True 270-degree hinge assembly

A butt mounting hinge capable of movement through at least a 270-degree range of motion. The hinge assembly has two base elements and three connection elements defining a total of five hinge connections. The base elements are butt mounting elements. Each base element provides two pair of hinge connections, while the fifth hinge connection rides in a slidable void provided by an intermediate connection element interconnecting the other two connection elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hinge assemblies and, more particularly, a hinge assembly configured to provide a 270-degree range of motion from a butt mounted hinge.

Enclosures utilize hinges on covers or doors to provide access to the interior of the enclosure. Hinges often mount along the side of the enclosure so that the door does not close under its own weight. Most of the time, a hinge is designed for a 180-degree range of motion. However, in some instances, it may be advantageous to have a door that has approximately a 270-degree range of motion. Current 270-degree motion hinges, however, do not open doors fully to the entire 270 degrees, and do not mount like a butt hinge.

As can be seen, there is a need for a hinge assembly configured to provide a 270-degree range of motion from a butt mounted hinge, wherein the hinge assembly has a low-profile footprint with linkage built into it. Or in other words, the hinge assembly mounts like a butt hinge, but also provides a full 270-degree motion range.

The built-in linkage embodied in the present invention allows the top and bottom halves of hinge to work together. As the top half travels 180 degrees, the linkage works in tandem with the bottom half which travels 90 degrees, thus creating the full 270-degree range of motion. In sum, the present invention is a butt mounting hinge capable to travel 270-degrees, enabling different applications than current hinge assemblies, specifically butt mounting hinges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a hinge assembly includes the following: a first mounting plate; a second mounting plate; and a linkage interconnecting the first and second mounting plates so that the first and second mounting plates are pivotable relative to each other by at least 270-degrees.

In another aspect of the present invention, the hinge assembly may further include: the linkage comprising a first, a second, and a third connection element, respectively, wherein each connection element has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end and the second end each have a pair of connection points; a slidable void extending between the first and the second ends of the second connection element; and the second end of the first connection element and the first end of the third connection element form a ridable hinge connection along said slidable void, wherein the first and second mounting plates are pivotable relative each other between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state, the first and second mounting plates are coplanar and wherein the second state, the first and second mounting plates are oriented at least 270-degrees relative to each other, wherein the first state the ridable hinge is at a first end of the slidable void, and wherein the second state the ridable hinge is at a second end of the slidable void; each mounting plate has a first and a second connecting portion, each connecting portion is pivotably connectable to one of a pair of connection elements; and the first connecting portion of the first mounting plate and the first end of the first connection element form a first hinge connection; the first connecting portion of the second mounting plate and the second end of the second connection element form a second hinge connection; the second connecting portion of the first mounting plate and the first end of the second connection element form a third hinge connection; the second connecting portion of the second mounting plate and the second end of the third connection element form a fourth hinge connection, the second end of the first connection element and the first end of the third connection element ride along the slidable voids of the second connection element to form a fifth hinge connection; wherein, between the first state and the second state, the first and third hinge connections rotate approximately 90-degrees and the second and fourth hinge connections rotate approximately 180-degrees, whereas the fifth hinge connection rides along the slidable voids; and wherein, for each mounting plate, the first and the second connecting portion are offset from each other in at least two directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a butt mounting hinge capable of movement through at least a 270-degree range of motion. The hinge assembly has two base elements and three connection elements defining a total of five hinge connections. The base elements are butt mounting elements. Each base element provides two pair of hinge connections, while the fifth hinge connection rides in a slidable void provided by an intermediate connection element interconnecting the other two connection elements.

Referring now toFIGS.1through20, the present invention may include a hinge assembly100comprising two base elements10and14, and three connection elements16/34,12/32, and18. The two base elements10and/or14may be butt mounting elements providing mounting holes20.

