NL2014206A

NL2014206A - Lockable hinge, lockable hinge set and lockable hinge assembly.

Info

Publication number: NL2014206A
Application number: NL2014206A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Maarten Terlouw Erik
Original assignee: Valoridat B V
Priority date: 2015-01-28
Filing date: 2015-01-28
Publication date: 2016-09-28
Also published as: NL2014206B1

Abstract

A lockable hinge comprising: a first member, a second member hingedly in engagement with the first member for allowing a forward and backward rotation from any position of said second member relative to said first member with respect to an axis of rotation, wherein the rotation of said second member relative to said first member proceeds from a first locked position via an intermediate position to a second locked position, a third member being resilient in at least the longitudinal direction along the axis of rotation, the first, second, and third member are enclosed along the axis of rotation in a predetermined space, the first member having a first contact area, the second member having a second contact area configured to contact the first contact area, the first contact area and the second contact area being configured to interlock the first member relative to the second member.

Description

LOCKABLE HINGE, LOCKABLE HINGE SET AND LOCKABLE HINGE ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lockable hinge. A lockable hinge is in general a part of a mechanism allowing a first member and a second member to move with respect to each other around an axis of rotation, wherein the first member has a first contact area and the second member has a second contact area configured to cooperate by contacting the first contact area. The hinge is capable of locking at a plurality of incidences around said axis of rotation. More specifically the invention relates to a lockable hinge that can be used in a reclining chair for the forward and backward adjustment and the locking in multiple positions of the backrest of such chair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A lockable hinge may be used as a system to adjust the angle between two interconnected members around an axis of rotation, such as, for example, the angle of the backrest of a chair in relation to the seating part, after which the hinge is locked within this position, keeping the backrest in place. Lockable hinges allow for manual adjustment of one member with respect to the other, and are widely used in fields such as home appliances wherein such a lockable hinge may be applied in a mechanism for adjusting the position of a lamp. Such lockable hinge may also be applied in furniture, such as garden furniture, amongst others, to form reclining seats. Such a lockable hinge enables the locking of the backrest in both a forward and backward locking position and are known in the state of the art. A problem of the lockable hinges known in the art is that they result in complicated designs consisting of many parts which require long assembly and installation time and usually result in high manufacturing costs.

It is an object of the invention to alleviate the above mentioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the invention provides a lockable hinge comprising: a first member; a second member hingedly in engagement with the first member for allowing a forward and backward rotation from any position of said second member relative to said first member with respect to an axis of rotation, wherein the rotation of said second member relative to said first member proceeds from a first locked position via an intermediate position to a second locked position; the first member having a first contact area, the second member having a second contact area configured to contact the first contact area, wherein the lockable hinge comprises a third member being resilient in at least the longitudinal direction along the axis of rotation, the first, second, and third member being enclosed along the axis of rotation in a predetermined space, the first contact area having first interlocking means circularly distributed with respect to the axis of rotation, the second area having second interlocking means circularly distributed with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the first interlocking means and the second interlocking means are configured to interlock the first member relative to the second member, and wherein, in the first and the second locked position, the third member is biased and extends over a first length in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation, while in the intermediate position, the third member extends over a second length in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation, the second length being smaller than the first length.

Another aspect of the invention provides a lockable hinge set comprising a first lockable hinge according to the invention and a second lockable hinge according to the invention, wherein the second member of the first lockable hinge coincides with the second member of the second lockable hinge, forming a first one-piece member. A further aspect of the invention provides a lockable hinge assembly comprising a lockable hinge set according to the invention and comprising a third lockable hinge according to the invention, wherein the first member of the second lockable hinge coincides with the first member of the third lockable hinge, forming a second one-piece member.

Another further aspect of the inventions provides a reclining chair comprising a lockable hinge assembly according to the invention, wherein the lockable hinges are concatenated to form a backbone of a reclining chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The first aspect of the invention concerns the lockable hinge according to claim 1. Thus, a lockable hinge is provided that can be assembled of a minimal amount of parts, as the use of the first, second and third element within the predetermined space enables the adjustment of the first member with respect to the second member in both a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction, without requiring any further parts. The interlocking means on the first and second contact area are circularly distributed with respect to the axis of rotation. In this way, the lockable hinge can be locked on a plurality of incidences dispersed over the contact area of the first and second member.

