Patent Publication Number: US-2020291985-A1

Title: Sliding Hinge Collapsible Discs

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     The disclosed technology relates to accessories which collapse, and more specifically, those that do so with sliding arms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     A collapsible device of embodiments of the disclosed technology has a rotating hinge with a top section and bottom section, a top circular disc connected via a living hinge or sliding hinge to the top section of the rotating hinge, and a bottom circular disc connected via a second living hinge or second sliding hinge to the bottom section. 
     A “disc” is defined as “a device with a substantially circular most elongated plane thereof.” The directions “top” and “bottom” are relative and interchangeable for purposes of this disclosure. In some embodiments, there is a horizontal line or plane of symmetry between the top and bottom halves of the device. 
     A “living hinge” is defined as “a flexure bearing which is flexible (changeable angle) and connects two rigid elements together in a way in which the rigid pieces can repeatedly (1000+ times) bend relative to one another and remain connected.” Living hinges of embodiments of the disclosed technology are formed from thinned plastic material between disc and a part of a rotating hinge. In some embodiments, a disc, living hinge, and rotating hinge are formed together in a single mold. In some embodiments, two of such single molds are formed and a pin joins the rotating hinges together to form the collapsible device. 
     A “rotating hinge” is nomenclature used to differentiate from the “living hinge”. A “rotating hinge” is a device or elements of a device which rotate relative to one another and around a pin which connects between the elements which rotate relative to one another. The portion of the elements which rotate around a pin is called the “frictional” section because in embodiments of the disclosed technology the top and bottom portion of the hinge which rotate around the pin. Friction hinders movement the top and bottom section relative to one another so that the device can rest in a stable configuration, whether expanded or contracted. An external expansion or contraction force is required, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, to expand or contract the hinges which moves the discs further or closer to each other. 
     A “sliding hinge” or to be “slidably hinged” is to rotates a flange by having the flange move parallel along a length of an inset, cutaway, cavity, or portal in a disc changing an angle of the flange relative to the disc or discs. 
     A pair of collapsible discs include, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a top disc with a hinged connection to a flange or multiple flanges. A bottom disc with a cavity holds a crossbeam of the flange or flanges such that the crossbeam is slidably hinged within the cavity of the bottom disc. “Collapsible” is defined as “able to expand and contract repeatedly while maintaining all parts thereof and structural integrity.” 
     The hinged connection to the top and/or bottom disc can be a living hinge and/or a sliding hinge. A slidable hinge can be a hinge which uses a crossbeam connected to or forming in unitary structure with a flange, the crossbeam sliding along a length or most elongated length of a cavity within the top and/or bottom disc. It should be understood that “top” and “bottom” or relative to the position of the discs with one being defined as being at a “top” side and the other being defined as being an opposite and “bottom side”. Thus, horizontal movement is transverse to a line or plane passing between the top and bottom. 
     In some embodiments, there are four flanges each arranged at one a cardinal direction, that is, at a 90 or 180 degree angle to each other. Each of the four flanges includes a crossbeam which extends into a respective cavity of the bottom disc, and in some embodiments, in additional such crossbeam on the opposite side into the top disc. The crossbeam, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, is wider than an opening into the cavity which is transverse to a direction of movement of the crossbeam when the top disc and the bottom disc move closer or further from one another. 
     The pair of collapsible discs have at least three different distances or configurations with respect to one another which are entered or passed through between fully pulling apart (“an expanded condition”) and fully collapsing the discs (moving them as close as possible to one another). In the expanded condition, the flange substantially abuts or does abut an edge of an opening to the cavity, the edge being the edge which is closest to a center point of a most elongated plane of the top disc and/or the bottom disc. In other words, the flange hits the inside or interior side of the cavity. This is the side nearest to the center of the circular plane of the respective discs. For purposes of this disclosure, “substantially abuts” is defined as “close enough that it can be confused for touching when viewed from at least some vantage points.” 
