Patent Publication Number: US-9897136-B1

Title: Hinge

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to mechanical bearing technology and more particularly, to a hinge, which comprises a bearing seat member affixed to a first panel member, a pivot shaft pivotally mounted in the bearing seat member pivot shaft and providing a riveting portion that is riveted to a second panel member using a stamping technique, and a washer mounted around the pivot shaft and stopped between the bearing seat member and the second panel member for generating a damping resistance to enhance rotating stability between the first panel member and the second panel member. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hinge is a mechanical bearing for connecting two component parts together, allowing relative rotation between them. Hinge is widely used in doors, windows, telecommunication cabinets, computer servers, workstations, machines and many other equipments to pivotally connect a door panel, window panel, cabinet cover, back cover or outer cover to a door frame, window frame, cabinet body, computer server housing, workstation housing, machine housing or equipment housing. Various different designs of hinges have been created and have appeared on the market for different applications. 
     A hinge can be connected between two panel members by welding, screws, or riveting. However, typical conventional hinges allow only a limited angle of rotation between the two panel members. There are some other hinges designed for connecting two objects together, allowing relative rotation between them.  FIG. 8  illustrates a prior art hinge design of this kind. As illustrated, the hinge A is mounted between a through hole B 1  of a first panel member B and a mounting hole C 1  of a second panel member C. The hinge A comprises a stepped stop flange A 1  located at one end thereof and stopped at the bottom surface of the first panel member B around the through hole B 1 , and a retaining flange A 2  located at an opposite end thereof and pivotally abutted against the top surface of the second panel member C mounting hole C 1 , and thus, the first panel member B and the second panel member C are connected in parallel by the hinge A and can be rotated relative to each other. This design of hinge A is a one piece member inserted through the through hole B 1  of the first panel member B and the mounting hole C 1  of the second panel member C. When rotating the first panel member B relative to the second panel member C on the axis of the hinge A, the periphery of the through hole B 1  of the first panel member B and the periphery of the mounting hole C 1  of the second panel member C will be rubbed against the stepped stop flange A 1  or retaining flange A 2  of the hinge A, generating large resistance and causing the hinge A to generate flash or debris. After a long use, the clearance between the hinge A and the through hole B 1  of the first panel member B or the mounting hole C 1  of the second panel member C will be enlarged, affecting structural stability and causing generation of vibrations during rotation between the first panel member B and the second panel member C. Therefore, there is still room for improvement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the hinge is in a mounting hole of a first panel member and riveted to a through hole of a second panel member to pivotally connect the first panel member to the second panel member, comprising a bearing seat member, a pivot shaft and a washer. The bearing seat member is made of a non-deformable metal material in one piece, comprising an axle hole cut through opposing top and bottom walls thereof and a mating connection part located on the bottom wall of the bearing seat member around the axle hole and fastened to the mounting hole of the first panel member. The pivot shaft is made of a deformable metal material in a one piece, comprising a disc-shaped head pivotally mounted in the axle hole of the bearing seat member, a stem vertically downwardly extended from the center of a bottom wall of the disc-shaped head and suspended outside the axle hole of the bearing seat member and a conical riveting portion located at a distal end of the stem opposite to the disc-shaped head. The conical riveting portion is riveted to the through hole of the second panel member using a stamping technique. Further, the conical riveting portion comprises a tapered upper guide surface disposed in close contact with a tapered mating surface in the through hole of the second panel member. The washer is made from an elastic material and mounted around the stem of the pivot shaft and stopped between the bottom wall of the bearing seat member and the top wall of the second panel member. Further, the washer comprises a center hole cut through opposing top and bottom walls thereof for the passing of the stem of the pivot shaft. Thus, the use of the washer enhances the connection stability between the bearing seat member and the pivot shaft. When fastening the bearing seat member and the pivot shaft to the first panel member and riveting to the pivot shaft the second panel member, the arrangement of the washer prohibits the pivot shaft from being forced out of the axle hole of the bearing seat member, enhancing installation stability. Further, because the washer is positioned between the first panel member and the second panel member, an appropriate gap is left between the first panel member and the second panel member. During relative rotation between the bearing seat member and the pivot shaft, the washer prevents friction between the first panel member and the second panel member and causes generation of a damping resistance, enhancing rotating smoothness and stability between the bearing seat member and the pivot shaft. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the riveting portion of the pivot shaft is riveted to the through hole of the second panel member using a stamping technique. Thus, the riveting tightness between the pivot shaft and the second panel member and the rotating smoothness of the pivot shaft relative to the second panel member can be adjusted by means of adjusting the degree of deformation of the riveting portion during the stamping process. 
