US3833964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-locking hinge
Assignee: SUITCASE SHOWER Ltd
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Filing: 1971-09-20
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1991-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A self-supporting self-locking hinge unit is described comprising two or more elongated plastic hinge elements all pivotally joined in end-to-end relation to be hingeable between a side-by-side closed position and a substantially in-line open position. Each adjacent pair of elements are provided with integral projecting tongues which are interengageable with an over-centre action to releasably lock said adjacent elements in their said open position. A plurality of multi-element such hinge units are associated with flexible sheet material and interconnected at the outermost elements of each unit to provide self-supporting screen structure; such structure being exemplified herein by a collapsible portable shower unit.
Inventors
- 👤 R Harcourt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:09
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K3/00; A47K3/28; A47K3/30; A47K3/32; A47K3/325; E; E05; E05D; E05D11/00; E05D11/10; E05D11/1028; E05D11/105; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/114
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
In combination, a self-locking hinge unit and a sheet of flexible material attached thereto, said hinge unit comprising at least two elongated hinge elements joined together about a pivot axis and said sheet material being attached at least to the outer ends of the two outermost hinge elements of the hinge unit, adjacent hinge elements in said unit being pivotable from a sideby-side closed position through about 180* to an end-to-end substantially in-line open position, cooperating resilient means including two interlockable members each integral with one of said adjacent hinge elements for maintaining said adjacent hinge elements releasably locked in said open position, said members being interengageable with one another as said adjacent hinge elements are pivoted from said closed position towards their said open position and at least part of said members being progressively deformable during such pivoting to juxtapose one another in an interlocked engagement, immediately prior to said adjacent hinge elements assuming their said open position; said members remaining in said interlocked engagement with one another to retain said adjacent hinge elements in their said open position and to prevent said hinge elements from closing unless a sufficient pivotal force is applied to said hinge elements to disengage said members from said interlocked engagement, whereby the sheet material may be moved from a collapsed configuration when said hinge elements are closed relative to one another in an outstretched condition when the hinge elements are in their said open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
In combination, a self-locking hinge unit and a sheet of flexible material attached thereto, said hinge unit comprising at least two elongated hinge elements joined together about a pivot axis and said sheet material being attached at least to the outer ends of the two outermost hinge elements of the hinge unit, adjacent hinge elements in said unit being pivotable from a sideby-side closed position through about 180* to an end-to-end substantially in-line open position, cooperating resilient means including two interlockable members each integral with one of said adjacent hinge elements for maintaining said adjacent hinge elements releasably locked in said open position, said members being interengageable with one another as said adjacent hinge elements are pivoted from said closed position towards their said open position and at least part of said members being progressively deformable during such pivoting to juxtapose one another in an interlocked engagement, immediately prior to said adjacent hinge elements assuming their said open position; said members remaining in said interlocked engagement with one another to retain said adjacent hinge elements in their said open position and to prevent said hinge elements from closing unless a sufficient pivotal force is applied to said hinge elements to disengage said members from said interlocked engagement, whereby the sheet material may be moved from a collapsed configuration when said hinge elements are closed relative to one another in an outstretched condition when the hinge elements are in their said open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said hinge units are provided in spaced relation along said sheet material, the outer ends of the outermost elements of the units being respectively rigidly interconnected whereby the sheet material is supportable in outstretched rectangular configuration by said units when the elements thereof are in their said open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hinge units are arranged in two opposed pairs at opposite corners of rigid upper and lower peripheral interconnections, the sheet material being outstretchable into a box-like enclosure when all of said elements in said hinge units are in their said open positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The hinge unit is as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interlockable members comprise a pair of tongues extending from the adjacent ends of said hinge elements; the end of one said tongue engaging the surface of the other said tongue and deforming said other tongue during their period of interengagement and the two tongues being located in contiguous relation with one another in the said open position of the hinge unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
The hinge unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said hinge elements comprises an elongated planar member and said interlockable members comprise a pair of tongues extending from the adjacent ends of said planar members; one said tongue being disposed in the plane of one said planar member and the other said tongue being displaced out of and parallel to the plane of the other said planar member, the end of said one tongue engaging the surface of the other said tongue and deforming it during their period of interengagement and the two tongues being located in contiguous relation with one another in the open position of the hinge unit with said one tongue coplanar with said other planar member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The hinge unit as set forth in claim 5 wherein one of said hinge elements at least has abutment means thereon engageable with the other said hinge element in said open position of the hinge unit, said abutment means being dimensioned to prohibit the hinge elements from attaining a complete 180*relation with one another in said open position thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
The hinge unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interlockable members comprise a pair of tongues extending from the adjacent ends of said hinge elements; the end of one tongue engaging the surface of the other said tongue and deforming said other tongue during their period of interengagement and the two tongues being located in contiguous relation with one another in the said open position of the hinge unit; co-operating rib and recess configurations being provided on said tongues facilitating their interengaged movement relative to one another and achieving a releasable latching engagement with one another in said open position of the hinge unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hinge unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said hinge elements is of elongated form and includes integral means at each end thereof facilitating its hinge connection and releasable locking engagement with another similar hinge element whereby a plurality of such hinge elements may be joined together into a multi-element hinge unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |