) having second hinge pins (23) engaged with couplers (31) on the cover.

Description

"RECEPTACLE WITH WIDE-ANGLE HINGE STRUCTURE" This invention relates to receptacles, and more particularly, to a receptacle with a wide-angie hinge structure that allows the hinged cover (or door) of the receptacle to be alrnable to a maximum angular position of 2700 from its closed position.

A receptacle is a rectangular box having a hinged cover which can be used for the accommodation or storage of various devices or articles therein. For instance, the casing of high-end computers is usually provided with such receptacles for accommodating various computer devices, such as hard disk drives and CD-ROM drives therein. These receptacles are usually provided with hinged covers that can cover these devices and can be turned open to replace the devices accommodated therein. Conventionally, these hinged covers are hinged to the receptacles by simple hinge means, such as forming holes in the receptacle to receive pins that are mounted on the covers. This hinge means allows the cover to be turnable about the pins so as to open or close the cover. One drawback to the conventional hinge means. howevcr, is that the hinged cover can be turned open from its closed position only to a maximum angular position of from 90 to 1800 (assume the closed position is 0 ), and no more than 1800. In the 90 to 1800 positions, the cover can be easily bumped into by the user or by various articles hcld by the user, which can easily cause the covcr to be damaged.

Moreover, when turning open the cover to replace or repair the computer devices accommodated in the receptacles, placing the cover at an angular position of 90 to 180 may hinder the user, preventing him from doing the replacement or repairs in a convenient manner. There exists, therefore, a need for a receptacle with a wide-angle hinge structure that allows the cover to be turned opcn to a maximum angular position of more than 180 , preferably 270 whcrc the cover is abutted on the Literal side of the receptacle.

It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provided a receptacle with a wide-angle hinge structure that allows the cover of the receptacle to be tumable to an angular position of more than 1800 from its closed position.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a receptacle with a wideangle hinge structure which can provide secured storage or safe-keeping of articles therein.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a receptacle with a wide-angle hinge structure that allows the cover of the receptacle to be capable of being easily mounted and dismounted.

In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the present invention, a receptacle with a wide-angle hinge structure for the cover of the receptacle is provided.

The receptacle of the invention includes a main body; a hinged cover, and a hinge structure for connecting the hinged cover to the main body, the hinge structure allowing the hinged cover to be tumble to a maximum angular position of 270 from the closed position.

The main body has a hollowed inside for accommodating articles therein. Moreover, the main body has a front side formed with a recessed portion having a ceiling on the top and a floor on the bottom. A pair of first hinge pins are provided on the ceiling and floor of the recessed portion respectively.

The hinge structure includes a first elongated piece; a second elongated piece arranged substantially in parallel alongside the first elongated piece; at least a pair of hinge-pin couplers formed on the first elongated piece, the first hinge-pin couplers being engaged to the first hinge pins on the main body so as to couple the hinge structure to the main body; and at least a pair of second hinge pins formed on the second elongated piece.

The second set of hinge pins and at least a pair of second hingc-pin couplers formed on the hinged cover allow the hinged cover to be hinged with the hinge structure by means of engaging the second hinge-pin couplers onto the second hinge pins. l his allows the hinged cover to be turnable about the second elongated piece within an angular range of 1800.

Further, the hinge structure can be hinged onto the main body by means of engaging the first hinge-pin couplers with the first hinge pins. This allows the hinged cover to be tumable about the first elongated piece within an angular range of 90 . In combination, the foregoing arrangcrnent allows the hinged cover to be turnable within an angular range of from 0 (the closed position) to 2700. The first and second elongated pieces can be either integrally molded or else formed separately and then combined by conventional bonding means such as by gluing.

The hinged cover is a rectangular flat piece formed with the second hinge-pin couplers on one side and an angled edge serving as a locking piece on the other side. The hinged cover is hinged to the hinge structure by means of engaging the second hinge-pin couplers thereon with the second hinge pins on the hinge structure. In closed position, the hinged cover is accommodated in the recessed portion of the main body. The hinged cover is locked in the closed position by means of fastening the locking piece thereon to the main body by convcntional fastening means, such as forming a corresponding recess in the main body.

