Patent Publication Number: US-2022212840-A1

Title: Hinge assembly

Description:
This invention relates to hinge assemblies. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to hinge assemblies incorporated in containers. Embodiments of this invention relate to containers incorporating hinge assemblies. 
     The transport and storage of goods in containers can create a security problem, in that thieves may try to steal the goods from inside the containers, even in situations where the containers have locked lids. Often, thieves can gain access to the goods inside the container by opening the lid at the hinge. 
     According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising: a first part having a first hinge member; a second part having a second hinge member, the first and second hinge members forming a pivot arrangement to allow the first part to pivot relative to the second part; and a hinge pin extending across the pivot arrangement, thereby pivotally attaching the first part to the second part; wherein the hinge pin and the pivot arrangement include a securing arrangement to inhibit extraction of the hinge pin from the pivot arrangement. 
     The hinge assembly may be incorporated in a container. The first part may comprise a wall of the container. The second part may comprise a lid of the container. 
     According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a container comprising: a wall, the wall having a first hinge member; a lid, the lid having a second hinge member; the first and second hinge members forming a pivot arrangement to allow the first part to pivot relative to the second part; and a hinge pin extending across the pivot arrangement, thereby pivotally attaching the lid to the wall; wherein the hinge pin and the pivot arrangement include a securing arrangement to inhibit extraction of the hinge pin from the pivot arrangement. 
     The securing arrangement may comprise interacting securing formations. The pivot arrangement and the hinge pin may have respective interacting securing formations. 
     The hinge pin may extend through the pivot arrangement. The pivot arrangement and the hinge pin extending therethrough constitute a hinge. 
     The hinge pin may have a proximal end and a distal end. One of the hinge members may include an end opening. The proximal end may be disposed at said end opening. The hinge pin may be inserted into the pivot arrangement in an orientation in which the distal end leads the proximal end. 
     The hinge pin may comprise an elongate member. The elongate member may have a proximal end region. The elongate member may have a distal end region. The interacting securing formation of the hinge pin may be provided on the elongate member. 
     According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a hinge pin for use with a pivot arrangement, the hinge pin comprising an elongate member having a proximal end region and an opposite distal end region, and an interacting securing formation on the elongate member, the interacting securing formation being configured to interact with a further interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement. 
     The interacting securing formations may comprise a detent formation and a shoulder to engage the detent formation. The hinge pin and the pivot arrangement may comprise the securing formations. 
     One of the hinge pin and the pivot arrangement may include the detent formation. The other of the hinge pin and pivot arrangement may include the shoulder. The hinge pin may include the detent formation. The pivot arrangement may include the shoulder. The shoulder may be provided on one of the first and second hinge members. 
     The proximal end of the hinge pin may be a proximal end of the elongate member. The proximal end may be provided at the proximal end region of the elongate member. The distal end of the hinge pin may be a distal end of the elongate member. The distal end may be provided at the distal end region of the elongate member. 
     The interacting securing formation of the hinge pin may be provided at the proximal end of the hinge pin. The interacting securing formation of the hinge pin may be provided at the distal end region of the elongate member. 
     The first and second hinge members may be aligned to receive the hinge pin. The aligned hinge members may form the pivot arrangement. Each of the first hinge members and each of the second hinge members may define a respective receiving formation for receiving the hinge pin. In the pivot arrangement, the receiving formations of the aligned hinge members may form a channel through which the hinge pin may extend. 
     The pivot arrangement may have a proximal hinge member at which the proximal end of the hinge pin is disposed when the hinge pin is received by the pivot arrangement. The pivot arrangement may have a distal hinge member at which the distal end of the hinge pin is disposed when the hinge pin is received by the pivot arrangement. 
