Lockable hinge

Claim 2

A hinge comprising at least two leaves, a barrel shaped housing affixed to one end of each leaf, said housings each having an internal polygonal socket portion and a hinge pin bearing portion, a hinge pin adapted to pass through said barrels when the same are in axial alignment, and supporting along the length thereof spaced polygonal plug portions of a size and shape to slidably mesh with the barrel socket portions, said socket portions having an axial length at least equal to the length of the plug portions whereby axial translation of the pivot pin in one direction uncouples the plug portions from the adjacent socket portions thereby releasing the leaves for relative angular movement and whereby axial translation of the hinge pin in the other direction to an extent wherein the plug portions are meshed with adjacent portions of adjacent sockets locks the leaves against relative angular movement.

Claim 3

The hinge of claim 1 in which the hinge pin comprises alternate cylindrical and polygonal plug portions and said housing hinge pin bearing portion is an extended socket portion, a split bearing bushing having an exterior polygonal configuration adapted to slidably fit in and being supported by the extended socket portion and having a central journal aperture to support the hinge pin cylindrical portion.

Claim 4

The hinge of claim 2 in which the hinge pin is provided with an enlarged end portion, a spring mounted under compression on the hinge pin between the enlarged end portion and the adjacent end of the adjacent barrel shaped housing whereby each hinge pin plug portion is maintained in mesh equally substantially with adjacent barrel socket portions thereby securing the hinge leaves in locked angular relationship.

Claim 5

The hinge of claim 1 in which each housing hinge pin bearing portion is a cylindrical journal affixed to the respective socket portion, said hinge pin having a cylindrical cross section, each of said polygonal plugs and said hinge pin being provided with mating apertures adapted to receive anchoring element of elongated pin shape, said anchoring element having a cross section sized to provide a squeeze fit in said mating apertures and having a length substantially equal to but not exceeding the cross sectional dimension of the plug portion in the direction of the apertures.

Claim 6

The hinge of claim 1 in which a first barrel shaped housing is affixed to an independent leaf, said hinge pin having a polygonal cross section, said barrel shaped housing having its length divided into a polygonal socket portion and a cylindrical portion, a plug element having an exteRnal polygonal shape adapted to slidably engage the housing socket portion and having a central polygonal aperture adapted to slidably fit said hinge pin, said polygonal socket portion having a length at least equal to the length of the plug element, a second barrel shaped housing and leaf of identical construction with the first housing and leaf but juxtiposed adjacent the first housing in reversed relationship whereby the socket portions are adjacent, bearing elements having an interval polygonal aperture adapted to slidably fit the hinge pin and having an external cylindrical shape of diameter to slidably fit the housing cylindrical portion and means for translating in an axial direction the hinge pin between two preselected extremes, means for affixing each plug element to the hinge pin in a position whereby it is completely nested in the first barrel shaped housing socket when the hinge pin is translated to one extreme position, and shares its length equally with the socket portions of the first and second housing sockets when the pivot pin is in the other preselected extreme position.

Claim 7

The hinge of claim 5 in which a hinge pin reciprocating cam element is pivotally supported on the end of the pivot pin and is adapted to engage the adjacent end of the adjacent first barrel shaped housing whereby the hinge pin with its associated plug elements can be selectively positioned in either of said preselected extreme positions, spring means supported on the pivot pin between the other end of the hinge pin and the adjacent end of the adjacent second barrel shaped housing member whereby the hinge pin is biassed into the position in which the associated plug element shares its length substantially equally with the adjacent socket portions of the first and second housing and manual operation of the cam translates the plug elements out of engagement with alternate sockets.

Claim 8

The hinge of claim 3 in which the plug portions are integral with the hinge pin and in which the split bearing bushing is sized for a slidable squeeze fit in the socket portion of the leaf-barrel shaped housing assemblies, said bushings having a length relative to the axial length of the sockets portions such that when pressed in place flush with an edge of the socket, the axial length of the socket remaining is at least equal to the axial length of the plug portions, and stop means affixed to the hinge pin to limit the axial movement of the shaft in the direction of coercion of the spring to a position in which the plug portions are meshed equally, substantially with adjacent opposed sockets, and means affixed to the hinge pin for reciprocation to and holding the plug portions out of mesh with alternate leaf-barrel housing assemblies.