Patent ID: 11920392
Assignee: CHATSWORTH PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 15:
16. A hinge assembly providing built-in electrical bonding for a removable door in an electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:
(a) a first hinge unit, adapted to be mounted to a frame structure of the electronic equipment enclosure, that includes:
(i) a pin support comprising a barrel,
(ii) a pin receptacle arranged in the pin support, and
(iii) an electrically conductive bonding element disposed at least partly inside the pin support and adjacent the pin receptacle;

(b) an electrically conductive pin disposed in the pin receptacle and arranged to rotate therein; and
(c) a removable second hinge unit carried on the pin and adapted to be mounted to a door of the electronic equipment enclosure, thereby supporting the door on the frame structure in a hinged relationship, wherein the second hinge unit can be removed from the first hinge unit to enable the door to be removed from the frame structure;
(d) wherein:
(i) the electrically conductive bonding element is biased against the pin when the pin is disposed in the pin receptacle and remains in contact with the pin while the pin rotates within the pin receptacle from an open state to a closed state and from the closed state to the open state, and
(ii) the electrically conductive bonding element is electrically connected to the frame structure so long as the first hinge unit is mounted to the frame structure,
(iii) such that the pin is electrically bonded to the frame structure, via the biased electrically conductive bonding element, while the pin rotates within the pin receptacle from an open state to a closed state and from the closed state to the open state;

(e) wherein the electrically conductive bonding element is electrically connected to the pin support, and wherein the pin support is electrically connected to the frame structure;
(f) wherein the pin includes a cylindrical surface, and wherein the electrically conductive bonding element is biased against the cylindrical surface of the pin when the pin is disposed in the pin receptacle and remains in contact with the pin while the pin rotates within the pin receptacle from an open state to a closed state and from the closed state to the open state;
(g) wherein the pin is electrically bonded to the second hinge unit such that the second hinge unit is electrically bonded to the frame structure via bonding between the second hinge unit and the pin, bonding between the pin and the electrically conductive bonding element, bonding between the electrically conductive bonding element and the pin support, and bonding between the pin support and the frame structure; and
(h) wherein the second hinge unit includes a pin housing supporting a return spring that biases the pin into position in the pin receptacle but which, when a biasing force is overcome, permits the pin to be withdrawn from the pin receptacle such that the second hinge unit may be removed from the first hinge unit.