US3911528A

US3911528A - Involute pinless hinge

Info

Publication number: US3911528A
Application number: US519418A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Richard Rojic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-10-31
Filing date: 1974-10-31
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14

Abstract

A hinge constructed of a pair of leaves each having a plate and a plurality of spaced apart members defining surfaces angularly disposed to the respective plate thereof wherein the members are simultaneously formed about a common axis to produce spiral shaped whorls having the surfaces of each disposed in interlocking mating relation such that each leaf is confined to pivot about said common axis.

Description

Umted States Patent 1 [111 3,91 1,528

Rojic, Sr. Oct. 14, 1975 [54} INVOLUTE PINLESS HINGE 3,663,987 5 1972 Hawkins 16/128 [76] Inventor: Richard Rojic, Sr., 20 W 176 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Edward Lombard, 60143 795,718 5/1958 United Kingdom 16/152 [22} Filed: Oct. 31, 1974 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [211 App! 5l9418 Attorney, Agent, or FirmHeise & Coolahan [52] US. Cl 16/128 R; 16/152; 16/153 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. EOSD 9/00; EOSD 15/00 [58] Field of Search 16/128 R, 150, 186, 189, A hnge mmmied of a eaves each 3 plate and a plurality of spaced apart members definlng 16/168, 135,152, 153

surfaces angularly d1sposed to the respectlve plate thereof wherein the members are simultaneously [56] References cued formed about a common axis to produce spiral shaped UNITED STATES PATENTS whorls having the surfaces of each disposed in inter- 1,072,364 9/1913 Roberts 16/153 locking mating relation such that ea h leaf is confined 2,685,102 8/1954 Forkey 16/ 153 to pivot about said Common axis. 2,860,370 1111958 Honnay 16/152 3,117,340 1/1964 Arboll 16/186 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures INVOLUTE PINLESS HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hinges have customarily been constructed such that the whorls of each leaf are disposed in normal relation to the butt plate wherein the hinge joint permits motion in one plane. This type of hinge necessarily requires a pin or axle to maintain the movable parts in mating relation. Other hinges have been developed wherein the whorls have some mating surfaces angularly disposed to produce axial displacement as one leaf is moved relative to the other, however, these also require a pin or axle to retain the leaves. Furthermore, by their very design they are limited to unitary construction together with predetermined length. The instant invention is di rected toward a novel hinge having leaves with interlocking whorls which obviates the need of a pin or axle to maintain the leaves in operative relation. This novel pin can also be produced in long lengths and then cut to produce hinges of shorter lengths without destroying the interlocking relationship of the leaves.

A general object of the invention is to provide a hinge having the leaves thereof disposed in articulate interlocking relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinge wherein the whorls of each leaf interlock in mating relation to obviate the necessity of a pin to retain said leaves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hinge which can be produced from sheet or plate material with the minimal amount of waste.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a hinge which can be constructed at any desired length.

A still more specific object of the foregoing is to provide a hinge which can be cut to produce hinges of shorter lengths without destroying the interlocking characteristics thereof.

Still another object is to provide a hinge wherein the leaves thereof include a plurality of members defining mating surfaces each of which is angularly related to the pivotal axis of the hinge.

A more specific object of the foregoing is that each mating surface essentially defines the same angular relation to the pivotal axis of the hinge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge wherein one leaf thereof can be retained at a predeter mined angular disposition in relation to the other.

A still further object of the foregoing is to provide that the whorls on at least one leaf have a surface portion which will engage the butt plate of the other leaf at that predetermined angle.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of constructing a hinge such that the whorls of each leaf are arranged in interlocking relation to allow the leaves thereof to pivot about a common axis without the need of a pin or axle to maintain mating relation of the whorls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of constructing a hinge from plate or sheet material wherein the space between adjacent members from which the whorls are formed on one leaf provides that material from which the members for the whorl of the other leaf are formed.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a method for assembling the leaves of the hinge into interlocking relation wherein every point on a particular member which is formed into a whorl is circularly formed about an axis to effect a spiral shape thereabout.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a method for assembling the leaves of the hinge such that the members of each leaf are simultaneously disposed in mating relation and bent about a common pivotal axis wherein each member of one leaf forms a spiral whorl arranged in interlocking relationship with corresponding members of the other leaf formed into spiral shape whorls.

