US1180598A - Lock-hinge. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. MILLS. v

LOCK HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911.

Patentgd Apr. 25, 191 6,

PATENT UFFTFFTZ.

JOSEPH I-I. MILLS, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

LOCK-HINGE.

Application filed June 19, 1911. Serial No. 633,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. thus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a lock hinge adapted for a great variety of purposes but intended more particularly as herein shown for joining together in hinged relationship two sections of a strip or member of any kind whereby such sections may be folded together when desired, and for rigidly look ing the sections in extended or alined position, the application of positive force of the operator being required before the hinge can be unlocked.

My invention also contemplates the employment of such character of hinge as a hinging and locking junction piece for a series of diagonal strips or the like radiating toward such junction piece whereby all of the strips may be folded or collapsed or held locked in extended operative position. Moreover, my lock hinge possesses the advantage of being simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive of manufacture and efficient in use.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a strip with my lock hinge applied, the sections of the strip being shown in extended and locked condition; Fig. 2 a sectional view of the same parts shown in Fig. 1 but showing them in their collapsed condition; Fig. 3 a plan view of the lock hinge when used as a junction piece, showing a series of four radiating strips or sections hingedly connected therewith; Fig. 4: an elevation of a modified form of construction of lock hinge, the same being here shown in locked condition; Fig. 5 an elevation of the modification of Fig. A but show ing same in collapsed condition; Fig. 6 an elevation of another modified form of construction capable of permitting the sections to be folded in either direction.

As hereinbefore stated my invention is adapted and intended for a great variety of uses and I intend to employ the same wherever applicable. However, for the purpose of a clear and definite explanation of my invention I have chosen to illustrate the same in connection with two sections of a strip of any kind and of any material and will therefore proceed to describe my Specification of Letters Patent.

links 6 are in their locking or operative po- 'to speak, at which time they are resting Patented Apr. 25, 11916..

invention in this particular embodiment without limiting myself thereto.

As herein shown, the hinge consists of two similar sections 1 which may be of any desired form and of any suitable material but in practice and as illustrated I prefer to make them of channel shape of the proper thickness or gage of metal. It will be understood that these sections may be extended to form the body itself of the strips, or that as herein shown the body may be made of other material such as the wooden sections 2, which latter sections are secured to the hinge sections in suitable manner as by means of rivets or bolts 3. These Wooden sections do not extend to the inner ends of their lock hinge sections but are spaced back a certain distance therefrom so as to leave a space for the accommodation of the looking bar hereinafter described.

\Vithin the inner adjacent ends of the lock sections 1 is arranged a lock bar 1 which is pivoted near two of its corresponding opposite corners at 5, 5 to the opposite parallel walls of their sections 1. The adjacent edges of these parallel walls of-the sections 1 are curved or cut away on an are described from the pivotal points 5 as centers, with the result that the lock sections are adapted .to fold upon each other to the-position indicated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the lock bar 4: is of a length substantially equaling the distance between the bottoms of the channels of the lock sections when folded as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. This bar thus forms the hinged connection between the two sections 1 but does not of itself serve to lock such sections, in extended or alined position.

The lock proper for locking the sections 1 consists of two similar links 6, 6 and a small connecting link 7 The two links 6 are pivoted at their outer ends to the two sections 1 at 8, 8 and are pivoted at their inner ends at 9, 9 to the connecting link 7. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the inner or adj acent ends of the two links 6 are slotted at 10 in order to receive the connecting link 7. The pivotal points 8 and 9 are so arranged with relation to each other that when the sition their inner ends are beyond center, so

upon the bar 1. For this purpose the pivotal points 9 are slightly below a line or plane connecting the pivotal points 8. It

results from this construction that when the links are in their locking position, they remain in such position except as against positive force exerted by the operator. When it is desired to unlock the sections, the operator grips the inner ends of the links 6 where they are exposed by the cut away portions of the sections 1 and lifts them upwardly toward the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the sections are free to be folded upon each other to the po sition shown inFig. 2. Inasmuch as the wooden sections 2 are recessed at 2 to accommodate the links 6, the sections 1 may be folded to the extent of 180 with their similar surfaces in juxtaposition. When it is desired to extend the sections and lock them in alined position the reverse operation takes place.

