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

Claim 0:
1. 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 electrically conductive bonding element is a bonding contact spring biased against the cylindrical surface of the pin; and
(h) wherein the bonding contact spring is a simple flat spring, disposed in a recess in the barrel of the pin support, that is bowed in the middle and is thereby biased against the cylindrical surface of the pin.