Abstract:
A low overhead hinge assembly comprising a stationary hinge plate and a rotating hinge plate. The stationary hinge plate having a stationary hinge plate body portion and a plurality of stationary hinge plate digits coupled to the stationary hinge plate body portion, each of the stationary hinge plate digits having an opening therein. The rotating hinge plate having a rotating hinge plate body portion and a plurality of pins coupled to the rotating hinge plate body portion, wherein the stationary hinge plate digits are configured to be engaged with the rotating hinge plate pins so that each of a plurality of the rotating hinge plate pins is inserted into an opening in one of the stationary hinge plate digits so as to pivotally couple the rotating hinge plate to the stationary hinge plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention.  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a hinge assembly for use in space constrained applications, such as cable arms in electrical equipment racks.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art.  
         [0004]     To remove a conventional swinging door or rotating arm, typically a hinge pin is removed by pulling it out vertically and the door or arm can then be removed from the stationary mounted section of the hinge assembly. However, if a hinge has to be placed in an application with insufficient overhead above the hinge, it may not be possible to remove the hinge pin without increasing the overhead space. For example, when thin, rack-optimized computer systems with cable management arms are removed from a rack, the cable management arm often has to be disconnected from the rack. These arms are often impossible to install or remove when another system is installed directly above the one being serviced because the hinge pin can not be inserted or removed due to the limited height available for the hinge pin.  
         [0005]     It can be seen that there is a need to provide an improved hinge assembly for space constrained applications.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention provides a low overhead hinge assembly comprising a stationary hinge plate and a rotating hinge plate. The stationary hinge plate having a stationary hinge plate body portion and a plurality of stationary hinge plate digits coupled to the stationary hinge plate body portion, each of the stationary hinge plate digits having an opening therein. The rotating hinge plate having a rotating hinge plate body portion and a plurality of pins coupled to the rotating hinge plate body portion, wherein the stationary hinge plate digits are configured to be engaged with the rotating hinge plate pins so that each of a plurality of the rotating hinge plate pins is inserted into an opening in one of the stationary hinge plate digits so as to pivotally couple the rotating hinge plate to the stationary hinge plate.  
         [0007]     In a further embodiment the low overhead hinge assembly includes a shim having a shim body portion and a plurality of shim digits, wherein the shim is coupled to the rotating hinge plate and wherein each shim digit is configured to be inserted between one of the stationary hinge plate digits and an adjacent rotating hinge plate pin when the stationary hinge plate digits and rotating hinge plate pins are engaged.  
         [0008]     In a further embodiment the stationary hinge plate digits have a notch in a side wall of the digits so as to allow the rotating hinge plate pins to be inserted into the cavity of the stationary hinge plate digits using a motion in a direction substantially perpendicular to an edge of the rotating hinge plate on which the rotating hinge plate pins are coupled.  
         [0009]     These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention and its advantages, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a stationary hinge plate for a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a rotating hinge plate for a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a shim plate for a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates the components of a no overhead hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a no overhead hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a computer equipment rack assembly including a cable arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized as structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0019]     The present invention provides a hinge assembly for space constrained applications. The present invention allows the hinge assembly to be disassembled with very little or no overhead above the hinge.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a stationary hinge plate  100  for a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Stationary hinge plate  100  is comprised of a body portion  102  and five protruding digits  104   a - 104   e.  Stationary hinge plate digits  104   a - 104   e  are each comprised of a hollow cylinder coupled to a member extending from body portion  102 . Stationary hinge plate digits  104   a - 104   e  may either have a cylindrical hole through the entire digit or a cavity that only extends part of the length of the digit such that each digit has a solid bottom.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a rotating hinge plate  130  for a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Rotating hinge plate  130  is comprised of a body portion  132  and hinge pins  134   a - 134   e.  Hinge pins  134   a - 134   e  are relatively short to allow the pins to be removed from the stationary hinge plate hollow cylindrical digits with a small upward movement. Rotating hinge plate  130  further includes a spring mounting element  136 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a shim plate  160  for a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Shim plate  160  is comprised of four disc shaped digits  164   a - 164   d  which extend from body portion  162 . Shim plate  160  further includes a clip  166  for attaching the shim plate to the rotating hinge plate  130 , as well as a spring mounting element  168 . Shim plate  160  provides additional stability and strength for the hinge assembly. Shim plate  160  slides horizontally along the rotating hinge plate to act as a wedge between the rotating and stationary sections of the hinge. Shim plate  160  is spring-loaded and can also be latched for extra security.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a hinge assembly  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention. This hinge assembly is comprised of stationary hinge plate  100 , rotating hinge plate  130  and shim plate  160  (shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ). More specifically,  FIG. 2  shows stationary hinge plate hollow cylindrical digits  204   a - 204   e  and shim plate digits  264   a - 264   d  engaged with the rotating plate hinge pins. A rotating plate spring mounting bracket  236  is coupled to the rotating plate body portion  232 .  FIG. 2  further comprises a shim spring  270  mounted between the shim spring mounting bracket  268  and the rotating plate spring mounting bracket  236 . Shim spring  270  keeps the shim plate digits  264   a - 264   d  engaged with hinge plate hollow cylindrical digits  204   a - 204   e  and the rotating plate hinge pins.  