     A partially collapsed condition is between the expanded and fully collapsed condition where the crossbeam of the flange (or flanges) is midway (which includes substantially midway) between the edge of the opening to the cavity closest to the center point and an opposite edge of the opening to the cavity, the opposite edge being the side of the opening into the cavity which is furthest from the center point of the circular disc (most exterior). In the fully collapsed condition the crossbeam abuts (including substantially abutting) a part of the cavity furthest from the center point. In such a collapsed condition the top disc and the bottom disc are abutted or substantially abutted against one another. In a resting condition (such as with only the force of gravity acting upon the device while the bottom of the devices is closed to the center of the Earth or while the device is in any other orientation), friction between the crossbeam and the cavity causes collapsible discs in an expanded condition to remain in the expanded condition in some embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
     The at least one flange is at least two flanges having a length thereof which each extends between the top disc and the bottom disc, each length of each respective flange being parallel to each another in embodiments of the disclosed technology. While the angle of the flanges changes as the top and bottom disc move with respect to each other, the parallel nature of the flanges remains in the same in this embodiment. This can further be used with a portal through one of the flanges where the other flange passes through such that one flange is actually “U” or “O” shaped and the other is a sans-serif “I” shape or serif “I” shape when including the crossbeams. A pin can connect two or more flanges together which adds to or creates enough friction to prevent the two discs from moving toward each other when the discs are at rest with respect to the Earth and/or one another. 
     The crossbeam of each of the at least two flanges move in opposite directions when the top disc and the bottom disc are moved towards one another in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The cavity of one of the discs can be a plurality of separate cavities or a single cavity with a plurality of rectangular openings. 
     Described another way, two discs at each of a top and bottom side of a device which, when separated, remain at rest with respect to one another due to friction at (meaning, “within” and/or “with”) flanges situated between and connecting the two discs. Pressure pushing the two discs together causes the flanges to be oriented in a more horizontal direction with respect to the top and the bottom direction by way of at least one crossbeam fixedly connected to, or part of, at least one of the flanges, the crossbeam being moved horizontally through a cavity or cavities of one of the discs as the two discs are pushed together. 
     There can be two flanges which move in opposite directions when the two discs are pushed together. A first of the two flanges passes through a portal in another of the second of the two flanges in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The at least two flanges are two sets of flanges in some embodiments. Each respective flange moves away from each other respective flange in it&#39;s set. That is, each set has two flanges disposed inline with each other but moving in opposite directions as the discs are collapsed (pushed) together. The sets are at right angles or move transverse to one another in such embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
     The flanges are each connected to one or both of the top or the bottom disc by way of a living hinge in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The afore-described cavity is a single cavity through which each flange of the two flanges moves through in some embodiments of the technology, while in other embodiments, the cavity is a plurality of separate cavities and each flange of the two flanges has a respective crossbeam in a separate cavity of the cavities. 
     Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. “Substantially” is defined as “at least 95% of the term being described” and any device or aspect of a device or method described herein can be read as “comprising” or “consisting” thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top and side perspective view of collapsible discs with sliding flanges in embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 2  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a first elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a second elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1  in an expanded condition in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1  in a collapsing condition in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed condition in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 8  shows a top and side perspective view of collapsible discs with parallel sliding flanges in embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 9  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a first side elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a second side elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a third side elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8  in an expanded condition. 
         FIG. 14  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8  in a collapsing condition. 
         FIG. 15  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8  in a collapsed condition. 
         FIG. 16  shows a cutaway top and side perspective view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     Collapsible discs move towards or away from each other in embodiments of the disclosed technology by changing the angle of flanges which connect the two discs together. The flanges connect to each respective disc by way of one of a living hinge and/or a slidable hinge where a slidable hinge is one which includes a crossbeam wider than a body of the flange which slides within a cavity of one of the discs. This can be accomplished with two flanges which move in opposite directions, or two sets of two flanges, each set offset 90 degrees from one another. The two flanges can also be arranged such that one passes through a portal in the other or arranged side by side. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following description of the figures. 