As shown in Fig. 3 my lock hinge may be employed as a junction piece, as I term it, for hingedly connecting together a series of diagonal strips for locln'ng them in their extended condition. As shown, the sections 1 do not have any strip sections 2 or the like but have hingedly connected. thereto by means of the hinges 11 a series of four strips 12 which radiate toward this junction piece. The inner end of each strip 12 is connected to one leaf of the hinge 11 while the other leaf thereof is connected to its section 1 of the lock hinge or junction piece. In the present instance I have shown an ordinary form of hinge but it will be understood that any suitable or desired hinging or pivotal connection between these strips or the junction piece may be adopted. It is obvious that the lock hinge serves the double purpose ofconnecting the inner ends of these diagonal" strips and of locking them in their extended condition. Moreover, the hinging connection between the strips and the junction piece and the described construction of the lock hinge permits the parts to be folded together in the most compact form.

In F igs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modified form of my invention when considered in its broader aspect. In this modification I employ a single link 13 pivoted'at'one end only as at 14: to one of the sections 1, and having at its other end'one or more laterally extending pins 15 received in slots 1 entering from the upper edges of one of the sections 1. This pin 15 is in locking'position located below a horizontal plane extending through the pivotal point 14 with the resultthat the link 13 is maintained in look ing position except as against the application of positive force exerted by the operator, who, in unlocking the lock hinge raises the link upwardly and folds it over 180.

'As shown, one of the sections is recessed at 1 in order to permit the link to fold entirely within such section. The above described forms of lock hinge permit the sections to be folded or collapsed in one direction only but in Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of construction which permits the sections to be folded in either direction, thereby giving a range of movement of substantially 360. As shown, the two sections 16 are pivotally connected by means of the bar 17, the pivotal points being indicated at 18 and the inner adj aecnt ends of the section 16 being cut away or curved on the arcs of circles described from such pivotal points as centers. The looking device consists of a link 19 pivoted at 20 to one of the sections and having a lateral pin 21 cooperating with a slot 16 in one of the sections. It will be noted that this looking device is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 4c and 5 and the operation and function thereof are similar. It will be understood that when the link 19 is moved from its operative or locking position shown in Fig. 6, the two sections 16 are capable of being folded in either direction.

It is evident from the foregoing description that my lock hinge is not only simple and efiicient but is also compact and selfcontained and is moreover adapted for many useful purposes, besides the ones herein specifically referred to, it being understood that I contemplate using my invention wherever applicable. Furthermore, it will be understood that changes may be made in the form and proportions of the parts and the materials employed as circumstances may require or render expedient but without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members at points at one side of their central longitudinal axes, and means permanently connected with the members for looking them and the bar in alined position.

2. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members at points at one side of their central longitudinal axes, and a locking device pivoted to both members for locking the latter and bar in alined position, said device being itself movable to said alined position when the members are locked.

3. A hinge comprising two members, provided with recessed ends, a bar located within said recessed ends and pivotally connected toboth of such members at points at one side of their central longitudinal axes, and means connected with said members for locking them in alined position, said means being located at the inner angle of said members.

4;. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members at points at one side of their central longitudinal axes, and links connected with each other and pivoted to the members respectively for locking them and the bar in alined position, said members and links being foldable to permit said members to rest upon each other and to lie in parallel planes said means being longitudinal of said members when in locking position.

5. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members, and a link cooperating with the members and adapted to lock them and to rest upon the bar when in locking position.

6. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members at points at one side of their central longitudinal axes, and links pivoted at their outer ends to the members and pivotally connected together at their inner ends said links being in substantial alinement when in locking position.

7. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members, and links pivoted at their outer ends to the members and pivotally connected together at their inner ends, the inner ends of such links bearing against the bar in looking position and the pivotal point of such inner ends being out of line with the pivotal points of their outer ends.

8. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such members, and means for locking said members and bar in alined position consisting of a pair of links pivoted at their outer ends to the members, and a third link connecting the inner ends of such pair of links.

9. A hinge comprising two members, a bar pivotally connected to both of such both of them to lock them in alined position, said bar and locking device being arranged within the lines of said members when locked.

11. A hinge comprising two members of channel form, a bar located within the channels of such 'members and pivotally connected therewith, and a locking device pivotally connected with such members and arranged to lie within the lines thereof when in locked condition.

12. A hinge comprising two all metal members of channel form, a bar located within the channels of such members and pivotally connected therewith at points at one side of their central longitudinal axes, the parallel walls of the channels being curved on the arcs of circles described from the pivotal points of the bar, and a locking device connected with such members for locking them and the bar in alined position.

JOSEPH H. MILLS. Witnesses:

S. E. KIBBEN,

ROBERT DOBBERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of lEatents, Washington, D. 0.

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