Patent ID: 6099097
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: E05D,E05Y,G06F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An enclosure structure comprising:a first structure;a second structure;a hinge assembly pivotally mounting the second structure to the first structure and including:(i) a pivot saddle mounted to one of the first structure and the second structure;(ii) a snap-acting gripping assembly mounted to the other of the first structure and the second structure, the gripping assembly being formed to slidably and resiliently snap into and out of gripping engagement with the pivot saddle and the gripping assembly and the pivot saddle being formed for pivoting of the gripping assembly around the pivot saddle while in gripping engagement therewith from a closed position of the second structure to an open position of the second structure; and(iii) the second structure and first structure each further having end stop surfaces engaging each other in the open position to prevent over-travel, with the end stop surfaces being positioned to produce reaction forces, when the second structure is in the open position, urging the gripping assembly and the pivot saddle together in a direction preventing unsnapping of the gripping assembly from the pivot saddle by movement in a direction aligned with an unmounting direction,wherein,the end stop surface of the first structure is positioned to engage the end stop surface of the second structure at a position angularly beyond a position at which the second structure would be unsnapped from the base structure, which angle is at least 30.degree..