US856937A - Locking-hinge. - Google Patents

Description

No. 856,937. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. 0. A. BELL.

LOOKING HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 24. 1906.

UNITED STATES ORO A. BELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ;.'.i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed Febru ry 24.1906. Serial No. 302,808.

To all whont it nut/y 00/b607IL.

Be it known that I, Ono A. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in LockingdIingcs, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and OX act description.

A switchboard key shelf must be hinged in order that it may be lifted to give access to the working parts of the keys and other apparatus below or on the under side of the shelf. As the shelf when equipped is quite heavy, it is desirable that it shall be braced when lifted to prevent its falling either forward or backward against the face of the switchboard. Accidents have happened, resulting not only in damage to the apparatus but injury to those who have been in the way, by the falling of the shelf when un braced as heretofore.

The object of my invention is to provide a hinge of such construction that the shelf will be automatically locked in position when lifted.

Speaking quite specifically, my invention consists in a hinge having three plates. Two of these plates constitute the leaves, the third plate constituting a brace. This brace 'is hinged to the edge of one of the leaves and is adapted to engage automatically with the edge of the corresponding leaf as the hinge is opened, as in the act of raising the shelf, a spring being provided which is adjusted to press the brace in a direction to cause it to thus engage with the edge of the leaf corresponding to that to which the braccis hinged.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows my hinge applied to a key shelf, the shelf being down, or in its normal position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 3, showing the shelf open and locked in position by the hinge; Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the hinge and shelf in the same position as in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of my hinge, in which the brace is adapted to prevent the shelf from closing only.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters of reference throughout the different figures.

As will be readily understood, the shelf (I, when equipped with keys and switches will be quite heavy. It is placedin front next to the operator, and constitutes, as it were, a table, and is hinged to the frame or fixed portion I), the switchboard proper, not shown, being erected above. The hinge which I have invented consists of the leaf c pivoted as usual to the leaf (1, and the brace c hinged at 'to the ed e of the leaf (1 a s )rin being i" 7 l provided which is adapted to bear against the brace and cause it to ride upon the lip I). on the leaf as the shelf is opened, until the brace comes into position to engage with said lip. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the brace is provided with a slot at its lower edge, thus forming shoulders i 1.: which engage with the said lip on the leaf 0 to lock the shelf when. raised in position, to prevent the same from falling either backward or forward. In Fig. 4 the brace is left with a bevel shaped edge adapted to engage with the inside of the projccting lip of the leaf 0, thus preventing the shelf from falling forward. I prefer, however, the construction shown in the other figures, whereby the shelf is positively locked.

it will be understood that two hinges will be used ordinarily with each shelf.

My invention admits of formal variations as, for example, the engagement between the free end of the brace and the projecting lip of the leaf and as to the manner of pivoting the brace to the edge of the corresponding leaf, and in the engagement of the spring g, which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. I. therefore do not wish to limit my claims to the precise details of construction illustrated.

Ilaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a two-leaf hinge, one of whose leaves is provided with an inturned lip, of a brace pivoted to the other leaf, and a spring for pressing said brace against said lip, hereby the brace is caused to engage with said lip and to automatically lock the members in their adjusted position.

2. The combination with a t\\"o-leaf hinge,

' lip is adapted to ride and automatically lock one of whose leaves is provided with an in- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe turned lip, of a brace pivoted to the other my name this 1st day of November, A. D. to leaf, said brace having a channel upon the 1905. side bearing agalnst said lip lnto Wlnch said 0R0 A BELL.

the hinge members in their adjusted posi- Witnesses:

tions, and a spring for forcing said brace into ROY T. ALLOWAY,

engagement with said lip. E. F. BEAUBIEN.

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