US3027592A

US3027592A - Hinges

Info

Publication number: US3027592A
Application number: US850261A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schnur Mathew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-11-02
Filing date: 1959-11-02
Publication date: 1962-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-04-03

Description

April 3, 1952 M. scHNUR 3,02 7,592V

HINGES FiledNov. 2, 1959 INVENTOR. MATHEW SCHNUR ATT lYS United States Patent Ofice 3,027,592 Patented Apr. 3, i962 3,027,592 HINGES Mathew Schnur, 2117 N. Meade Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Nov. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 850,261 9 Claims. (Cl. 16-178) This invention relates to hinges and, more particularly, to hinges of the type commonly referred to as concealed hinges.

This application is a continuation-impart of my coending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 707,797, tiled January 8, 1958 and now abancloned.

It is a primary object of my invention to afford a novel concealed hinge for use in mounting doors on cabinets, chests, building structures, and the like.

Concealed hinges have been heretofore known in the art. However, such concealed hinges as have been heretofore known in the art have commonly had inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being complicated in construction; being weak in construction; not firmly supporting the door on the door jamb so that the door was loose when mounted on the jamb; being difficult to produce commercially; being so constructed that it required a highly skilled carpenter to install the hinges; or being so constructed that the installation of the hinges weakened the door excessively, or the like. It is an irnportant object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel concealed hinge which will afford sturdy support Ifor a door, or the like.

Another object is to provide a hinge of the aforementioned type wherein the parts are so constituted and arranged that they will not come apart, or become disassociated from each other, even if the door is slammed open or shut.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hinge of the aforementioned type which will so support a door on a door jamb that the door may be opened a full 180 from fully closed position.

Yet another object is to provide a novel hinge of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged as to insure that the hinge does not bind in use.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel hinge wherein the individual parts thereof are so constructed that they may be readily produced commercially, and the various parts of the hinge are so constituted and arranged relative to each other that the hinge may be quickly and easily assembled commercially.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel hinge of the aforementioned type which uses a minimum of material in its construction.

A further object is to provide a novel hinge of the aforementioned type which is short and is so constructed that the length of the opening in which the hinge is mounted in the door may be short.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel hinge of the aforementioned type which affords a pleasing appearance and relatively smooth exposed surface when the door is disposed in open position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel hinge of the aforementioned type embodying a plurality of parts formed in the shape of chordal segments of a circle, and wherein those parts are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner whereby they are iirmly supported over a substantial area in all operative positions of the hinge.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to afford a novel hinge of the aforementioned type wherein the substantially chordal-shaped parts are supported at their central portions in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel concealed hinge which is relatively compact in construction and effective and eicient in operation, and which may be readily and economically produced cornmercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the present invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a hinge embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the hinge disposed in position to support a door on a door jamb, with the door opened ninety degrees;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hinge shown in FIG. 1, with a fragment of the door and jamb shown in section, and with the hinge shown in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hinge shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 in FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the parts thereof disposed in another position; and

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 8 8 in FIG. 2.

A hinge 1, embodying the principles of my invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The hinge 1 embodies, in general, two

hinge plates

2 and 3, an upper hinge segment 4, an intermediate hinge segment 5, and a lower hinge segment 6, FIGS. l, 2 and 4.

The

segments

4, 5 and 6 are preferably identical in size in a horizontally extending direction. Each is in the form of a chordal segment of a circle (i.e., the periphery thereof is defined by an arc of a circle and the chord of that arc) and is somewhat less than semi-circular in size. The