In another preferred embodiment, the hinged cover can be constructed by jointing two flat pieces by together conventional hinge means. This allows the hinged cover to be folded by folding the two flat pieces together.

In still another preferred embodiment, the provision of the hinge pins on the main body and the corresponding hinge-pin couplers on the hinge structure can be interchanged; in other words, the main body is provided with hinge-ptn couplers while the first elongated piece is provided with corresponding hinge pins. Nk)rcover, the provision of the hinge pins on the second clongatcd piece and the corresponding hingc-pin couplers on the hinged cover can be interchanged also; in other words, the second elongated piece is provided with hinge-pin couplers while the hinged cover is provided with corresponding hinge pins. This also allows the hinged cover to be tumble to the above-mentioned maximum angular position.

Moreover, the paired hinge pins and hinge-pin couplers can be provided on both sides of the binged cover and correspondingly on both sides of the main body, such that the hinged cover can be turned open in either direction.

In order to allow the hinged cover to be easily mountable and dismountable to and from the hinge structurc, the hinge-pin couplers arc eiastic ring-like dampers that can clamp the hinge pins firmly therein. The cutaway portion in the ring-like couplers has a width less than the diameter of the hinge pins so that the hinge pins can be fastened by the couplers by pushing forcibly through the cutaway portion into the couplers and be firmly clamped thcrein.

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of the receptacle with a wide-angle hinge structure according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 when the hinged cover thereof is mounted to the main body of the receptacle; FIG. 3 is a schematic scctional view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 when the hinged cover thereof is turned by an angle of about 135 from its closed position; rIG. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 when the hinged cover thereof is turned by an angle of about 270" fiom its closed position; and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of the receptacle with a wide-angle hinge structure according to the invention.

Referring to FiGs. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of the invention includes a rectangular main body 1, a hinge structure 2 pivotally coupled to side of the main body 1, and a hinged cover 3 which is hinged on the hinge structure 2.

The main body 1 has a hollowed inside 10 for storage of articles therein. Moreover, the main body 1 has a front side formed with a recessed portion 11 having a ceiling 110 on the top and a floor 112 on the bottom. A pair of first hinge pins 12 are respectively provided on the ceiling 110 and floor 112 of the recessed portion 11.

The hinge structure 2 includes a first elongated piece 20, a second elongated piece 21 which is arranged in substantially parallel alongside the first elongated piece 20, a pair of first hinge-pin couplers 22 formed on both ends of the first elongated piece 20, and a pair of second hinge pins 23 formed on both ends of the second elongated piece 21. Corresponding to the second hinge pins 23, a pair of second hinge-pin couplers 31 are provided on the hinged cover 3, allowing the hinged cover 3 to be hinged onto the hinge structure 2 by means of engaging the second hinge-pin couplers 31 with the second hinge pins 23. This allows the hinged cover 3 to be turnable about the second elongated piece 21 within an angular range of 1800. Further, the hinge structure 2 can be hinged on the main body 1 by means of engaging the first hinge-pin couplers 22 with the first hinge pins 12. This allows the hinged cover 3 to be hlrnable about the first elongated piece 20 within an angular range of 900. In combination, the foregoing arrangement allows the hinged cover 3 to be turnable within an angular range of from 0 (the closed position) to 2700. The first and second elongated pieces 20, 21 can be either integrally molded or else formed separately and then combined by conventional bonding means such as gluing.

The hinged cover 3 is a rectangular nat piece 30 formed with the second hinge-pin couplers 31 on one side and an angled edge serving as a locking piece 32 on the other side.

Ibe hinged cover 3 is hinged to the hinge structure 2 by means of engaging the second hinge-pin couplers 31 thereon to the second hinge pins 23 on the hinge structure 2. In closed position, the hinged cover 3 is accommodated in the recessed portion 11 of the main body 1.

The hinged cover 3 is locked in the closed position with the main body 1 by means of fastening the locking piece 32 on the hinged cover 3 to a corresponding recess (not shown) formed on the twin body 1.

