Abstract:
Disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, and at least one securing feature configured for securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/611,810 filed Sep. 12, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/533,574, filed Sep. 12, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/665,701, filed Jun. 28, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates generally to a hinge, and more particularly to a hinge with securing features. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Retractability of a bimini top for a tower structure that is associable with a watercraft is a desirable feature in that it allows the top to be stored in an efficient manner. Typically, such retractability is achieved via a hinges that hold tensioned frame portions of the top together. Hinges that are currently on the market and used for this purpose employ flat against flat hinge portion surfaces that are held together via an Axel pin (see prior art  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0004]    However, such known hinge assemblies have drawbacks in that there is no connection between the two hinge portions or cylinders, resulting in both slack and stress (from the tension of the frame towards a folded/stowed position) in a relatively small support area. This slack and stress can cause the pin to bend and the hinge to fail at holding the frame in an open position. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists in the art for hinge that more effectively holds the frame in an open position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion including a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, and at least one securing feature configured for securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point. 
         [0007]    Also disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion defining a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatably associated via a pivot point, at least one outer pin opening defined by the first hinge body portion, the at least one outer pin opening communicating the nesting cavity with an environment ambient the said first hinge body portion, at least one inner pin opening defined by the nesting body, the at least one inner pin opening being alignable with the at least one outer pin opening when the nesting body is nested in the nesting opening, and at least one pin configured for disposal through the at least one outer pin opening into the at least one inner pin opening when the nesting body is nested in the nesting opening, the disposal of the at least one pin securing the nesting body within the nesting cavity in a manner that prevents rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point. 
         [0008]    Further disclosed is a hinge with securing features, the hinge including a first hinge body portion defining a first frame association end and a nesting cavity, the first frame association end and the nesting cavity being disposed at opposite ends of the first hinge body portion, a second hinge body portion defining a second frame association end and a nesting body configured for nesting in the nesting cavity of the first hinge body portion, the second frame association end and the nesting body being disposed at opposite ends of the second hinge body portion, wherein the first hinge body portion and the second hinge body portion are rotatable associated via a pivot point, and a spring loaded latch extending from the first body portion, the spring loaded latch being configured to prevent rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion about the pivot point via interaction with a flange extending from the second body portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view a hinge in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a hinge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the hinge being shown in an open configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hinge as shown in  FIG. 1 , the hinge being shown in a closed configuration and in association with a frame; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hinge as shown in  FIG. 1 , the hinge being shown in an open configuration and in association with a frame; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the hinge as shown in  FIG. 1 , the hinge being shown in an open configuration and in association with a frame; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the hinge as shown in  FIG. 1 , the hinge being shown in a closed configuration and in association with a frame; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a hinge in accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the hinge being shown in a closed configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a hinge device  10  for use with a bimini top is shown. The hinge device  10  includes a first hinge body portion  12 , a second hinge body portion  14 , and a pivot point  16  that associates the first and second body portions  12 ,  14 . The pivot point  16  may be any conventional hinge association means (i.e. a riveted, pinned, or otherwise mechanically and rotatably fastened piece such as that shown in  FIG. 4 ) that allows the first and second body portions  12 ,  14  to freely rotate relative to each other. 
         [0017]    The second body portion  14  includes a nesting body portion  18  that is configured for nesting within a nesting cavity  20  defined by the first body portion  12 . In  FIG. 2 , the hinge device  10  is open and the nesting body  18  is visible. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the nesting body  18  includes an inner pin opening  22  that traverses an entire width of the nesting body  18 . As is also shown in  FIG. 2 , the first body portion  12  includes a first outer pin opening  24  and a second outer pin opening  26  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) disposed at opposing widths of the first body portion  12  and aligned for pin entry. In an exemplary embodiment, the first outer pin opening  24  and second outer pin opening  26  are positioned at either end of a diameter traversing the circular/cylindrical nesting cavity  20 . These outer pin openings  24 ,  26  communicate an ambient environment around the first body portion  12  with the nesting cavity  20 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the hinge  10  is shown in a closed position, with the nesting body  18  being fully inserted/nested within the nesting cavity  20 . When in this position, the outer pin openings  24 ,  26  and inner pin opening  22  align in a manner that allows a pin  28  (such as a lanyard pin) to traverse an entire width of the hinge device  10  via disposal through the first outer pin opening  24 , through the inner pin opening  22  (disposed in the nesting cavity  20 ), and through the second outer pin opening  26  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Insertion of the pin  28  in this manner essentially locks the hinge  10  in the closed position shown in  FIG. 3 , preventing rotation of the first body portion  12  relative to the second body portion  14  about the pivot point  16 . 