In an embodiment, the first interlocking means on the first contact area are provided with first protrusions and the second interlocking means on the second contact area are provided with second recesses for receiving the first protrusions. In this way, a hinge may be in a first locked position when the first protrusions are inserted in the second recesses hindering a rotational movement of the second member relative to the first member.

In an embodiment, the first interlocking means on the first contact area are provided with first protrusions and the second interlocking means on the second contact area are provided with second protrusions, and the first interlocking means on the first contact area are provided with first recesses for receiving the second protrusions and the second interlocking means on the second contact area are provided with second recesses for receiving the first protrusions. In this way, the first and second interlocking means are distributed over the first and second contact area respectively, both forming a robust engagement of the contacting areas in the locked position.

In an embodiment, the first and second protrusions and the first and second recesses on each contact area alternate circularly around the axis of rotation. In this way, the first and second interlocking means are distributed over the first and second contact area respectively, both forming a robust engagement of the contacting areas in the locked position and providing a smooth transition from the first locked position via the intermediate position to the second locked position, resulting in a stable hinge structure which is rigid in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation.

In an embodiment, the first and the second protrusions and the first and second recesses form a wave-shape over the surface of the contact area. In this way, the first and second interlocking means are distributed over the first and second contact area respectively, both forming a robust engagement of the contacting areas in the locked position and a smooth transition from the first locked position via the intermediate position to the second locked position and backward from the second locked position via the intermediate position to the first locked position, the second member rotating relative to the first member in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction around the axis of rotation respectively.

In an embodiment, the wave-shape is sinusoidal. In this way, a torque to be exerted on the second member relative the first member required for a clockwise transition from the first locked position via the intermediate position to the second locked position is substantially similar to a torque for an anti-clockwise transition.

In an embodiment, the third member is a spring being biased in such a way that the second member is able to rotate relative to the first member by exerting a torque on the first member relative to the second member, the torque exceeding a predetermined threshold value for releasing from the first locked position. As long as a torque applied on the first member relative to the second member is lower than the threshold value, the first member does not rotate relative to the second member. As soon as a torque applied on the first member relative to the second member exceeds the threshold value, the first member rotates relative to the second member around the axis of rotation. In this way, an unintended rotation is prevented and a rotation is possible when the manual torque is applied

In an embodiment, the threshold value is chosen such that the rotation of the second member relative to the first member from a locked position to an intermediate position can be achieved by exerting a torque by manual force. In this way, the lockable hinge can directly be manually adjusted by a user.

In an embodiment the third member comprises two resilient elements, one of them disposed on the side of the first member facing away from the second member and the other of them disposed on the side of the second member facing away from the first member, wherein the two resilient elements are enclosed within the predetermined space. This arrangement allows, during a rotation of the second member relative to the first member, both resilient elements to be compressed over a similar stroke, resulting in opposite lateral movements of the first and the second member in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, thereby equalizing the motion of a structure connected to the first and second members.

In an embodiment, the predetermined space is defined by a first and second delimiting element disposed around the axis of rotation. In this way, a movement of the lockable hinge along the axis of rotation is delimited in both directions, delimited within the predetermined space containing the first, second, and third member.

In an embodiment, the first delimiting element is the first member. Within this arrangement the first member is provided around the axis of rotation in a fixed position, biasing the second member and the third member between said first member and a second delimiting member on the side of the resilient member facing away from the second member. This arrangement makes the addition of a delimiting member in addition to the first member unnecessary.

In one embodiment, the first, second, and third member are disposed around a shaft having an axis of rotation, wherein the first and/or second delimiting element are/is formed by a broadening of the thickness or the diameter of the shaft. The broadening of the thickness or diameter of the shaft delimits an axial movement of the first, second and third member placing these members in abutment and biasing the third member within this space. This embodiment makes the addition of additional delimiting members unnecessary.