hinge segments

4, 5 and 6 are so constructed and arranged relative to each other that, when they are disposed in closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, they are disposed in vertically aligned stacked relation to each other, and during all movement of the hinges between the aforementioned fully closed position and fully open position, as shown in FIG. 7, substantial areas of adjacent segments 4-6 are disposed in supporting engagement with each other, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The upper hinge segment 4 embodies a flat, substantially smooth upper wall 7 and lower wall 8 disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other. The upper hinge segment 4 also embodies an arcuate-shaped recess 9 formed in, and extending completely along, the outer arcuate periphery 10 of the hinge segment 4, midway between the upper wall 7 and the lower wall 8 in parallel relation thereto, FIGS. 3 and 4, the recess 9 terminating at its inner end in radially inwardly spaced relation to the outer periphery 10. The upper hinge segment 4 also embodies upper and lower radially outwardly projecting flanges 11 and 12, respectively, disposed on opposite sides of the recess 9 in parallel spaced relation to each other. The flange 11 projects radially outwardly beyond the flange 12, and has an arcuate-shaped recess 13 formed in, and extending completely across, the lower face thereof in parallel inwardly spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface 11i. kThe lower flange 12 is in the shape of an arc of a circle, and is of such a radius that the outer peripheral surface 14 thereof terminates radially inwardly of the recess 13 in the upper ange 11.

The upper hinge segment 4 also embodies a rear wall 15, which extends between the upper wall 7 and the lower w'all 8 in perpendicular relation thereto, and forms the chord of the aforementioned chordal segment of a circle of which the periphery 10' forms the arc. A pin 16 is mounted in the flange 12 and extends across the recess 9 into abutting engagement with the lower face of the llange 11. The pin 16 is mounted in the ange 12 with a press lit so as to be securely held therein, and extends across the recess 9 in inwardly spaced, relatively closely adjacent relation to one end 9a thereof, FIG. 4. The lower end of the pin 16 terminates in ush relation to the lower wall 8 of the upper hinge segment 4, so that the wall 8 affords a smooth surface.

The lower hinge segment 6 is identical in construction to the upper hinge segment 4 except that it is a mirror image thereof. Hence, it embodies an upper wall 17, a lower wall 1S, an upper flange 19, and a lower flange 20, a radially inwardly projecting recess 21 disposed between the flanges 1@ and 2d, and an arcuate-shaped recess 22 formed in the upper face 23 of the lower ange 2t), radially outwardly of the upper flange 19.

The lower hinge segment 6 also has a pin 24 mounted in the upper flange 19 and projecting vertically downwardly across the recess 21 into abutting engagement with lthe upper face of the lower ange 2d, the pin 24 being disposed in inwardly spaced, relatively closely adjacent relation to the end 21a of the recess 21.

The intermediate hinge segment embodies an arcuateshaped outer rim portion 25 having an arcuate-shaped outer peripheral surface 26 of the same radius as the outer peripheral surfaces and 27 of the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively. A horizontally extending web 2S projects radially inwardly from the rim 25 midway between, and parallel to, the upper edge 29 and the lower edge 30 of the rim 25, the web 28 terminating at its rear edge portion in a at rear wall 31 forming the chord of the arc afforded by the outer peripheral surface 26 of the rim 25, FIG. 4.

Y An arcuate-shaped rib 32 is formed in the upper edge 29 of the rim 25 in inwardly spaced, parallel relation to the outer surface 26 of the rim 25. An arcuate-shaped radially inwardly projecting rib 33 is formed in the inner face of the rim 25 in upwardly spaced, parallel relation to the web 28, to thereby afford a radially outwardly projecting arcuate-shaped recess 34 disposed between the rib 33 and the web 28 in inwardly spaced, parallel relation to the outer peripheral surface 26.

A downwardly projecting rib 35, similar to the upper rib 32, is formed in the lower edge of the rim 25 of the intermediate hinge segment 5, in vertical alignment with the rib 32, and a radially inwardly projecting rib 36 is formed in the inner face of the rim 25 in downwardly spaced parallel relation to the web 2S to thereby afford an arcuate-shaped recess 37 between the rib 36 and the web'23, which is similar to the recess 34.