         [0023]     To connect the components of the hinge assembly, first the shim plate and rotating hinge plate are coupled together using clip  166 , shown in  FIG. 1C . Next shim plate  160  is slid backwards relative to stationary hinge plate  100  to allow access to stationary hinge plate hollow cylindrical digits  204   a - 204   e.  Rotating hinge plate  232  is then lifted slightly above stationary hinge plate  100 , then slid horizontally and lowered such that rotating hinge plate pins  134   a - 134   e  ( FIG. 1B ) are inserted into stationary hinge plate hollow cylindrical digits  204   a - 204   e.  When rotating hinge plate pins  134   a - 134   e  are engaged into the hollow cylindrical digits on the stationary hinge plate, then the shim plate is slid forward to close the hinge. Spring  270  keeps the components engaged or an optional latch can also be used to lock the hinge assembly together. The assembly is then complete and functional. In normal operation, connection and disconnection of the hinge assembly does not require the shim plate and the rotating hinge plate to be separated from each other, it just requires sliding of the shim plate relative to the rotating hinge plate.  
         [0024]     To disconnect the hinge assembly the shim plate is slid backwards to open the hinge. If there are any latches keeping the shim plate in place, they are unlatched to allow the shim plate to be slid back. Once the shim plate is slid out of place, the rotating hinge plate can be removed from the stationary hinge plate of the hinge by lifting it slightly, pulling it horizontally to clear the hinge pins, and the hinge plate components are then separated.  
         [0025]     This embodiment of the present invention provides a hinge assembly that requires very little overhead clearance to install or remove the stationary hinge plate or cable management arm from the rotating hinge plate. The shim plate provides additional strength to the overall hinge assembly. The present invention can generally be used with any type of rotating arm, cover or door and is particularly useful for applications where the area above the stationary hinge is limited such that there is not sufficient space to remove a conventional hinge pin.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates the components of a no overhead hinge assembly  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Stationary hinge plate  310  is comprised of a body portion and three protruding digits  304   a - 304   c.  Stationary hinge plate digits  304   a - 304   c  are each comprised of a hollow cylinder with a notch. Rotating hinge plate  330  is comprised of a body portion and three hinge pins  334   a - 334   c.  Hinge pins  334   a - 334   c  are relatively short to allow the pins to be inserted into the notches in the stationary hinge plate digits  304   a - 304   c.  Shim plate  360  is comprised of a body portion and three disc shaped digits  364   a - 364   c  with a side wall extending down from the top surface of each disc around part of the circumference of the disc. Shim plate  360  provides additional stability and strength for the hinge assembly. The shim plate slides horizontally along the stationary hinge plate to act as a wedge between the rotating and stationary sections of the hinge. The sidewalls on the shim plate digits  364   a - 364   c  prevent the rotating plate hinge pins  334   a - 334   c  from being disengaged from the stationary hinge plate notched digits  304   a - 304   c.  This shim plate can be spring-loaded and or latched for extra security.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates a no overhead hinge assembly  400  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4  the stationary hinge plate notched hollow cylindrical digits and shim plate digits are engaged with the rotating plate hinge pins. No overhead hinge assembly  400  further comprises a shim spring  470  mounted between the shim  460  and rotating hinge plate  410 . Shim spring  470  keeps the shim plate digits  364   a - 364   c  engaged with hinge plate notched hollow cylindrical digits  304   a - 304   c  and rotating plate hinge pins  334   a - 334   c.    
         [0028]     To connect the hinge assembly components shown in  FIG. 3 , shim plate  360  ( FIG. 3 ) is slid back relative to the rotating hinge plate such that stationary hinge plate digits  304   a - 304   c  are exposed. Rotating hinge plate  330  is then slid substantially horizontally into the stationary hinge plate such that the hinge pins slide through the stationary hinge plate digit notches to sit in the hollow cylindrical area of the stationary hinge plate digits. When the rotating hinge plate pins are engaged into the stationary hinge plate notched cylindrical digits, then the shim plate digits with side walls are slid forward to close the hinge. The shim digit side walls prevent the rotating hinge plate digits from slipping out of the stationary hinge plate notched cylindrical digits. Spring  470  keeps the components engaged or an optional latch can also be used to lock the hinge assembly together. The hinge assembly is then complete and ready for operation.  
         [0029]     To disconnect the hinge assembly  400 , if there are any latches keeping the shim plate in place, they are unlatched to allow the shim plate to be slid away. Shim plate  460  is then slid backwards to open the hinge. Once the shim plate is slid out of place, the notches in the stationary hinge plate digits are now accessible. Rotating hinge plate  430  can then be removed from stationary hinge plate  410  by moving it horizontally away from the stationary hinge plate.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a computer equipment rack assembly  500  including a cable arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Equipment rack  502  provides a housing for a plurality of individual equipment units  504 , which may be a file server, storage server, or other computing device. Each equipment unit  504  is slidably mounted in rack  502  using drawer slides  506 . Cable arm  512  is coupled to a low overhead hinge assembly  510  which in turn is coupled to rack  502  via stationary hinge plate  508 . Low overhead hinge assembly  510  allows the rotating hinge plate to be removed from the stationary hinge plate, thereby disconnecting the cable arm without requiring removal of a hinge assembly—cable arm above or below this cable arm.  
         [0031]     While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments for achieving this invention&#39;s objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the present invention.