         [0019]    In addition to inclusion of securing features such as the nesting cavity  20 , nesting body  18 , and the pin openings disposed therewith, the first body portion  12  and second body portion  14  also define a first frame association cavity  30  and a second frame association cavity  32 . The first frame association cavity  30  is disposed at an end of the first body portion  12  that is opposite an end defining the nesting cavity  20 . Similarly, the second frame association cavity  32  is disposed at an end of the second body portion  14  that is opposite an end including the nesting body  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , these frame association cavities  30 ,  32  associate the hinge device  10  with frame portions  34  of a Bernini top  36 . The frame portions  34  may be secured within the cavities  30 ,  32  via any conventional means such as welding, mechanical fastening, or a frictional fit. 
         [0020]    In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the Bimini top  36  is shown in a folded or stowed position. The top  36  may even be biased towards this folded/stowed position (via spring action, etc.). When the top  36  is in the folded position, the hinge device  10  is open, with the nesting body  18  being disposed outside of the nesting cavity  20 . This is clearly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0021]    However, when the bimini top  36  is configured into the open position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the hinge device closes in a manner that causes the nesting body  18  to enter and be nested within the nesting cavity  20 . As discussed above, such nesting aligns the pin openings  22 ,  24 , and  26  of the body portions  12 ,  14  in manner that allows the pin  24  to traverse the width of the hinge device  10 , and lock the hinge device  10  the closed position. This nesting also aligns the body portions  12 ,  14  themselves, creating stability in the hinge  10 . The locking counteracts the biasing of the tensioned top towards the folded position, thereby holding the top  36  in the open position of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0022]    In practice, the nesting body  18  keeps bodies  12 ,  14  aligned, assuring a stable hinge joint in both directions, and eliminating stress on the hinge pivot point  16 . Passing of the side entry pin  28  through the outer openings  24 ,  26  in the two walls of the first body portion  12  (which is the forward body in an exemplary embodiment) as well as the pin opening  22  in the nesting body  18  allows for continuous support, while evenly distributing the forces on the pin  28  and stabilizing the entire assembly. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second exemplary embodiment of a hinge device  100  for use with a bimini top is shown. Like the hinge device  10 , the hinge device  100  includes a first hinge body portion  102 , a second hinge body portion  104 , and a pivot point  106  that associates the first and second body portions  102 ,  104 . The pivot point  106  may be any conventional hinge association means (i.e. a riveted, pinned, or otherwise mechanically and rotatably fastened piece such as that shown in  FIG. 4 ) that allows the first and second body portions  102 ,  104  to freely rotate relative to each other. The hinge device  100  also includes a spring loaded latch  107  in addition to or instead of the pin locking mechanism (with pin  28 ) discussed with regards to hinge device  10 . 
         [0024]    The second body portion  104  includes a nesting body (not shown, but that same or substantially the same as nesting body  18 ) that is configured for nesting within a nesting cavity (not shown, but that same or substantially the same as nesting cavity  20 ) defined by the first body portion  102 . Similarly to that which is shown in  FIG. 2  with reference to the device  10 , the nesting body is visible when the hinge device  100  is open, with the nesting body being nested within the nesting cavity when the device  100  is closed. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second body portion  104  includes a flange  110  extending from an opposite surface from the pivot point  106 . As is also shown in  FIG. 7 , the first body portion  102  includes the spring loaded latch  107 , which, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7 , includes a spring  112  and latch body  114 . In practice, the nesting body keeps bodies  102 ,  104  aligned (similarly to device  10 ), assuring a stable hinge joint in both directions, and eliminating stress on the hinge pivot point  106 . The spring loaded latch allows for convenient and effective locking and unlocking of the portions  102  and  104  in into the closed and open positions respectively. It should be noted that the spring loaded latch  107  may be protected or shielded by a shielding channel that is open at an upper area but closed along the sides of the spring latch  107 . 
         [0026]    It should also be appreciated that the elements of devices  10  and  100  may variously be made of any desirable hinge material, such as but not limited to various metals and hard plastics. 
         [0027]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0028]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0029]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.