A radially inwardly projecting pin 38 is mounted in the rib 33, in inwardly spaced, relatively closely adjacent relation to the end 33a thereof. Similarly, the hinge, 1, in its assembled form, embodies another pin 39 mounted inthe rib 36 in radially inwardly projecting relation thereto, the-pin 39 being mounted in the rib 36 in inwardly spaced, relatively closely adjacent relation to, the end 36a thereof. The pins 38 and S9 are mounted in the

ribs

33 and 36, respectively, with a press rit so as to be secured thereto, and afford stop members for abuttingly engaging the

pins

16 and 24 for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

When the hinge 1 is in assembled condition, the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6 are mounted on the intermediate hinge segment 5, with the

ribs

32 and 35 of the intermediate hinge segment 5 disposed in the

recesses

13 and 22 of the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively, and with the

ribs

33 and 36 of the intermediate hinge segment 5 disposed in the recesses 9 and 21 of the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively. The

ribs

32, 35, 33 and 36 are engaged in the

recesses

13, 22, 9 and 21, respectively, with a relatively snug, but freely slidable lit, so that the intermediate hinge segment 5 is freely rotatably mounted in the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, but the hinge segments 4 6 are effectively held against vertical or radial movement relative to each other.

rThe hinge plate 2 is of substantially ilat, rectangular shape and has two pairs of

openings

4d and 41, and 42 and 43 extending through the upper and lower end portions thereof, respectively, FIGS. 4 and 8. The hinge plate 2 has a front longitudinal edge 44 and a rear longitudinal edge 45. The front longitudinal edge `44 is substantially straight and continuous. The rear longitudinal edge 45 has a forwardly projecting recess 46 formed therein with a tongue 47 projecting downwardly from the upper edge 4S of the recess 46 in rearwardly spaced relation to the front edge 49 thereof, FIG. 4.

The upper hinge segment 4 has an elongated, substantially L-shaped slot 50 formed in the upper face thereof, FIGS. 4 and 8, extending thereacross in substantially perpendicular relation to the rear end 15, from adjacent the Longitudinal midpoint of the rear end 15. The slot 50 has a long leg portion 51 which extends from the peripheral edge 10 of the upper hinge segment 4 to a point relatively closely adjacent to the rear edge 15. rifhe'slot 50 also embodies a short leg 52 which projects downwardly from the inner end portion of the leg 51 and extends completely vertically through the rear edge portion of the upper hinge segment 4, FIGS. 4 and 8.

In mounting the hinge plate 2 on the upper hinge segment 4, the hinve segment 4 is disposed in the recess 46, with the portion of the hinge plate 2 defining the upper edge 43 of the recess 46, forwardly of the tongue 47, preferably fully seated in the leg 51 of the recess 50, and with the tongue 47 rdisposed in the leg 52. The leg 51 and the tongue 47 are of such depth and length, that when the edge portion 48 inwardly of the tongue 47 is disposed in fully seated engagement with the lower edge of the leg 51, thetongue 47 terminates at its upper end in inwardly spaced relation to the lower -wall S of the upper hinge segment 4, FIG. 8, so that the lower wall 8 presents a smooth lower surface. The hinge plate 2 is disposed in the slot 50 with a press tit so that it is securely attached to the upper hinge segment 4.

The hinge plate 3 is identical in construction to the hinge plate 2 and the parts of the hinge plate 3 are indicated in the drawings by the same reference numerals as the parts of the hinge plate 2. However, it will be seen that in mounting the hinge plate 3 on the hinge 1, it is disposed in upside down position Vrelative to 'the position of the hinge plate 2. The lower hinge segment 6 has a slot, not shown, formed in the lower'face 18 thereof and corresponding in size, shape and construction to the slot 50 in the upper face of the hinge segment 4. The lower hinge segment 6 is mounted on the hinge plate 3 in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to the hinge plate 2, except that the connection is made at the bottom of the hinge segment 6.

In assembling the hinge 1, the hinge plates 2and 3 may be mounted on the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively, and the

pins

16 and 24 may t be mounted in proper position in the Upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively. The upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6 may then be mounted onto the intermediate hinge segment 5. This may be readily accomplished by engaging the left end of the

ribs

35 and 36 on the intermediate segment 5, as viewed in FIG. 5, in the right end of the

slots

22 and 21, respectively, of the lower hinge segment 6, as viewed in FIG. 5, and then rotating the lower hinge segment 6 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, into vertically aligned stacked relation to the intermediate segment 5. Thereafter, the right end of the

ribs

32 and 33 of the intermediate segment 5 may be engaged with the yleft end of the slots 13 and 9, respectively, of the upper hinge segment 4, as viewed in FIG. 5, and the upper hinge segment 4 may then be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, relative to the intermediate segment 5 into position wherein the

hinge plates

2 and 3 are disposed in juxtaposition to each other.