The second aspect of the invention concerns the lockable hinge set according to claim 13. According to the invention, the second member of the two lockable hinges can be mutually connected to one another forming the lockable hinge set. The second member of a first lockable hinge coincides with the second member of a second lockable hinge, forming a first one-piece member. In this way, two lockable hinges can be concatenated to form an element, such as the backrest of a chair, which can be adjusted at two individual incidences along its surface.

The third aspect of the invention concerns the lockable hinge assembly according to claim 14. According to the invention, a lockable hinge set cooperates with a third lockable hinge forming the lockable hinge assembly comprising a concatenation of several lockable hinges providing an assembly which is adjustable at a plurality of incidences along its surface.

The fourth aspect of the invention concerns a reclining chair according to claim 15. According to the invention, a backbone can be assembled that is only adjustable at desired incidences, such as around the headrest, within the backrest or in the seating part, while still maintaining a single concatenated backbone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of the lockable hinge according to the invention, wherein the lockable hinge is in a locked position.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the lockable hinge according to the invention, wherein the lockable hinge is in an intermediate position.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the lockable hinge according to the invention, wherein the lockable hinge is in an intermediate position, and wherein the third member comprises two resilient elements according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the lockable hinge according to the invention, wherein the second member is provided with a chamber allowing an accommodation of the third member.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of a lockable hinge set according to the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic top view of a lockable hinge assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a first application of the lockable hinge assembly according to the invention, wherein the lockable hinge assembly is contained within a reclining chair.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a second application of the lockable hinge assembly according to the invention, wherein two lockable hinge assemblies are contained within a reclining chair.

It should be noted that items which have the same reference numbers in different figures, have the same structural features and the same functions, or are the same signals. Where the function and/or structure of such item has been explained, there is no necessity for repeated explanation thereof in the detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugates does not exclude the presence of members or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an member does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such members. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Referring to Fig. 1, a lockable hinge 1 is shown comprising a shaft 2 having a centre line 3 defining an axis of rotation 3. A first member 100, and a second member 200, and a third member 300 are disposed around the shaft 2. The first member 100 is hingedly in engagement with the second member 200. The third member 300 being resilient in at least the longitudinal direction of the shaft 2. The first and second member 100, 200 are hingedly in engagement for allowing a forward and backward rotation from any position of said second member 200 relative to said first member 100 around the axis of rotation 3, wherein the rotation of said second member 200 relative to said first member 100 proceeds from a first locked position, depicted in Fig. 1, via an intermediate position, depicted in Fig. 2 to a second locked position, like in Fig. 1.

The first member 100 has a first contact area 110, as shown in Fig. 4. The second member 200 has a second contact area 210 configured to contact the first contact area 110. The first contact area 110 has first interlocking means 120 circularly distributed with respect to the axis of rotation 3. The second contact area 210 has second interlocking means 220 circularly distributed with respect to the axis of rotation 3, wherein the first interlocking means 120 and the second interlocking means 220 are configured to interlock.

The first, second, and third member 100, 200, 300 are enclosed along the axis of rotation 3 in a predetermined space 40 shown in figure 1 and 2. The predetermined space 40 limits the pre-compression or biasing of the third member 300, and a lateral movement of the first member 100 with respect to the second member 200 along the axis of rotation 3, to within this space. In the first and the second locked position, the third member 300 is biased and extends over a first length 60, as can been seen in Fig. 1. In the intermediate position, the third member 300 extends over a second length 70 being smaller than the first length 60, as can be seen in Fig. 2. In this intermediate position, first protrusions 180 of the first contact area 110 are opposite to second protrusions 280 of the second contact area 210, being pressed against each other, causing a maximum compression of the third member 300. In this intermediate position, the third member 300 is biased more than in the first and/or second locked position.