     The pivot arrangement may have opposite ends. The end opening may be defined at one of said opposite ends of the pivot arrangement. The end opening may be defined in the proximal hinge member. A respective one of the first hinge members may be provided at each end of the pivot arrangement. 
     The proximal hinge member may be one of the first hinge members. The distal hinge member may be one of the first hinge members. The end opening may be defined by one of the first hinge members provided at one of the opposite ends of the pivot arrangement. 
     The interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement may be provided at one end of the pivot arrangement. The interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement may be provided on the first hinge member. 
     The pivot arrangement may have two interacting securing formations. A respective interacting securing formation may be provided at each of the opposite ends of the pivot arrangement. Both interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may be provided on respective first hinge members. 
     Where the hinge pin comprises the detent formation, the detent formation may comprise a projecting member extending from the elongate member away from the distal end. The projecting member may be provided at the proximal end region of the hinge pin. The projecting member may be provided at the distal end region of the hinge pin. 
     The hinge pin may comprise two of the detent formations. The detent formations may comprise a first projecting member. The first projecting member may be provided at the proximal end region of the hinge pin. 
     The detent formations may further include a second projecting member. The second projecting member may be provided at the distal end region of the hinge pin. Each projecting may extend from the elongate member towards the proximal end. 
     The hinge pin may comprise two of the projecting members. The, or each, projecting member may comprise a barb. The, or each, projecting member may project from the elongate member towards the proximal end. 
     The, or each, projecting member may project from the elongate member in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion of the hinge pin into the pivot arrangement. The, or each, projecting member may project from the elongate member towards the proximal end. 
     Each of the projecting members may project from a respective end region of the elongate member. Each of the projecting members may project from the elongate member longitudinally along the elongate member. Each of the projecting members may project from the elongate member in the same direction towards one of the ends of the elongate member. 
     One of the projecting members may be provided adjacent the distal end of the hinge pin. The other of the projecting members may be provided adjacent the proximal end of the hinge pin. 
     The pivot arrangement may comprise a plurality of the interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement. The pivot arrangement may comprise two of the interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement. The interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may be provided at the opposite ends of the pivot arrangement. 
     Each of the interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may comprise a respective shoulder. A first of the shoulders may be provided at one end of the pivot arrangement. A second of the shoulders may be provided at the opposite end of the pivot arrangement. 
     The first part may comprise a plurality of the first hinge members. The second part may comprise a plurality of the second hinge members. The wall may comprise a plurality of the first hinge members. The lid may comprise a plurality of the second hinge members. 
     The first and second hinge members may alternate respect to one another to form the pivot arrangement. 
     The, or each, first hinge member may comprise a main portion. The interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement may be provided on the main portion. The, or each, second hinge member may comprise a main portion. 
     The interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may be provided on a plurality of the first hinge members. The interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may be provided on two of the first hinge members. The interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may be provided on each of the first hinge members provided at the opposite ends of the pivot arrangement. 
     The interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement may be provided on the, or one of the, first hinge members. The interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement may be provided at one end of the pivot arrangement. 
     Each interacting securing formation of the pivot arrangement may be provided on a respective one of first hinge members. Each of the interacting securing formations of the pivot arrangement may be provided at a respective opposite end of the pivot arrangement. 
     The hinge pin may include a stop formation to engage the pivot arrangement at said end opening. The stop formation may be provided at the proximal end of the hinge pin. 
    
