Hinge joint assemblies

Claim 2

For use with a hinge joint between two structural members pivotally connected together about a pivot axis, an assembly comprising: a first lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to one of said structural members about said pivot axis, said first lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially inwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, a second lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to the other of said structural members about said pivot axis, said second lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially outwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said lock members having a first relative orientation in whiCh said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, the teeth of both lock members being resiliently deformable such that, upon the application of sufficient torque, the mechanical interference between the meshing teeth can be overcome, whereby one lock member can be turned with respect to the other lock member to a second relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other.

Claim 3

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said first lock member comprises a disc having a central aperture and an integral, axially extending peripheral flange integrally supporting said radially inwardly extending teeth, and in which said second lock member comprises a disc having a central aperture and an integral, axially extending, coaxial boss integrally supporting said radially outwardly extending teeth.

Claim 4

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which said radially inwardly extending teeth are uniformly spaced around said peripheral flange, and in which said radially outwardly extending teeth are uniformly spaced around said coaxial boss.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which each of said radially outwardly extending teeth constitutes a portion of a hollow cylinder, is integral only with said boss, and is spaced from said disc of said second lock member.

Claim 6

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the side of each disc remote from its teeth is formed to be complementary with a portion of the structural member with respect to which that disc is intended to be fixed.

Claim 7

For use with a hinge joint between two structural members pivotally connected together about a pivot axis, an assembly comprising: a first lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to one of said structural members about said pivot axis, said first lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially inwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said first lock member being an integral element, a second lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to the other of said structural members about said pivot axis, said second lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially outwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said second lock member being an integral element, said lock members having a first relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, at least one said plurality of teeth being resiliently deformable such that, upon the application of sufficient torque, the mechanical interference between the meshing teeth can be overcome, whereby one lock member can be turned with respect to the other lock member to a second relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, all resilient teeth being hollow whereby to increase the resilience of the teeth.

Claim 8

For use with a hinge joint between two structural members pivotally connected together about a pivot axis, an assembly comprising: a first lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to one of said structural members about said pivot axis, said first lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially inwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said first lock member being an integral element, a second lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to the other of said structural members about said pivot axis, said second lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially outwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said second lock member being an integral element, said lock members having a first relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, at least one said plurality of teeth being resiliently deformable such that, upon the application of sufficient torque, the mechanical interference between the meshing teeth can be overcome, whereby one lock member can be turned with respect to the other lock member to a second relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, all resilient teeth being hollow whereby to increase the resilience of the teeth.

Claim 9

An assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which all teeth are resilient.

Claim 10

A hinge joint assembly comprising: two structural members pivoted together about a pivot pin element, a first lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to one of said structural members about said pivot axis, said first lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially inwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, a second lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to the other of said structural members about said pivot axis, said second lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially outwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said lock members having a first relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, the teeth of both lock members being resiliently deformable such that, upon the application of sufficient torque, the mechanical interference between the meshing teeth can be overcome, whereby one lock member can be turned with respect to the other lock member to a second relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other.

Claim 11

A hinge joint assembly comprising: two structural members pivoted together about a pivot pin element, a first lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to one of said structural members about said pivot axis, said first lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially inwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, a second lock member adapted to be fixed with respect to the other of said structural members about said pivot axis, said second lock member having a plurality of rounded, radially outwardly extending teeth spaced equidistantly from said pivot axis, said lock members having a first relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other, the teeth of both lock members being resiliently deformable such that, upon the application of sufficient torque, the mechanical interference between the meshing teeth can be overcome, whereby one lock member can be turned with respect to the other lock member to a second relative orientation in which said pluralities of teeth mesh with each other.