The first base element10as well as the second base element14each has two pair of first and second connecting portions102and103, respectively, extending upward therefrom. Connecting portions102and103may be located at an offset relative to each other along a first axis501and located at an offset relative to each other in a second axis502, wherein the first and second directions501and502may be orthogonal to each other. Though, the first and second connecting portions102and103, respectively, can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to the first and second directions501and502. Each connecting portion may provide a pair of spaced apart connection points for forming hinged connections.

The first connection element16/34has a pair of connecting portions161/341at a first end and a pair of connecting portions162/342at a second end. The pairs of connection portions161/341and162/342may be coplanar relative to—i.e., not offset about—the second direction502.

The second connection element12/32has a pair of connecting portions121/321at a first end and a pair of connecting portions122/322at a second end. The pairs of connection portions121/321and122/322may be offset along the second direction502. A slidable void or slot120/320may extend between each respective connecting portion of the pairs of connection portions121/321and122/322, as illustrated inFIG.3andFIG.13respectively. Thus, there are a pair of slidable voids120/320. Each slidable void120/320may be linear.

The third connection element18has a pair of connecting portions181at a first end and a pair of connecting portions182at a second end. The pairs of connection portions181and182may be offset along the second direction502.

The three connection elements16/34,12/32, and18connect the two base elements10and14. Specifically, connecting portions161/341at the first end of the first connection element16/34and first connecting portion102of the first base element10form a first hinge connection about a first rotational axis301. Connecting portions122/322at the second end of the second connection element12/32and the first connecting portion102of the second base element14form a second hinge connection about a second rotational axis302. Connecting portions121/321at the first end of the second connection element12/32and second connecting portion103of the first base element10form a third hinge connection about a third rotational axis303. Connecting portions182at the second end of the third connection element18and second connecting portion103of the second base element14form a fourth hinge connection about a fourth rotational axis304.

Connecting portions162/342at the second end of the first connection element16/34and connecting portions181of the third connection element18form a fifth hinged connection about a rotational axis305, wherein the fifth hinge connection rides along the slidable void120/320of the second connection element12/32.

All hinged connections can be either detachable or non-detachable by the way of first through fifth pivot pins22through30, respectively, or the like. The hinged connections between the three connection elements16/34,12/32, and18and base elements10and14can be achieved by pin-and-hole fittings. Alternatively, the hinged connections can also be achieved by ball-and-socket fittings or in other possible manners.

The hinge assembly100according to the present invention is movable between a range of motion that at least includes a first state (FIG.1andFIG.11) and a second state. In the first state, the mounting surfaces101and141of the first and second base elements10and14, respectively, are coplanar. In the second state, the mounting surfaces101and141of the first and second base elements10and14are at 270-degrees relative to each other, as illustrated inFIG.2andFIG.12as a counterclockwise motion. During the motion between the first and second states, the fifth hinge connection moves from a first end of the slidable voids120/320of the second connection element12/32, to an opposing end thereof. It should be understood that the second base element14can also rotate with respect to the first base element10. For example, when the hinge assembly100is in the second combination state, the first base element10can be maintained stationary and the second base element14is able to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

When the hinge assembly100moves from the first state to the second state, the first connection element16of the first hinge connection rotates approximately less than 90-degrees and the second connection element12of the third hinge connection rotates approximately more than 90-degrees, while the third connection element18of the second and fourth hinge connections rotate approximately 180-degrees. Accordingly, the mounting surfaces101and141move from co-planar to 270-degrees relative to each other between the first state and the second state. As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.

It is understood that the base elements and connection elements may be made from any suitable material, including but not limited to steel, brass, aluminum, or even various plasticized materials. The connection elements may or may not have an interconnection between each of its two pair of connection portions. For example, the first connection element16(seeFIG.3) may have a body that interconnects both connection portions of the pair of connecting portions162of its second end, while in an alternative embodiment (seeFIG.13) the first connection element34has no body interconnecting both connection portions of the pair of connecting portions342.

The movement of the hinge assembly100of the present invention may be restricted. When the hinge assembly100is in the second state, rotation of the hinge assembly100is restricted by the opposing forces vis-à-vis the third and the fifth hinge connections.