US3737946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinges and more particularly to hinges suitable for adjustable back rests of seating means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-28
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1992-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A hinge including a pair of hinge members rotatable relative to each other about a hinge axis; an arcuate toothed rack of concave configuration fast with the one hinge member and presenting teeth which are directed radially inwardly towards the hinge axis; a toothed locking element which is radially but not circumferentially movable relative to the other hinge member and which is interengageable with the arcuate rack in a plurality of circumferentially spaced positions; and actuating means for moving the locking element into and out of engagement with the arcuate rack. The actuating means comprises the combination of a single rotary actuating member located at least partially within a bore in at least one of the hinge members and rotatable about the hinge axis; two arcuate cam surface zones on the actuating member and disposed about the hinge axis, the spacing of each cam surface zone from the hinge axis varying between a maximum and a minimum value along the cam surface zone; a single cam follower connected to the locking element; and an arcuate bearing surface zone on the follower for each cam surface zone, rotation of the actuating member in opposite directions engaging either one of the two cam surface zones with its own associated bearing surface zone so as positively to urge the locking element into and out of engagement with the arcuate rack, at least the cam surface zone and the associated bearing surface zone which are engaged when the locking element is urged into engagement with the arcuate rack being complementary to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 K Giuliani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:53
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/235; B60N2/2356; B60N2/236; F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A hinge including a pair of hinge members rotatable relative to each other about a hinge axis; an arcuate toothed rack of concave configuration fast with the one hinge member and presenting teeth which are directed radially inwardly towards the hinge axis; a toothed locking element which is radially but not circumferentially movable relative to the other hinge member and which is interengageable with the arcuate rack in a plurality of circumferentially spaced pOsitions; a single rotary actuating member located at least partially within a bore in at least one of the hinge members and rotatable about the hinge axis; two arcuate cam surface zones on the actuating member and disposed about the hinge axis, the spacing of each cam surface zone from the hinge axis varying between a maximum and a minimum value along the cam surface zone; a single cam follower connected to the locking element; and an arcuate bearing surface zone on the follower for each cam surface zone, rotation of the actuating member in opposite directions engaging either one of the two cam surface zones with its own associated bearing surface zone so as positively to urge the locking element into and out of engagement with the arcuate rack, at least the cam surface zone and the associated bearing surface zone which are engaged when the locking element is urged into engagement with the arcuate rack being complementary to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A hinge including a pair of hinge members rotatable relative to each other about a hinge axis; an arcuate toothed rack of concave configuration fast with the one hinge member and presenting teeth which are directed radially inwardly towards the hinge axis; a toothed locking element which is radially but not circumferentially movable relative to the other hinge member and which is interengageable with the arcuate rack in a plurality of circumferentially spaced pOsitions; a single rotary actuating member located at least partially within a bore in at least one of the hinge members and rotatable about the hinge axis; two arcuate cam surface zones on the actuating member and disposed about the hinge axis, the spacing of each cam surface zone from the hinge axis varying between a maximum and a minimum value along the cam surface zone; a single cam follower connected to the locking element; and an arcuate bearing surface zone on the follower for each cam surface zone, rotation of the actuating member in opposite directions engaging either one of the two cam surface zones with its own associated bearing surface zone so as positively to urge the locking element into and out of engagement with the arcuate rack, at least the cam surface zone and the associated bearing surface zone which are engaged when the locking element is urged into engagement with the arcuate rack being complementary to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the rotary actuating member and the cam follower are at least partially located in a bore in at least one of the hinge members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, including a guide member fast with the other hinge member; and a radially extending guide slot in the guide member, the locking element being slidably located in the guide slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one hinge member presents a mounting head at one end thereof; and a bore in the mounting head, the arcuate rack being fast with the mounting head and extending round at least part of the periphery of the bore therein and the rotary actuating member being located at least partially in the bore in the mounting head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary actuating member includes an arcuate slot, opposite sides of the slot constituting two opposed arcuate cam surface zones; and wherein the cam follower comprises a curved projection extending from the locking element and located in the slot, opposite sides of the projection constituting two arcuate bearing surface zones, rotation of the actuating member in opposite directions engaging either one of the two cam surface zones with its own bearing surface zone so as positively to urge the locking element into and out of engagement with the arcuate rack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary actuating member comprises an eccentrically mounted member having an arcuate outer periphery constituting two adjacent arcuate cam surface zones; and wherein the cam follower comprises an annular coupling link which is rotatably mounted on the actuating member and which is pivotally connected to the locking member, rotation of the actuating member in opposite directions engaging either one of the two adjacent cam surface zones of the outer periphery of the actuating member with its own associated zone of the inner periphery of the coupling link so as positively to urge the locking element into and out of engagement with the arcuate rack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary actuating member is fast with an operating shaft which is co-axial with the hinge axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating member is resiliently biased for rotation urging the locking element towards engagement with the arcuate rack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two hinge members are resiliently biased towards a position in which their angular displacement is a minimum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotary actuating member and the cam follower lie in substantially the same plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arcuate toothed rack is located in axial spaced relationship to the other hinge member; and wherein the guide member is mounted on spacer means fast with the other hinge member, thereby to locate the guide slot in substantially the same plane as the arcuate rack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting head comprises a plate-like end formation on tHe one hinge member; and a gear ring fast with the end formation in face to face relationship therewith, the gear ring presenting the arcuate rack round at least part of its inner periphery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 4, including a pivot formation fast with the other hinge member and presenting an outwardly directed bearing surface complementary to at least part of the bore in the mounting head, the mounting head being rotatably mounted on the pivot formation and the arcuate rack lying along a circumferential zone disposed radially in the vicinity of the bearing surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 13, including a guide member of circular configuration fast with the other hinge member; and a radially extending guide slot in the guide member in which the locking element is slidably located, the outer periphery of the guide member constituting a pivot formation presenting an outwardly directed bearing surface complementary to an inwardly directed bearing surface round at least part of the inner periphery of the bore in the mounting head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 13, including a guide member fast with the other hinge member; and a radially extending guide slot in the guide member in which the locking element is slidably located, the arcuate toothed rack being located in axial spaced relationship to the other hinge member and the guide member being mounted on spacer means of circular configuration fast with the other hinge member to locate the guide slot in substantially the same plane as the arcuate rack, the outer periphery of the spacer means constituting a pivot formation presenting an outwardly directed bearing surface complementary to an inwardly directed bearing surface round the inner periphery of the bore in the mounting head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hinge as claimed in claim 15, wherein the spacer means comprises a ring within which the actuating member is located.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1296060A
Cited
FR1347823A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |