The present disclosure envisages a tool-less hinge mechanism for coupling a first element and a second element. The tool-less hinge mechanism comprises at least one lug integrally extending from one of the first element and the second element, and at least one loop integrally extending from remaining one of the first element and the second element. The at least one lug is configured to be received in the at least one loop, thereby providing hingeable coupling between the first element and the second element.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical engineering. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of hinges.

BACKGROUND

A hinge is a jointed or a flexible device that facilitates the relative pivotal movement between two components, e.g., the pivotal movement of a door or a lid with respect to a stationary frame via a hinge. Conventionally, a hinge mechanism includes two brackets which are fastened to the two elements, which are to be pivotally coupled, by means of screws or other fasteners. A disadvantage of the conventional hinge mechanism is the high number of elements that the mechanism includes. Another disadvantage is that over a period of time, the fasteners are like screws are prone to loosening, thereby causing accidental disassembly of the components connected by the hinge mechanism. Further, the conventional hinge mechanism also involves the use of many different tools for fastening the brackets of the hinge mechanism onto the components to be coupled.

Hence, in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there is need for a tool-less hinge mechanism which does not involve the use of separate brackets and fasteners for connection with the components that need to be coupled via the tool-less hinge mechanism.

OBJECTS

It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool-less hinge mechanism that does not involve the use of separate brackets and fasteners.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool-less hinge mechanism that has a simple tool-less operation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure envisages a tool-less hinge mechanism for coupling a first element and a second element. The tool-less hinge mechanism comprises at least one lug integrally extending from one of the first element and the second element, and at least one loop integrally extending from remaining one of the first element and the second element. The at least one lug is configured to be received in the at least one loop, thereby providing hingeable coupling between the first element and the second element.

In an embodiment, the at least one lug has a first portion extending orthogonally from one of the first element and the second element, and a second portion extending orthogonally from the first portion.

In another embodiment, one of the at least one loop is an open loop having a U-shaped configuration with a chamfer configured on a free operative end of the at least one loop.

In another embodiment, the first element is a connection box coupled to an LED housing. The connection box has at least one aperture for receiving a current carrying cable for providing power to a driver for illuminating an LED array disposed within the LED housing.

In another embodiment, the second element is a cover that is hingeably coupled to the connection box using the tool-less hinge mechanism.

In another embodiment, the cover is fastened to the connection box by at least one captive screw proximal to the at least one loop having the U-shaped configuration, wherein the at least one captive screw prevents an accidental disassembly of the cover from the connection box when the cover is opened and suspended in a hanging configuration.

In another embodiment, the connection box and the cover are configured adjacent the LED housing operatively below the LED array, thereby providing a frontal access to the connection box and the cover and ensuring safe and easy installation thereof.

In another embodiment, a U-shaped configuration of the at least one loop facilitates the provision of uniform gasket squeeze to a gasket disposed operatively between the connection box and the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Conventionally, a hinge mechanism includes two brackets which are fastened to the two elements, which are to be pivotally coupled, by means of screws or other fasteners. A disadvantage of the conventional hinge mechanism is the high number of elements that the mechanism includes. Another disadvantage is that over a period of time, the fasteners are like screws prone to loosening, thereby causing accidental disassembly of the components connected by the hinge mechanism. Further, the conventional hinge mechanism also involves the use of many different tools for fastening the brackets of the hinge mechanism onto the components to be coupled.

The present disclosure envisages a tool-less hinge mechanism for coupling a first element and a second element. The tool-less hinge mechanism of the present disclosure is integral with the elements that are to be coupled. As such, the tool-less hinge mechanism does not require the fastening of separate brackets onto the elements that are to be coupled. This eliminates the use of different tools for achieving the hingeable coupling between the elements.