HG. 3 is a schematic diagram used to depict the feature of the hinged cover 3 of the receptacle of FIG. 1. In particular, this diagram shows that the hinged cover is turned by an angle of about 135 from its closed position. When the user pulls the hinged cover 3 away from its closed position, the hinged cover 3 will bc turning about the hinge structure 2. When the hinge structure 2 is held still, the hinged cover 3 can be is turned by an angle of 135 from its closed position. Howcwvcr, when the hinge structure 2 is turned about the first elongated piece 20 by an angle of 90 it will be stopped since the second elongated piece 21 is stopped by the outcr wall of the main body 1. At this time, the hinged cover 3 can further be turned about the second elongated piece 21 by an angle of; for example 450, to a position as illustratcd in FIG. 3.

If the user keeps turning the hinged cover 3, it can be turned to a position as illustrated in FIG. 4 where the hinged cover 3 is turned by an angle of 270 away from the closed position, which is the maximum angular position where the hinged cover 3 can be turned away from its closed position. At this angular position of 2700 the hinged cover 3 is substantially abutted on the lateral side of the main body 1.

FIG. 5 shows a second prcfcrrcd cmbodimcnt of the receptacle with a hinged cover according to the invention. This embodiment is substantially identical in structure to the foregoing first preferred embodiment, exccpt that the hinged cover (herein designated instead by the reference numeral 3') is constructed by jointing two Ilat pieces 30', 32' by conventional hinge means 34'. This allows the hinged cover 3' to be Molded by folding the lwo fiat picces 30', 32' together.

In conclusion, the invention allows the hinged cover of a receptacle or the like to be turned open to a maximum angular position of 2700 where the hinged cover is substantially abutted on the lateral side of the receptacle, such that the hinged cover can be prevented from being damaged due to somebody body accidentally bumping into it. It also allows the utilization of the receptacle to be more convcnicnt.

Claims

CLAJMS 1. A receptacle, comprising: a main body; a hinged cover; and a hinge structure for hinging said hinged cover to said main body, said hinge structure allowing said hingcd cover to be turnable to a maximum angular position of 270 from a closed position.
2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said main body is formed with a recesscd portion having a ceiling and a floor for said hinged cover to be accommodated therein when said hinged cover is in the closed position.
3. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein said main body includes a pair of first hinge pins formed on the ceiling and floor of said recessed portion thereof.
4. The receptacle of claim 1 , wherein said hinge structure includes: a first elongated piece; a second elongated piece arranged substantially in parallel alongside said first elongated piece; at least a pair of first hinge-pin couplers formed on said first elongated piece, said first hinge-pin couplers being engaged to said first hinge pins on said main body so as to couple said hinge structure to said main body; and at least a pair of second hinge pins formed on said second elongated piece.
5. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein said first elongated piece is integrally formed with said second elongated pierce.
6. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein said thirst elongated piece is jointed to said second clongated piece by means of gluing.
7. The receptacle of claim t, wherein said hinged cover is a rectangular ilat piece having a first edge side formed with at Icast a pair oLsccond hingc-pin couplers thereon and a second side formed with a locking piece; wherein said second hinge-pin couplers bcing engaged with said second hinge pin on said hinge structure, while said kicking piece is fastened to said main body when said hinged cover is in the closed position.
8. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein said hinge structure includes at least one first hinge-pin couplers on the ceiling and floor of said recessed portion.
9. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said hinge structure includes: a first elongated piece; a second elongated piece arranged substantially in parallel al1it,qide said first elongated piece; at least a pair of first hinge pins formed on said first elongated piece, said first hinge pin being engagcd to said first hinge-pin couplers on said main body so as to couple said hinge structure to said main body; and at Icast a pair of second hinge-pin couplers formed on said second elongated piece.
10. The receptacle of claim 9, wherein said first elongated piece is integrally formed with said sccond elongated piece.
11. The receptacle of claim 9, wherein said first elongated piece is jointed to said second elongated piece by means of gluing.
12. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said hinged cover is a rectangular flat piece having a first edge side formed with at least a pair of second hinge pins thereon and a second side formed with a locking piece; wherein said second hinge pins is engaged to said second hinge-pin couplers on said hinge structure, while said locking piece is fastened to said main body when said hinged cover is in the closed position.
13. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said hinged cover includes: a first flat piece hinged by said hinge structure to said main body; and a second flat piece jointed to said Iirst flat piece by hinge means.

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