     Further, when the riveting portion of the pivot shaft is stamped and deformed, a part of the riveting portion is forced into the through hole of the second panel member to prohibit displacement of the second panel member along the length (height) of the riveting portion of the pivot shaft. After the stamping process, the height of the riveting portion of the pivot shaft is shortened, and the combined thickness of the pivot shaft and the second panel member is relatively reduced, providing a low profile characteristic. 
     Further, the mating design of the tapered bearing surface of the bearing seat member around the axle hole and the tapered abutment surface of the disc-shaped head greatly increases the contact surface area between the bearing seat member and the pivot shaft without increasing the overall height of the disc-shaped head, enhancing the structural stability and shearing strength of the hinge and avoiding disconnection between the bearing seat member and the pivot shaft even if the pivot shaft is pulled or vibrated by an external force. 
     Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view of a hinge in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the hinge in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the hinge in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional applied view of the present invention, illustrating the relationship between the hinge and the first panel member. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional applied view of the present invention, illustrating the hinge fastened the first panel member before installation in the second panel member. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional applied view of the present invention, illustrating the hinge mounted in the first panel member and riveted to the second panel member. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view illustrating a pivot shaft mounted in a first panel member and coupled to a second panel member according to the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a hinge in accordance with the present invention is shown. The hinge comprises a bearing seat member  1 , a pivot shaft  2 , and a washer  3 . 
     The bearing seat member  1  is a one piece member made of a high strength and high corrosion resistance metal material (such as stainless steel) that does not deform during stamping, comprising an axle hole  10  cut through opposing top and bottom walls thereof, a tapered bearing surface  101  located on the top wall around the axle hole  10  with the diameter gradually reducing toward the axle hole  10 , and a mating connection part  11  located on the opposing bottom wall around the axle hole  10 . The mating connection part  11  comprises a tubular shank  111  vertically downwardly extended from the bottom wall of the bearing seat member  1  around the axle hole  10 , a flat abutment surface  112  extended around a distal end of the tubular shank  111  remote from the bottom wall of the bearing seat member  1 , and an annular mounting groove  1111  extending around the tubular shank  111  between the bottom wall of the bearing seat member  1  and the flat abutment surface  112 . 
     The pivot shaft  2  is a one piece member made of a high tensile strength, high ductility and high corrosion resistance metal material (such as aluminum, copper, etc.) that can be deformed during stamping, comprising a disc-shaped head  21 , a stem  22  vertically downwardly extended from the center of a bottom wall of the disc-shaped head  21 , a tapered abutment surface  211  located on the bottom wall of the disc-shaped head  21  with the diameter gradually reducing toward the stem  22 , a stop flange  221  extended around the periphery of the stem  22 , and a conical riveting portion  23  located at a distal end of the stem  22  opposite to the disc-shaped head  21  and defining a tapered upper guide surface  231  and a tapered lower abutment surface  232 . 
     The washer  3  is a flat annular member made from rubber, plastics, silicon rubber or any other elastic material, defining therein a center hole  30  with the diameter larger than the outer diameter of the stem  22  but smaller than the outer diameter of the riveting portion  23 . 
     In installation, insert the pivot shaft  2  downwardly through the axle hole  10  of the bearing seat member  1  to pivotally coupled the disc-shaped head  21  of the pivot shaft  2  to the axle hole  10  and to abut the tapered abutment surface  211  of the disc-shaped head  21  against the tapered bearing surface  101  around the axle hole  10  and also to let the stem  22  and riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2  suspend outside the axle hole  10 . At this time, the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2  are rotatable relative to each other. Thereafter, attach the washer  3  upwardly onto the stem  22  of the pivot shaft  2 . Because the washer  3  is made from an elastic material, attaching the center hole  30  of the washer  3  onto the riveting portion  23  causes the center hole  30  to expand in diameter for allowing the riveting portion  23  and the stop flange  221  of the stem  22  to pass therethrough. After the washer  3  is moved over the stop flange  221  of the stem  22 , the washer  3  immediately returns to its previous shape to force the center hole  30  into abutment against the periphery of the stem  22  closely. At this time, the user can push the washer  3  upwardly to the extent where the surface of the washer  3  is abutted against the flat abutment surface  112  of the bearing seat member  1 , and thus, the bearing seat member  1 , the pivot shaft  2  and the washer  3  are well assembled together. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7  and  FIG. 4  again, when using the hinge to connect a first panel member  4  and a second panel member  5  of a telecommunication cabinet, computer server, workstation, machine, equipment, or even a door or window assembly that can be opened and closed. The first panel member  4  comprises a mounting hole  40  cut through opposing top and bottom wall thereof. The second panel member  5  is made of a metal material (such as stainless steel) that does not deform during stamping, comprising a through hole  50  cut through opposing top and bottom wall thereof and a tapered mating surface  51  defined in the through hole  50  with the diameter gradually downwardly increased in direction toward the outside of the through hole  50 . In application, insert the mating connection part  11  of the bearing seat member  1  into the mounting hole  40  of the first panel member  4 , and then employ a stamping process to stamp on the surface of the bearing seat member  1  or the surface of the disc-shaped head  21  of the pivot shaft  2 , riveting the tubular shank  111  of the mating connection part  11  to the mounting hole  40  of the first panel member  4 . At this time, the inner peripheral wall of the mounting hole  40  is deformed to form an engagement portion  41  that is forced into engagement with the annular mounting groove  1111  around the tubular shank  111  tightly, and thus, the bearing seat member  1  is fixedly fastened to the mounting hole  40  of the first panel member  4 , making the surface of the bearing seat member  1  and the surface of the disc-shaped head  21  of the pivot shaft  2  to be coplanar with the surface of the first panel member  4 . 