Bringing the hinge from the first position locked to the second locked position requires a torque on the first member 100 relative to the second member 200 to overcome a resistance caused by a force, in particular a friction force, generated by the compression of the third member 300. When the lockable hinge 1 is in an intermediate position, and the torque is released, the lockable hinge 1 will, under the influence of the imposed expansion capacity of the third member 300, return to the first position or, depending on the actual angle of rotation, come into the second position automatically.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the third member 300 is a resilient element disposed between the second member 200 and a first delimiting member 420, disposed around the shaft 2 on the side of the third member 300 facing away from the second member 200. The resilient member 300 may be selected from, but is not limited to, a resilient cushion, a spring, a wave spring depicted in figure 4, a coil spring, a disc spring, a blade type spring and the like.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment wherein the first delimiting member 420 and a second delimiting member 410, disposed around the shaft 2 on the side of the first member 100 facing away from the second member 200, define the predetermined space 40 between which the first, second and third member 100, 200, 300 are in abutment. In this way, the predetermined space 40 delimits movement of the resilient member 300 along the axis of rotation 3, thereby biasing the resilient member 300 at least when the lockable hinge 1 is in an intermediate position.

Fig. 2 shows the lockable hinge 1 in an intermediate position, wherein the interlocking means 120, 220 of the first and second member 100, 200 are not engaged, but rather in an indifferent position, allowing hinging of the second member 200 relative to the first member 100 around the axis of rotation 3. In this example, the first interlocking means 120 on the first contact area 110 are a combination of alternating first protrusions 180 and first recesses 190. The second interlocking means 220 on the second contact area 210, are a mirrored copy of the first interlocking means 120, equally comprising alternating second protrusions 280 and second recesses 290.

In the intermediate position, the first contact area 110 is released from the second contact area 210. In this position, the first and second protrusions 180, 280 of each contact area 110, 210 on each member are placed in a position directly facing one another, thereby spacing the first member 100 on a distance 50 from the second member 200. Since the distance between the first element 100 and second element 200 is larger in the intermediate position than in the locked position, a stronger biasing of the third member 300 is caused.

For causing a rotation of the first member 100 relative the second member 200, a torque shall be applied on the hinge. Since the first interlocking means 120 and the second interlocking means 220 are interlocked, a predetermined minimum torque is required to overcome to interlocked position. A threshold value to overcome the interlock is adjustable by setting the length of the third member 300 and/or the length of the predetermined space 40 wherein the first, second and third member 100, 200, 300 are enclosed.

Apart from the material of the third member 300 defining the stiffness of the spring or rather the spring constant, and/or the roughness of the shapes of the first and second contact areas 110, 210, the threshold value is determined by the biasing of the third member 300 in the locked position. A higher torque is required for moving the lockable hinge 1 from a locked position to an intermediate position when the precompression of the third member 300 is larger and/or the distance 50 between the top of the protrusion 180, 280 and the bottom of the recess 190, 290 on the contact areas 110, 210 of the first and second member 100, 200 is larger.

The arrangement of the contact areas 110, 210 on the first and second member 100, 200 is such that the interlocking means 120, 220 on the contact areas 110, 210 can interlock in a locked position. As soon as a torque overcomes a predetermined torque however, the adjustment of the lockable hinge 1 to a further locked position is enabled. With these arrangements it becomes possible to lock and adjust the backrest of a seat through the use of a lockable hinge 1 comprising minimal amount of members or construction parts while securing a locked position through the biasing of the members by a resilient element 300 within a predetermined space 40.

Referring to Fig. 3, showing a schematic top view of the lockable hinge 1 according to the invention, the third member 300 comprises, in this example, two resilient elements 310, 320. One resilient element 310 is disposed on the side of the first member 100 facing away from the second member 200 and the other resilient element 320 is disposed on the side of the second member 200 facing away from the first member 100. The two resilient elements 310, 320 are enclosed within the predetermined space 45 shown in figure 3. The predetermined space 45 is defined between a first and second delimiting element 410, 420 disposed around the axis of rotation 3, wherein the first and second members 100, 200 and the two resilient elements 310, 320 are arranged.