The

hinge plates

2 and 3 are so disposed on the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively, that when the

plates

2 and 3 are disposed in the aforementioned juxtaposition to each other, the hinge segments 4-6 are disposed in vertically aligned stacked relation to each other, as shown in FIGS. 2., 3 and 5. The

pins

16 and 19 on the upper and

lower segments

4 and 6, respectively, are so disposed in the slots 9 and 21, respectively, that they are disposed radially inwardly of the

ribs

33 and 36 so that during the aforementioned assembling of the parts of the hinge 1, the upper and

lower hinge segments

4 and 6 may be freely rotated relative to the intermediate segment 5.

After the hinge segments 4-6 have thus been secured in interlocked relation relative to each other, the intermediate hinge segment 5 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, relative to the

hinge segments

4 and 6, into position wherein the end portion 36a of the rib 36 is disposed in suiiiciently outwardly protruding position that the pin 39 may be inserted into proper position therein. The hinge segment 5 may then be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, into position wherein the end portion 33a oi the rib 33 is disposed in sufficiently outwardly protruding position that the pin 3S may be disposed in proper position therein.

The mounting of the

pins

38 and 39 on the hinge 1 completes the assembly of the hinge 1, and it will be seen that when so assembled, the hinge segments 446 cannot be disassembled from each other without first removing one of the

hinge plates

2 or 3, or first removing one of the

pins

16, 24, 38 or 39. Thus, it will be seen that with my novel hinge so assembled, there is no danger of the parts thereof becoming disassembled from each other either in transit or in use.

The

pins

16, 24, 38 and 39 are so disposed in my novel hinge 1 that when the hinge is disposed in closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, the pin 16 in the upper hinge segment 4 is disposed in the opposite end portion of the slot 9 from the pin 38 in the intermediate segment 5, and the pin 24 in the lower hinge segment 6 is disposed in the opposite end portion of the slot 21 from the pin 39 in the intermediate segment 5. Thus, the hinge plate 2 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, from the position shown therein. During the initial portion of such movement of the hinge plate 2, the hinge segment 4 rides along the intermediate segment 5 until the pin 16 engages the pin 38, Thereafter, both the upper hinge segment 4 and tre intermediate hinge segment 5 move with the hinge plate 2 until the pin 39 engages the pin 24. The engagement of the

pins

39 and 24 stops the movement of the hinge plate 2, relative to the hinge plate 3 to thereby define the limit of the opening movement of the hinge plate 2 relative to the hinge plate 3. 'The

pins

16, 24, 3S and 39 are so disposed relative to each other that the

hinge plates

2 and 3 may be moved into aligned position, as

shown in FIG. 7, when the hinge 1 is disposed in fully opened position. Thus, it will be seen that the hinge 1 atfords a hinge by which a door may be mounted for full rotation.

In mounting a door, such as the door 53, on a door jamb, such as the jamb 54, FIG. 1, the carpenter may quickly and easily chisel or otherwise cut openings or

pockets

55 and 56 in the door 53 and the jamb 54, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. The

pockets

55 and 56 need be no larger in size than that required to snugly, but freely, receive the end portions 1a and 1b projecting outwardly from the

hinge plates

2 and 3, respectively. As a practical matter, the

openings

55 and 56 are normally cut in substantially rectangular form as shown in FIG. 5. If desired, the end edges of the door 53 and the jamb 54 may also be cut away as indicated at 57 and 58 in the drawings to aord a countersink for receiving the

hinge plates

2 and 3.

My novel hinge 1 is so constructed that only a minimum of material need be cut from the door 53 and the jamb 54, and the body portions 1a and 1b are relatively thin so that the

openings

55 and 56 are relatively short and so that a minimum weakening of the door 53 and the jamb` 54 is caused by the formation of the

openings

55 and 56 therein.