A still further specific object of the invention is to provide a method for assembling said hinge wherein each point on each member of each leaf is circularly bent about a common pivotal axis such that each said point remains substantially in a plane referenced in normal to said axis from the beginning of the bending process to the completion thereof.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a novel hinge having one leaf thereof disposed at spaced apart angular relation to the other;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the hinge showing the whorls of each leaf thereof partially bent about a common axis;

FIG. 3a shows one leaf of the hinge before assembly;

FIG. 3b shows the other leaf of the hinge before assembly;

FIG. 4a is a sectional view of the leaf shown in FIG. 3a taken substantially on a line 4a4a of FIG. 3a,-

FIG. 4b is a sectional view of the leaf shown in FIG. 3b taken substantially on a line 4b--4b of FIG. 3b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a hinge 8 comprising a pair of leaves, generally designated 10 and 12, respectively. The leaf 10 comprises a plurality of members I4, 15, and 16 spirally formed in the whorls about a common axis XX. The leaf 12 in like matter comprises

members

18, 19 and 20 which are spirally formed into whorls about the same axis XX. This spiral forming of the members of each leaf couples the leaves in interlocking relation such that one can pivot relative to the other about the axis XX without the need of a pin or axle to retain the leaves in coupled relation. This will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

Directing attention now to FIGS. 3a and 3b, it can be seen that the leaf 10 comprises a butt plate 22 from which extend the

members

14, 15, and 16; these members are shown before formed into whorls in FIG. 1. In like matter leaf 12 comprises a butt plate 27 having the

members

18, 19, and 20 extendipg therefrom. Each

butt plate

22, 27 has spaced apart

apertures

30, 31 respectively. These apertures are suitable for receiving mounting devices such as bolts, screws, etc. It is pointed out at this time that the quantity of members are not limited to those shown in the drawings and additional intermediate members such as 14 and 15 of leaf l0 and 19 ofleaf 12 could be of any number as designed in use considerations would require. Each member defines a bearing surface designated by the number of that member together with a prime or double prime depending whether that particular member has one or two such bearing surfaces. Also, the prime designation will distinguish the angular relationship of that bearing surface to the pivotal axis of the hinge. .For instance, the bearing surfaces of the member 19 of leaf are designated 19' and 19" respectively wherein 19' is that surface disposed at an acute angle to the axis XX. and 19" is that surface disposed at an obtuse angle to the axis XX. In like manner bearing surfaces of the member 20 of leaf 12 are designated 20 and 20 such forming acute and obtuse angles respectively with the axis XX.

The bearing surfaces of the other members are so designated. The surfaces designated by a single prime are disposed at an acute angle to the pivotal axis XX designated as angle A. The surfaces designated by a double prime are disposed at an obtuse angle to the pivotal axis XX designated as angle B. It can be seen the angles A of those single prime designated surfaces are substantially equal. Similarly the angles B of thosedouble prime designated surfaces are also substantially equal. The angles A and B are complementary. Furthermore, each particular bearing surface is angularly disposed to the pivotal axis by its respective angle (A or B) along its entire length.

FIGS. 4a and 4!) show the bearing surfaces and These surfaces will be disposed in mating relation and ride one on the other when they are formed into spiral shaped whorls upon the hinge being assembled. Similarly the following bearing surfaces will be dis posed in mating relation and ride one on the other, 7

namely, 18" on 14', 19' on 14, 15" on 19" and 20" on 16".

Upon the leaves being formed to a hinge the members are circumferentially bent about the axis XX into spiral whorls such that a clearance space is provided adjacent each whorl and its respective butt plate. This is shown in FIGS. 1, 3a, and 3b. In the later mentioned Figures this space is illustrated as that space between the dotted line and the butt plate.