FIG. 1AandFIG. 1Billustrate isometric views of a LED housing100with a connection box150having a tool-less hinge mechanism200configured thereon. Reference is now given toFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B. The LED housing100comprises a first half102A coupled with a second half102B. The second half102B has an opening configured thereon on which is received a lens plate102C. More specifically, the LED housing100is defined by the first half102A, the second half102B, and the lens plate102C. A space is configured within the LED housing100in which is disposed an LED matrix104. As seen inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, the LED housing100is coupled to a connection box150(also referred to as a first element). The connection box150has apertures152configured thereon for receiving at least one cable. In an embodiment, each of the apertures152is configured to receive a current carrying cable for providing power to a driver (which is disposed within the LED housing100) for illuminating the LED matrix104that is disposed within the LED housing100. The connection box150is covered by means of a cover154(also referred to as a second element) which is hingeably coupled to the connection box150via the tool-less hinge mechanism200of the present disclosure.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure as seen inFIG. 2, the tool-less hinge mechanism200comprises at least one lug202integrally extending from the first element150. The tool-less hinge mechanism also comprises at least one loop204integrally extending from the second element154. The at least one lug202is configured to be received in the at least one loop204, thereby providing hingeable coupling between the first element150and the second element154.

In another embodiment, as clearly seen inFIG. 3, the at least one lug202has a first portion202A extending orthogonally from the first element150. A second portion202B extends orthogonally from the first portion202A. In another embodiment, the lug202can be configured on the second element154while the loops204and204A are configured on the first element150.

In another embodiment, as clearly seen inFIG. 4, one of the loops204is an open loop having a U-shaped configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, the closed loop204(previously referred to as loop204) is made to engage with the lug202, whereafter the open loop204A, with a chamfer204A″ configured on a free operative end of the open loop, is received on the lug202corresponding to the open loop204A. Having an open U-shaped configuration with the chamfer204A″, the open loop204A facilitates an easy and fast assembly of the second element154onto the first element150. A hingeable coupling is configured between the first element150and the second element154subsequent to the assembly of the loops204onto the lugs202. As such, the second element154, which is the cover, is hingeably coupled to the first element150, which is the connection box, using the tool-less hinge mechanism200of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment, the second element154(cover) is further fastened to the first element150(connection box) by at least one captive screw156. This fastening is in addition to the hingeable coupling between the first element150and the second element154to provide a secure covering to the first element150. The use of the captive screw prevents an accidental disassembly of the second element154from the first element150when the second element154is opened and suspended in a hanging configuration.

FIG. 6AthroughFIG. 6Cillustrate the different views of the LED housing100depicting the ease of access provided by the positioning of the connection box150adjacent an operative front side of the LED housing100. More specifically, the connection box150is provided operatively below that face of the LED housing which emits the light rays, i.e., operatively below the LED array. Such a front accessible configuration is advantageous over the conventional lighting fixtures, as the human operator can perform field wiring with ease during installation. The front access also reduces the installation time associated with installation of the lighting fixtures. Furthermore, the use of the captive screws ensures that the cover154does not fall off from connection box150of the LED housing100during installation, thereby ensuring safe and easy installation.

FIG. 5A-FIG. 5Dillustrate isometric views of the steps involved in assembling the cover154to the connection box150using the tool-less hinge200. The first step in assembling the cover154to the connection box150involves engaging the loop204, which has a closed configuration, onto the lug202. The second step involves maneuvering the cover154such that the open loop204A is received onto the lug202. The third step involves maneuvering the cover154such that the cover154covers the connection box150in a closed configuration. The fourth step involves securing the cover154to the connection box150via the captive screws156. It can also be appreciated that loops204and204A allow for relative upward or downward movement between the first element150and the second element154. As a result, the connection box can accommodate a gasket153of varying thickness to be positioned operatively between the cover154and first element150.

Although, the tool-less hinge mechanism200has been described as establishing a hingeable coupling between a cover and a connection box of an LED housing, the application of the tool-less hinge mechanism200of the present disclosure is not limited by the exemplary application described in the present disclosure.

Technical Advances

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a tool-less hinge mechanism which:does not involve the use of separate brackets and fasteners; andhas a simple tool-less operation; andincludes a cover that is coupled with the connection box via captive screws and the tool-less hinge mechanism, thereby ensuring safe and easy installation of the lighting fixtures.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.