In determining the proper size of the circle of which the hinge segments 4-6 form a chordal segment, I prefer to follow the following procedure:

(l) Multiply the thickness of the door on which the hinge is to be used by 2;

(2) Multiply the product obtained in Step 1 by onefourth; and

(3) Subtract the product obtained in Step 2 from the product obtained in Step 1, and the diiference thus obtained is the preferred diameter of the circle of which the hinge segments 4-6 form chordal segments.

Thus, for example, if the thickness of the door on which the hinge is to be used is one inch, the diameter of the circle of which the hinge segments for a chordal segment should preferably be one and one-half inches.

So as to insure adequate strength in the portion 59 of the door 53 and the portion 60 in the jamb S4, between the

pockets

55 and 56 `and the

faces

61 and 62 of the door 53 and the jamb 54, respectively, and, also, to insure free pivotal movement of the hinge 1 during opening closing of the door, I prefer to form the hinge segments 4-6 of such a size that they are nine-tenths of a semi-circle. Thus, for example, in the preferred form of my hinge, the hinge segments 4 5 of a hinge to be used With a one-inch door would have a 'width from the midpoint of the chord thereof to the point on the arcuate periphery along a line running from the `aforementioned midpoint perpendicular to the chord, of nine-tenths of three-fourths of an inch or, in other words, six hundred and seventy-*ive thousandths of an inch. With this construction, the

pockets

55 and 56 may be spaced inwardly from the surfaces 61 and 62 a sufficient distance that the

portions

59 and 60 of the door S3 and jamb 54 are relatively thick and, therefore, are relatively strong, while still permitting free opening and closing movement of the door 53 relative to the jamb 5'4.

It will be seen that each of the parts of my novel hingle 1 are so constructed that they may be readily and economically commercially produced by mass production methods. Thus, for example, it will be noted that the hinge segments 4-6 are so constructed that each of the

slots

9, 13, 21, 22, 34 and 37 may be readily cut or machined in a straight cutting operation.

Also, it will be seen that my novel hinge 1 may be quickly and easily assembled and is adapted to be assembled on mass production principles.

In addition, it will be seen that when my novel hinge 1 is mounted in supporting relation to a door such as the door 53, the door 53 is strongly supported by the hinge segments 4-6 throughout all movement of the door 53 between fully opened and fully closed position. During such movement of the door 53, the lower wall 8 of the upper segment 4 rests directly on the upper face of the web 31, and the lower face of the web 3l rests directly on the wall i7. Also, during such movement the

ribs

32, 33, 35 and 36 on the intermediate hinge segment 5 are disposed in latching engagement in the slots `llx, 9, 22 and 21, respectively, and the ribs or flanges 12 and i9 on the

hinge segments

4 and 6, respectively, are disposed in the slots 34 and 37, respectively, in the intermediate hinge segment 5, so that it will be seen that the hinge segments 4-6 are positively and firmly supported in all directions toafford a iirm, eilicient support for the door 53.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have afforded a novel, practical and elllcient hinge, which may be quickly and easily installed on a door and a door jamb, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modihcation, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

l claim:

1. A hinge comprising an upper hinge segment, a lower hinge segment, an intermediate hinge segment, each of said segments being in the form of chordal segments of a circle, said upper and lower hinge segments each having two arcuate-shaped recesses therein opening toward a common point and the medians thereof lying in planes disposed perpendicularly to each other, said intermediate hinge segment having four arcuate-shaped ribs, each of said ribs being disposed in a respective one of said recesses, two hinge plates, each of said hinge plates being mounted on and movable with a respective one of said upper and lower segments, said hinge segments having a closed position wherein they are disposed in stacked vertically aligned position wherein said hinge plates are disposed in parallel juxtaposition to each other, said hinge segments being movable to an open position relative to each other wherein said hinge plates are disposed in edge-to-edge alignment with each other, and abutment means on said hinge segments engageable with each other when said hinge plates are disposed in said open position to thereby limit movement of said hinge plates in one direction.