It also should be mentioned that each member is bent during assembly to define a circular relationship about the axis X-X and furthermore any particular point of any member remains substantially in a same plane as that point is being moved circularly about during the bending process. This particular plane is disposed in substantially normal relation to the pivotal axis X-X. Likewise every point on every member that is moved during bending is retained in a similarly positioned plane.

7 An additional feature of the hinge is that the leaves thereof can be retained at a predetermined minimal angular displacement. As seen in FIG. 4a similarly shaped

protuberances

40, 41 are stamped in

similar members

14 and 15 respectively. FIG. 4a shows protuberance 41 having a ramp surface 43 merging with the outer surface of the member 15 at one end and joining at its other end with a sharper incline surface 44.

Protuberance is similarly positioned and formed on member 14. It is contemplated that interior members on the other leaf 12 could also have such retaining means. It can be appreciated that asthe hinge is opened and one leaf is angularly displaced relative to the

other members

14 and 15 move through their respective clearance spaces 35 on the opposite leaf. When the predetermined angle is almost obtained the ramp surface enters the clearance space and begins to engage the butt plate adjacent thereto and slight and progressive inward deflection of that whorl occurs until the sharper incline surface is reached. At this time the whorl snaps back to its original shape thereby retaining the leaves at that minimal predetermined angular displacement.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Normally the

leaves

10 and 12 of the hinge 8 will be made of sheet material such as steel or brass having sufficient thickness and tensile strength to provide adequate strength and bearing surfaces to assure proper operation of the hinge.

A blank metal strip is fed into a die wherein the

leaves

10 and 12 are cut or formed into flat pieces having the configuration of those leaves shown in FIGS. 3a

and 3b. It can be appreciated that the only waste produced will be from those

apertures

30, 31 in the

butt plates

22 and 27 in that the members or fillets of each leaf relate in superposition to the space of the other leaf. After this procedure is completed the

leaves

10 and 12 are arranged in a die where they are retained and registered inspaced apart relation using the apertures on each leaf for this procedure. At this position members of each leaf are initially bent about approximately as hereinbefore described; see FIG. 2. This initial angle may vary depending on the material used and the magnitude of the angles A and B. It is also pointed out that each member of each leaf is circumferentially formed in circular fashion such that each member is formed about a hypothetical circle with eachcircle thereof defining the same radii. This initial bending procedure allows the

leaves

10 and 12 to come together for the final bending process. The leaves are now brought together such that the partially bent members of one leaf register in the spaces between the members of the other leaf while maintaining the axial extremeties of the leaves in substantial collative alignment. The members of both leaves are now bent in intertwining relation about a full 360, with each member being circumferentially formed about a common pivotal axis and intertwined together with all such members being disposed in spaced relation about said axis at substantially the same radius. It is during this final bending stage that the members of each leaf are fully shaped into spiral shaped whorls and disposed in inter-- locking relation wherein the bearing surfaces are disposed in mating relationship as hereinbefore described.

It should also be noted that the bending procedure described above could be accomplished by a continuous bending process thus eleminating the initial bend-.

ing step.

It is also contemplated that hinges of the type described could be made of nylon or similar material and the procedures hereinbefore described could be substantially duplicated during the molding process. For in such a procedure leaves 10 and 12 would be molded rather than stamped and the bending or forming of the respective members thereof into interlocking and mat-.

ing whorls to effect an assembled hinge could be accomplished in appropriate heat-pressure procedures well known to those skilled in the art.

Attention is further directed that right and left hand 1 hinges can be produced by the aforementioned procedures merely by bending or forming members in whorls about the common axis in one direction to produce right handed hinges or in the opposite direction to produce left handed hinges.