Referring to Fig. 4, the second member 200 of the lockable hinge 1 is provided with a circumferential edge 500 forming a case or recess, or a chamber 510 allowing an accommodation of the third member 300. This lockable hinge 1 comprises a delimiting element 420 which is attachable to the first member 100, wherein the second member 200 is enclosed between the delimiting element 420 and the first member 100. Therefore, an outer surface of the part of the delimiting element 420 that fits through the second element 200 to reach the first member 100 is provided with outer thread 425. And an inner surface of the first member 100 is provided with inner thread 125 to cooperate with the outer thread 425. In this way, the delimiting element 420 can be screwed within the first member 100 up to a desired point, making the predetermined space, within which the first, second and third element 100, 200, 300 are arranged, and thereby the pre-compression of the third element 300, adjustable.

In this example, the resilient member 300 is a wave spring contained within the chamber 510. The use of a wave spring within the chamber 510, requires less space for the arrangement of the lockable hinge 1.

The first and second member are made of construction materials, more specifically of any material that is wear-resistant and durable as will be known by a person skilled in the art, such as, but not limited to, metals, such as aluminium, plastics, wood, and the like, or any combination thereof.

Referring to Fig. 5, an additional aspect of the invention is to provide a lockable hinge set 5 comprising a first lockable hinge 1A according to the invention and a second lockable hinge 1B according to the invention, wherein the second member 200A of the first lockable hinge 1A coincides with the second member 200B of the second lockable hinge 1B, forming a first one-piece member 201.

Referring to Fig. 6, an additional aspect of the invention is to provide a lockable hinge assembly 6, comprising a lockable hinge set 5 as shown in Fig. 5 and a third lockable hinge 1C according to the invention wherein the first member 100B of the second lockable hinge 1B coincides with the first member 100C of the third lockable hinge 1C, forming a second one-piece member 101.

Referring to Fig. 7, an additional aspect of the invention is to provide a reclining chair 7, wherein the lockable hinges 1 are concatenated to form a backbone 70 of a reclining chair 8. In this example, the backbone 70 comprises a plurality of lockable hinges 1 according to the invention. Each lockable hinge 1 is provided with a shaft 2. From an appearance point of view, it may be desirable to arrange the shafts 2 parallel to each other, being subsequently spaced apart over similar distances. In the case however, that a shaft does not have to be arranged via a lockable hinge, a further member 75 can be arranged not being a hinge and not being a lockable hinge, but being a rigid fixed connection 76 instead, the fixed connection 76 forming a non-hingable basis on which further reclining chair parts 79 can be mounted as a cover material of the shaft 2.

Referring to Fig. 8, an extended form of a reclining chair 8 is depicted, the reclining chair 8 comprising two lockable hinge assemblies 8A, 8B. The assemblies 8A, 8B are arranged parallel to each other to define the sides of the reclining chair 8. This example shows that the two assemblies are interconnected. An adjustment of a lockable hinge 1A of one lockable hinge assembly 8A on one outer-side of the reclining chair 8 corresponds with an adjustment of a corresponding lockable hinge 1B of the other lockable hinge assembly 8B on the other outer-side of the reclining chair 8.

In summary the invention relates to a lockable hinge 1 comprising - a first member 100, - a second member 200 hingedly in engagement with the first member 100 for allowing a forward and backward rotation from any position of said second member 200 relative to said first member 100 with respect to an axis of rotation 3, wherein the rotation of said second member 200 relative to said first member 100 proceeds from a first locked position via an intermediate position to a second locked position, - a third member 300 being resilient in at least the longitudinal direction along the axis of rotation 3, the first, second, and third member 100, 200, 300 are enclosed along the axis of rotation 3 in a predetermined space 40, 45, the first member 100 having a first contact area 110, the second member 200 having a second contact area 210 configured to contact the first contact area 110, the first contact area 110 and the second contact area 210 being configured to interlock the first member 100 relative to the second member 200. In this way, a simplified design consisting of a few parts reduces assembly and installation time and results in reduced manufacturing.

