Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A hinge in which first and second members (12,11) are hinged about a hinge axis, the hinge further comprising a detend mechanism which comprises a camming surface (33) on the first member (12) extending at least partly around the hinge axis, at least one roller (32) mounted on the second member offset from the hinge axis for rotation about an axis extending towards the hinge axis and biassing means (26) for urging said roller (32) into rolling contact with the camming surface, said roller tapering towards the hinge axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A hinge in which first and second members (12,11) are hinged about a hinge axis, the hinge further comprising a detend mechanism which comprises a camming surface (33) on the first member (12) extending at least partly around the hinge axis, at least one roller (32) mounted on the second member offset from the hinge axis for rotation about an axis extending towards the hinge axis and biassing means (26) for urging said roller (32) into rolling contact with the camming surface, said roller tapering towards the hinge axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the camming surface is shaped so that said roller maintains line contact with the camming surface during hinging of the two members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein at least two such rollers are provided spaced around the hinge axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the or each roller axis is at right angles to the hinge axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 4 wherein two rollers are provided, the roller being journalled on either end of a pin (31) extending through the second member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A hinge as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the camming surface is formed with a notch (34) defining a position for said roller corresponding to a detent positon of the second member relative to the first member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim6 wherein the camming surface is also formed with a lobe on one side of the notch, so that once the two members are hinged so that the roller rides out of the notch onto the lobe, the biassing means assist further hinging of the two members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 7 wherein a pair of such lobes are formed to either side of the notch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A hinge as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hinge axis is provided by a shaft (13) which is fixed for rotation together with the second member (11) and the said biassing means comprises a helical spring (26), one end of which is seated axially on the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 9 including a split taper sleeve (25) for receiving the shaft, the sleeve being urged by the bias of the helical spring against a frusto-conical surface of the first member thereby acting to centralise the shaft on the hinge axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hinge as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the frusto-conical surface is provided by a thrust ring (23) which is retained in a hole in the first member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle mirror wherein a mirror is carried by one member of a hinge as claimed in any preceding claim and the other member is for attachment to a vehicle.