2. A hinge comprising an intermediate hinge segment, upper and lower hinge segments movably mounted on said intermediate segment on opposite sides thereof for rotation relative thereto, said intermediate segment including a web portion and an arcuate-shaped rim disposed 011 the outer edge of said web and projecting outwardly therefrom in two opposite directions, said rim having two ribs projecting perpendicularly to each other on each of two sides of said web, one of said ribs on each of said sides being disposed in parallel relation to said web, said upper and lower lhinge segments each having two recesses formed therein disposed in receiving relation to said two ribs on a respective side of said web, two hinge plates mounted on said upper and lower hinge segments, respectively, for movement therewith, said hinge segments being movable between a closed position, wherein said segments are disposed in stack-ed relation to each other, and an open position to thereby swing said hinge plates between parallel juxtaposition to each other and a uniplanar relation to each other, and abutment means on said hinge segments for limiting movement of said hinge segments in opening direction.

3. A hinge comprising three hinge segments, each of said hinge segments being substantially in the shape of a chordal segment of a circle and including a substantially arcuate-shaped outer perpiheral portion disposed around a substantially flat body portion, the body portion.

of each of two of said hinge segments including two substantially parallel flanges with one of said flanges pro: jecting outwardly beyond the other of said ilanges, said two hinge segments being disposed on opposite Vsides of the third of said hinge segments with said other llange disposed in juxtaposition to said body portion of said third hinge segment, each of said two hinge se-gments having an arcuate-shaped slot in said one flange thereof outwardly of said other flange thereof and opening toward the other one of said two hinge segments, ilange means on said third hinge segment disposed between said flanges of said two lhinge segments in juxtaposition thereto, other flange means on said third hinge segment and projecting into said slots, said hinge segments being oscillatable relative to each other around the radial center of said slots, hinge plates mounted on and carried by said two hinge segments for movement therewith, and means on said hinge segments for limiting movement of said hinge segments relative to each other.

4. A hinge comprising three hinge segments, each of said hinge segments being in the shape of a chordal segment of a circle and including a substantially arcuateshaped outer peripheral portion disposed around a substantially ilat body portion, the body portion of each of two of said hinge segments including two substantially parallel flanges with one of said ilanges projecting outwardly beyond the other of said flanges, said two hinge segments being disposed on opposite sides of the third of said hinge segments with said other ilange disposed in juxtaposition to said body portion of said third hinge segment, each of said two hinge segments having an arcuate-shaped slot in said one flange thereof outwardly of said other flange thereof and opening toward the other one of said two hinge segments, said third hinge segment having flange means disposed between said two flanges of each of said two hinge segments and movable therealong, other flange means on said third hinge segment and projecting into said slots, two hinge plates mounted on said two hinge segments and carried thereby, said three hinge segments being movable relative to each other to thereby move said hinge plates relative to each other, abutment means disposed between said two flanges on each of said two hinge segments, and other abutment means on said flange means and engageable with said first mentioned abutment means to limit movement of said hinge segments relative to each other.

5. A hinge comprising three hinge segments, each of said hinge segments being in the shape of a chordal segment of a circle and including a substantially arcuateshaped outer peripheral portion disposed arround a substantially llat body portion, the body portion of each of two of said hinge segments including two substantially parallel flanges with one of said flanges projecting outwardly beyond the other of said flanges, said two hinge segments being disposed on opposite sides of the third of said hinge segments with said other flange disposed in juxtaposition to said body portion of said third hinge segment, each of said two hinge segments having an arcuate-shaped slot in said one flange thereof outwardly of said other flange thereof and opening toward the other one of said two hinge segments, said third hinge segment having two other arcuate-shaped flanges, each of said last mentioned flanges being disposed between a respective pair of said rst mentioned flanges, other flange means on said third hinge segment and projecting into said slots, two hinge plates, each of said hinge plates being mounted on a respective one of said two hinge segments, said two hinge segments being movable along said other arcuate shaped flanges between a position wherein said hinge plates are disposed in parallel juxtaposition to each other and another position wherein said hinge plates are disposed in uniplanar relation to each other, two pins, each of said pins extending between said rst mentioned flanges on a respective one of said two hinge segments, and two other pins mounted on said other anges in position to engage respective ones of said first mentioned pins when said hinge plates are disposed in said uniplanar relation to each other.