Directing attention back to FIG. 1 it can be seen that in operation the hinge 8 is capable of having one leaf rotate relative to the other almost a full 360. As one leaf is angularly displaced relative to the other, the leaves experience a relative displacement one to another along the pivotal axis X-X.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention chosen for the purposes of illustration and description herein is that preferred based upon requirements for achieving the objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirable manner with regard to existing factors of economy, simplicity of design in construction, production methods and improvements saught to be effected. It will be understood, that the particular structure and functional aspect emphasized herein are not intended to exclude but rather to suggest other modifications and adaptations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A pinless hinge comprising:

first and second leaves operatively disposed to pivot about a common axis;

each of said leaves comprising a plurality of spaced apart members;

said members of each leaf defining bearing surfaces alternately disposed along their entire length at acute and obtuse angles to said common axis; and

said members of said first and second leaves disposed in intertwining relation with each other to effect spiraLshaped whorls interlocking said leaves one with the other such that the bearing surfaces of one said leaf are disposed in mating relation with the corresponding bearing surfaces of said other leaf whereby said leaves are interlockingly joined to permit articulate motion of said leaves about said common axis.

2. A pinless hinge operative to pivot about a common axis comprising:

a first leaf comprising a butt plate having a plurality of spaced apart members extending from one side and defining spaces thereinbetween thereof;

a second leaf comprising a butt plate having a plurality of spaced apart members extending from one side and defining spaces thereinbetween thereof;

said members of said first and second leaves having bearing surfaces intermediate the axial extremities of said hinge, said surfaces circumferentially disposed about said common axis in spiral relation thereabout;

said bearing surfaces of each leaf disposed along their entire lengths at alternate acute and obtuse angles to said common axis; and

said members of each leaf forming spiral-shaped whorls disposed in intertwining relation one to the other such that the members of one leaf are disposed in interlocking relation with those of the other to dispose corresponding bearing surfaces of respective members in engaging relation one to the other whereby said leaves are joined in articulate interlocking relation one to the other about said common axis.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein the members of each leaf are spirally formed about said common axis at substantially the same radius.

4. The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein the respective acute and obtuse angles of each said member of each leaf are substantially equal and said spaces between the members of one leaf are in substantial superposition to those corresponding members of said other leaf wherein both leaves can be produced with minimal waste.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein at least one said members on one of said leave includes retaining means operative to retain said leaves at a predetermined angular relation one to the other relative to pivoting said leaves about said common axis.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein the members of each leaf are disposed about said common axis to define a clearance space between that member and said butt plate of the other leaf.

7. The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein the leaves of said hinge are of substantially the same thickness.

8. The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said butt plates of each leaf include fastening receiving means.

Claims

1. A pinless hinge comprising: first and second leaves operatively disposed to pivot about a common axis; each of said leaves comprising a plurality of spaced apart members; said members of each leaf defining bearing surfaces alternately disposed along their entire length at acute and obtuse angles to said common axis; and said members of said First and second leaves disposed in intertwining relation with each other to effect spiral-shaped whorls interlocking said leaves one with the other such that the bearing surfaces of one said leaf are disposed in mating relation with the corresponding bearing surfaces of said other leaf whereby said leaves are interlockingly joined to permit articulate motion of said leaves about said common axis.

2. A pinless hinge operative to pivot about a common axis comprising: a first leaf comprising a butt plate having a plurality of spaced apart members extending from one side and defining spaces thereinbetween thereof; a second leaf comprising a butt plate having a plurality of spaced apart members extending from one side and defining spaces thereinbetween thereof; said members of said first and second leaves having bearing surfaces intermediate the axial extremities of said hinge, said surfaces circumferentially disposed about said common axis in spiral relation thereabout; said bearing surfaces of each leaf disposed along their entire lengths at alternate acute and obtuse angles to said common axis; and said members of each leaf forming spiral-shaped whorls disposed in intertwining relation one to the other such that the members of one leaf are disposed in interlocking relation with those of the other to dispose corresponding bearing surfaces of respective members in engaging relation one to the other whereby said leaves are joined in articulate interlocking relation one to the other about said common axis.