Claims

A lockable hinge (1) comprising a first element (100); a second element (200) pivotally engaged with the first element (100) to allow forward and reverse rotation from any position of the second element (200) relative to the first element (100) relative to a first axis of rotation (3), wherein the rotation of the second element (200) relative to the first element (100) takes place from a first locked position, via an intermediate position, to a second locked position; the first element (100) having a first contact area (110), the second element (200) having a second contact area (210) configured to be in contact with the first contact area (110), characterized in that the lockable hinge (1) comprises a third element (300) resilient in at least the longitudinal direction along the first axis of rotation (3), the first, second and third element (100, 200, 300) along the axis of rotation (3) are enclosed in a predetermined space (40), the first contact area (110) has first locking means (120) which are circumferentially distributed with respect to the axis of rotation (3), the second contact area (210) has second locking means (220) which are circumferentially divided with respect to of the first axis of rotation (3), wherein the first locking means (120) and the second locking means (220) are configured to lock the first element (100) relative to the second element (200), wherein, in the first and second extended In the position, the third element (300) is prestressed and extends over a first length (60) in the longitudinal direction of the first axis of rotation (3), while in the intermediate position the third element (300) extends over a second length (70) extending in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation (3), the second length (70) being smaller than the first length (60).

Lockable hinge (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first locking means (120) on the first contact area (110) are provided with first protrusions (180) and wherein the locking means (220) on the second contact area are provided with (210) second recesses (290) for receiving the first protrusions (180).

Lockable hinge (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first locking means (120) on the first contact area (110) are provided with first protrusions (180) and wherein the second locking means (220) are provided on the second contact area (210) of second protrusions (280), and wherein the first locking means (120) on the first contact area (110) are provided with first recesses (190) for receiving the second protrusions (280) and wherein the second locking means (220) on the second contact area (210) are provided with second recesses (290) for receiving the first protrusions (180).

The lockable hinge (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first and second protrusions (180, 280) and the first and second recesses (190, 290) on each contact area (110, 210) revolve around the axis of rotation (3) alternate.

The lockable hinge (1) of claim 4, wherein the first and second protrusions (180, 280) and the first and second recesses (190, 290) form a fan shape over the surface of the contact area (110, 210).

Lockable hinge (1) according to claim 5, wherein the fan shape is sinusoidal.

Lockable hinge (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the third element (300) is a spring that is biased such that the second element (200) is able to pivot relative to the first element (100) by performing a torque on the first element (100) relative to the second element (200), the torque exceeding a predetermined threshold value for releasing from the first locked position.

Lockable hinge (1) according to claim 7, wherein the threshold value is chosen such that the rotation of the second element (200) relative to the first element (100) from a locked position to an intermediate position can be achieved by means of a manual force generated torque.

Lockable hinge (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the third element (300) comprises two resilient elements (310, 320), one of which (310) on the side of the first element (100) being that of the first element (100) second element (200) is disposed away and the other (320) is arranged on the side of the second element (200) facing away from the first element (100), the first element (100), the second element ( 200) and the two resilient elements (310, 320) within the predetermined space (45) are enclosed.

Lockable hinge (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined space (40, 45) is defined by a first and second boundary element (410, 420) arranged around the axis of rotation (3).

The lockable hinge (1) according to claim 10, wherein the first boundary element (410) is the first element (100).

Lockable hinge (1) according to claim 10, wherein the first, second and third element (100, 200, 300) are arranged around an axis (2) with an axis of rotation (3), wherein the first and / or second boundary element ( 410, 420) are / are formed by broadening the thickness or diameter of the shaft (2).

A set (5) of lockable hinges, comprising a first lockable hinge (1A) according to any of the preceding claims and second lockable hinge (1B) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second element (200A) of the first lockable hinge (1A) corresponds to the second element (200B) of the second lockable hinge (1B), which forms a first one-piece element (201).

An assembly (6) of lockable hinges, comprising a set (5) of lockable hinges according to claim 13 and comprising a third lockable hinge (1C) according to any of claims 1-12, wherein the first element (100B) of the second lockable hinge (1B) corresponds to the first element (100C) of the third lockable hinge (1C), which forms a second one-piece element (101).

The adjustable seat (7, 8) comprising an assembly (6) of lockable hinges according to claim 14, wherein the lockable hinges (1) are concatenated to form the backbone (70) of an adjustable seat (7, 8).