6. A hinge comprising a hinge segment having an arcuate-shaped rim, and a body portion projecting radially inwardly from said rim, said rim having two radially inwardly opening slots therein disposed on opposite sides of said body portion, and two axially projecting ribs on opposite lateral edges of said rim, two other hinge segments, each of said other hinge segments having a central body portion, and two outwardly projecting anges, one of said anges projecting outwardly beyond the other of said llanges, said flanges being spaced from each other to atiord an outwardly opening slot, said one flange having an arcuate-shaped slot therein in the portion of said one ange disposed outwardly of said other flange, said ribs being disposed in respective ones of said last mentioned slots and movable therealong, said other flanges being disposed in respective ones of said first mentioned slots and movable therealong, two hinge plates mounted on and carried by respective ones of said other hinge segments, said hinge plates being oscillatable through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees during said movement of said other flanges along said lirst mentioned slots, and stop means on said hinge segments for liriting movement of said hinge segments relative to each ot er.-

7. A hinge comprising a hinge segment having an arcuate-shaped rim, and a body portion projecting radially inwardly from said rim, said rim having two radially inwardly opening slots therein disposed on opposite sides of said body portion, and two axially projecting ribs on opposite lateral edges of said rim, two other hinge segments, each of said other hinge segments having a central body portion, and two outwardly projecting flanges, one of said flanges projecting outwardly beyond the other of said flanges, said flanges being spaced from each other to alord an outwardly opening slot, said one ange having an arcuate-shaped slot therein in the portion of said one ange disposed outwardly of said other ange, said ribs being disposed in respective ones of said last mentioned slots and movable therealong, said other flanges being disposed in respective ones of said rst mentioned slots and movable therealong, two hinge plates, each of said hinge plates being mounted on a respective one of said other hinge segments, said hinge plates having one position wherein they are disposed in parallel juxtaposition relative to each other, and another position wherein they are disposed in uniplanar relation to each other, said hinge plates being movable between said positions with said other hinge segments during movement of said other anges along said first mentioned slots, and stop means on said hinge segments for limiting movement of said hinge plates relative to each other.

8. A hinge as defined in claim 7 and in which said hinge plates have recesses therein, and in which each of said other hinge segments is disposed in a respective one of said recesses, and in which a portion of each of said hinge plates defining said recess therein is embedded in a respective one of said other hinge segments.

9. A hinge comprising a hinge segment having an arcuate-shaped rim, and a body portion projecting radially inwardly from said rim, said rim having two radially inwardly opening slots therein disposed on opposite sides of said body portion, and two axially projecting ribs on opposite lateral edges of said rim, two other hinge segments, each of said other hinge segments having a central body portion, and two outwardly projecting flanges, one of said anges projecting outwardly beyond the other of said flanges, said llanges being spaced from cach other to aiord an outwardly opening slot, said one flange having an arcuate-shaped slot therein in the portion of said one flange disposed outwardly of said other ange, said ribs being disposed in respective ones of said last mentioned slots and movable therealong, said other flanges being disposed in respective ones of said first mentioned slots and movable therealong, two hinge plates, each of said hinge plates being mounted on a respective one of said other hinge segments, said hinge plates having one position wherein they are disposed in parallel juxtaposition relative to each other, and another position wherein they are disposed in uniplanar relation to each other, said hinge plates being movable between said positions with said other hinge segments during movement of said other anges along said rst mentioned slots, two elongated pins, each of said pins being mounted in a respective one of said other flanges and projecting toward said one ange on the respective hinge segment, and two other elongated pins, said other pins projecting radially inwardly from said rim on a respective side of said body portion in position to abuttingly engage a respective one of said first mentioned pins when said hinge plates are disposed in said other position to thereby limit movement of said hinge plates from said one position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,824 Curtis Aug. 18, 1891 819,098 Underhill May l, 1906- 1,648,781 Pepin T. Nov. 8, 1927