Patent ID: 9506281
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: A45C,E05D,E05Y,F16M,G06F,H05K

Claim Text:
1. A hinge or clamp assembly comprising: a first plate or arm including a slot and outer cylindrical bores on opposite sides of the slot, wherein the outer cylindrical bores are coaxial; a second plate or arm seated in the slot of the first plate or arm and the second plate or arm comprising a middle cylindrical bore coaxial with the outer cylindrical bores, wherein the middle cylindrical bore has a first end facing an end of one of the outer cylindrical bores and an opposite end facing another end of the outer cylindrical bores such that the middle cylindrical bore does not extend into the outer cylindrical bores, and wherein the second plate or arm moves rotationally relative to the first plate or arm about a longitudinal axis defined by the outer and middle cylindrical bores; a hinge shaft comprising a locking region with faceted sides, ridges, or teeth on an outer circumference of one end of the hinge shaft and a contiguous non-locking region that is smooth and cylindrical in shape spanning the remainder of the hinge shaft, wherein the hinge shaft is shorter in length than the combined length of the outer and middle cylindrical bores, is seated inside the outer and middle cylindrical bores, extends through the outer and middle cylindrical bores, and moves axially along the longitudinal axis of the outer and middle cylindrical bores; a first engagement cylindrical cavity with faceted, ridged, or toothed internal side walls located within one of the outer cylindrical bores, wherein the faceted, ridged, or toothed internal side walls of the first engagement cylindrical cavity are configured to receive and interlock with the faceted sides, ridges, or teeth of the locking region of the hinge shaft; a second engagement cylindrical cavity located within the middle cylindrical bore and adjacent the first engagement cylindrical cavity, wherein the complementary second engagement cylindrical cavity includes faceted, ridged, or toothed internal side walls and is configured to receive and interlock with the faceted sides, ridges, or teeth of the locking region of the hinge shaft; wherein the hinge shaft has an unlocked position where the locking region of the hinge shaft is positioned entirely inside the first engagement cylindrical cavity and does not extend into the second engagement cylindrical cavity, wherein, while the hinge shaft is in the unlocked position, the middle cylindrical bore and the second plate or arm are free to rotate relative to the outer cylindrical bores and the first plate or arm, and wherein the hinge shaft has a locked position where the locking region of the hinge shaft extends into both the first and second engagement cylindrical cavities and, while the hinge shaft is in the locked position, the middle cylindrical bore and the second plate or arm are prevented by the hinge shaft from rotation relative to the outer cylindrical bores and the first plate or arm, and a release post is coupled to the hinge shaft and is configured to be pushed or pulled to axially displace the hinge shaft between the locked and unlocked axial positions.