       FIG. 1  shows a top and side perspective view of collapsible discs with sliding flanges in embodiments of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 2  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1 . Here, two discs, a top disc  10  and a bottom disc  30  are in parallel to one another. The top disc is connected to each flange  20  by way of a living hinge  99  (see definition in the “summary”) or flexural hinge. Each flange has a top end which is adjacent to the top disc  10  and a bottom end which is adjacent to the bottom disc  30 . In the embodiment shown, the bottom end of each flange  20  is a crossbeam  22  which is created as an integrated structure or fixedly attached to the body of (the section with the most elongated flat region or equivalent thereof if another shape is used) of the respective flange  20 . The crossbeam  22 , in embodiments of the disclosed technology, is wider than the body of the flange  20 . The crossbeam  22  is horizontally movable through a cavity  32  of a disc, such as a bottom disc  30 . A portal opening into the cavity is wider than the body of the flange  20 , but the cavity itself is wider than the opening and wider than the crossbeam  22 . As such, the crossbeam is held within the cavity and can move along a length thereof, as it does, changing an angle of the body of the respective flange  20 . In conjunction, four such flanges, as such in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , move at the same time and move away or towards a center point or center line which passes between a center of the top and bottom discs  10  and  20 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a first elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  shows a second elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1 . In these figures, one can see the depth of the living hinges  99  which allow for the bending of the flanges  20  to accommodate the movement of the discs closer to one another. The left and right flanges  20  (referring to the side of the paper relative to one another in these views) are at a first acute angle in this expanded condition, and as the discs collapse (move towards each other) the angle increases and becomes more acute and more obtuse (depending on the side of the flange) while the bottom part of the flanges moves towards a side of the device (and paper) and the top remains in place. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1  in an expanded condition in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 6  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1  in a collapsing condition in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 7  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed condition in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. Referring first to  FIG. 5 , one can see that the flanges  20  are in their most upright condition here and become more horizontal as the discs  10  and  30  are collapsed together. A top side of the bottom disc  30  is open at least partially at what is a portal or multiple separate portals. The flanges  20  terminate at their respective crossbeams  22  which slide horizontal within the portal while the flanges  20  rotate as they change angle. In a fully collapsed condition in embodiments of the disclosed technology, such as shown in  FIG. 7 , the crossbeams  22  are at extreme edges/abutment points  36  of the cavity  34  of the disc. The extreme edges  36  are the ends of the cavity in each horizontal direction. Note that in the collapsed condition the living hinge  99  is most bent or maximally bent or substantially maximally bent. 
       FIG. 8  shows a top and side perspective view of collapsible discs with parallel sliding flanges in embodiments of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 9  shows a bottom and side perspective view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 10  shows a first side elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . All the elements described with reference to  FIG. 1-7  are numbered in the same manner though the flanges  20  differ in shape, with a first flange  20  having a portal through which another second flange  20  passes through. Thus, instead of two flanges  20  falling next to each other ( FIGS. 1-7 ), they fall through each other ( FIGS. 8-16 ). This creates a scissor-like structure as best seen in  FIG. 10 , crossing at a pivot point and frictional pin  40 . The pin  40  adds to, or creates enough friction such that the discs  10  and  30  remain stationary with respect to one another when the device as a whole is left at rest. 
       FIG. 11  shows a second side elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 12  shows a third side elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . In these further views, in a fully expanded configuration (the discs  10  and  30  as far apart as possible) the flanges form a substantially planar or substantially flat surface such that the device is I-bean shaped from this side view. One then has maximum room to wrap a wire there-around, such as a wire to earphones. 
       FIG. 13  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8  in an expanded condition.  FIG. 14  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8  in a collapsing condition.  FIG. 15  shows a cross section elevation view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8  in a collapsed condition. Here, one can see that in an expanded condition the flanges  20  are nearest to a center of a horizontal length of the cavities  12  and  32  of the respective discs  10  and  30 . As the discs  10  and  30  move closer together, the flanges move towards the edges until abutting or substantially abutting the edges of the horizontal extent of the cavities. 
       FIG. 16  shows a cutaway top and side perspective view of the collapsible discs of  FIG. 8 . The flanges  20  with slidably hinged crossbeams  22  are wider than and within a portal opening into the respective cavities  12  and  22 . 
     The covers can be identical or substantially identical where “substantially identical” is defined as having a same or substantially the same circular circumference of a most elongated or largest plane but having different depths and/or lips. For example, the top disc  10  can have a downward extending lip. That is, having different depths is still to be considered within the definition of “substantially” provided in the Summary of this disclosure. 
     Referring to all of the embodiments simultaneously, the devices can be procured out of two molds and a pin or other frictional device which connects between flanges, rotatable hinges or rotatable hinge parts. The two molds can be identical or substantially identical (e.g. but for a lip or depth of a disc). Thus, a mold can be used to create a disc and flange together or separately with other such corresponding molds making up a bottom side thereof. 
     While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.