     After affixed the bearing seat member  1  to the mounting hole  40  of the first panel member  4 , insert the riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2  into the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5 . By means of the guidance of the tapered lower abutment surface  232  of the riveting portion  23 , the riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2  can be steadily, smoothly and accurately inserted into the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5  facilitating quick alignment. As soon as the bottom surface of the washer  3  is attached to the top surface of the second panel member  5 , an appropriate gap  400  is left between the first panel member  4  and the second panel member  5 . Thereafter, employ a stamping technique to deform the riveting portion  23 , shortening the height of the riveting portion  23  and expanding the outer diameter of the tapered upper guide surface  231  of the riveting portion  23  into positive abutment against the tapered mating surface  51  of the through hole  50 , and also making the bottom surface of the riveting portion  23  to be coplanar with the bottom surface of the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5 . After deformation of the riveting portion  23 , the riveting portion  23  is riveted to the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5  with the tapered upper guide surface  231  of the riveting portion  23  kept in close contact with the tapered mating surface  51  of the through hole  50 , and thus, the pivot shaft  2  is fastened to the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5  to secure the first panel member  4  and the second panel member  5 , allowing rotation of the first panel member  4  with the bearing seat member  1  relative to the pivot shaft  2  and the second panel member  5 . Because the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2  can be synchronously rotated, friction resistance can be minimized during rotation. Further, the arrangement of the washer  3  prevents direct contact between the bearing seat member  1  and the second panel member  5 , enhancing rotating smoothness between the first panel member  4  and the second panel member  5 . 
     The use of the washer  3  enhances the connection stability between the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2 . When fastening the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2  to the first panel member  4  and riveting to the pivot shaft  2  the second panel member  5 , the arrangement of the washer  3  prohibits the pivot shaft  2  from being forced out of the axle hole  10  of the bearing seat member  1 , enhancing installation stability. Further, because the washer  3  is positioned between the first panel member  4  and the second panel member  5 , the aforesaid appropriate gap  400  is left between the first panel member  4  and the second panel member  5 . During relative rotation between the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2 , the washer  3  prevents friction between the first panel member  4  and the second panel member  5  and causes generation of a damping resistance, enhancing rotating smoothness and stability between the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2 . 
     Further, the invention employs a stamping technique to rivet the riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2  to the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5 , the riveting tightness between the pivot shaft  2  and the second panel member  5  and the rotating smoothness of the pivot shaft  2  relative to the second panel member  5  can be adjusted by means of adjusting the degree of deformation of the riveting portion  23  during the stamping process. 
     Further, as stated above, when the riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2  is stamped and deformed, a part of the riveting portion  23  is forced into the through hole  50  of the second panel member  5  to prohibit displacement of the second panel member  5  along the length (height) of the riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2 . After the stamping process, the height of the riveting portion  23  of the pivot shaft  2  is shortened, and the combined thickness of the pivot shaft  2  and the second panel member  5  is relatively reduced, providing a low profile characteristic. 
     Further, the mating design of the tapered bearing surface  101  of the bearing seat member  1  around the axle hole  10  and the tapered abutment surface  211  of the disc-shaped head  21  greatly increases the contact surface area between the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2  without increasing the overall height of the disc-shaped head  21 , enhancing the structural stability and shearing strength of the hinge and avoiding disconnection between the bearing seat member  1  and the pivot shaft  2  even if the pivot shaft  2  is pulled or vibrated by an external force. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.