    
     
       An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of a container; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the container; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a hinge assembly forming part of the container; 
         FIG. 4  is a close up of the region marked IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a close up of the region marked V in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a hinge pin; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view from below of the container. 
     
    
    
     The drawings show a container  10  comprising a first part in the form of a wall  12 , and a second part in the form of a lid  14 . The lid  14  is pivotally attached to the wall  12  by a hinge assembly  15 . 
     The wall  12  has a plurality of spaced first hinge members  16  forming part of the hinge assembly  15 . The lid  14  has a plurality of spaced second hinge members  18  also forming part of the hinge assembly  15 . 
     The first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  form a pivot arrangement  20 . A hinge pin  22  extends through the pivot arrangement  20 , thereby forming the hinge assembly  15 . The hinge pin  22  and the pivot arrangement  20  includes a securing arrangement in the form of interacting securing formations  26  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to inhibit extraction of the hinge pin  22  from the pivot arrangement  20 . The interacting securing formations  26  are described below. 
     In more detail, the container  10  includes a base  24 , a plurality of the walls  12  extending upwardly from the base  24 . The walls  12  define an open top of the container  10 . Two lids  14  extend across the open top. 
     The lids  14  are pivotally attached to respective opposite walls  12 . The lids  14  extend across the open top and meet at a central region of the open top. 
     Each lid  14  is pivotally attached to the wall  12  by a respective one of the hinge assemblies  15 . The first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  are arranged to form the pivot arrangement  20 . Each of the first hinge members  16  and each of the second hinge members  18  comprises a main portion  28  across which the hinge pin  22  extends. 
     The main portion  28  of each of the first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  defines a respective receiving formation  30  for receiving the hinge pin  22  therethrough to hold the hinge pin  22  in the pivot arrangement  20 . Each receiving formation  30  is a bore defined through the respective first and second hinge member  16 ,  18 . In the pivot arrangement  20 , the aligned receiving formations  30  of the first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  form a channel  29  through which the hinge pin  22  extends. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the pivot arrangement  20 , the first hinge members  16  are received in the spaces between the second hinge members  18 . The second hinge members  18  are received in the spaces between the first hinge members  16 . Thus, the first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  alternate relative to one another. When so arranged, the first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  are disposed in alignment. The hinge pin  22  is received through the pivot arrangement  20  to form the hinge assembly  15 . 
     The pivot arrangement  20  has opposite ends at which one of the first hinge members  16  constitutes a proximal first hinge member  16 A at one end of the pivot arrangement  20 . In addition, one of the first hinge members  16  constitutes a distal first hinge member  16 B at the opposite end of the pivot arrangement  20 . 
     The proximal first hinge member  16 A defines an end opening  32  to provide communication with the receiving formation  30  defined by the aligned first and second hinge members  18 . 
     The hinge pin  22  is shown in  FIG. 6  and comprises an elongate member  34  having a proximal end  36  at a proximal end region  36 A. The elongate member  34  further includes a distal end  38  at a distal end region  38 A. 
     The hinge pin  22  is installed into the pivot arrangement  20  by being inserted through the first and second hinge members  16 ,  18  via the end opening  32 , with the distal end  38  leading the proximal end  36 . 
     The hinge pin  22  and the pivot arrangement  20  include interacting securing formations  26  to inhibit extraction of the hinge pin  22  from the pivot arrangement  20 . The interacting securing formations  26  of the hinge pin  22  comprise two detent formations in the form of first and second barbs  40 ,  42 . 
     The first barb  40  is provided at the proximal end region  36 A of the elongate member  34 . The second barb  42  is provided at the distal end region  38 A. Both of the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  extend from the elongate member  34  away from the distal end  38 . Thus, the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  extend from the elongate member  34  in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion of the hinge pin  22  into the pivot arrangement  20 . 
     The interacting securing formations  26  of the pivot arrangement  20  comprise a first shoulder  44  at the proximal first hinge member  16 A (see  FIG. 4 ), and a second shoulder  46  at the distal first hinge member  16 B (see  FIG. 5 ). The first and second shoulders  44 ,  46  extend from the main portion  28  of the respective proximal and distal first hinge members  16 A,  16 B. 
     When the hinge pin  22  is fully received in the channel  29 , the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  interact with the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46  by engaging therewith. Thus, the first barb  40  engages the first shoulder  44  and the second barb  42  engages the second shoulder  46 . As a result, the hinge pin  22  cannot be removed from the channel  29  without first disengaging the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  from the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46 . 
     A stop formation  48  is provided at the proximal end  36  of the elongate member  34 . The stop formation  48  is received in the end opening  32  and engages the proximal first hinge member  16 A at the end opening  32  when the hinge pin  22  is fully received in the channel  29 . 
     The end opening  32  and the stop formation  48  are correspondingly shaped so that the stop formation  48  can be received in the end opening  32  in only one orientation of the hinge pin  22 . In this orientation, the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  are arranged to interact with the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46 , as described above. 
     The correspondingly shaped end opening  32  and stop formation  48  prevent rotation of the hinge pin  22  about its longitudinal axis, thereby preventing the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  being rotated away from their position in engagement with the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46 . Thus, accidental or opportunistic unauthorised removal of the hinge pin  22  from the pivot arrangement  20  is prevented. 
     In use, the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46  and the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  are arranged between the elongate member  34  of the hinge pin  22  and the main portion  28  of the respective first hinge member  16 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46  and the first and second barbs  40 ,  42  cannot be seen, thereby preventing access thereto by an opportunistic thief. 
     There is thus described an embodiment of a pivot arrangement and a container  10  in which the hinge pin  22  is provided with first and second barbs  40 ,  42 , and the hinge members are provided with the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46 . The first and second barbs  40 ,  42  and the first and second shoulders  44 ,  46  interact with one another, thereby preventing an opportunistic thief from removing the hinge pin  22  to open the container  10  lid  14 . 
     Thus, the embodiment shown in the drawings provides the advantage of overcoming a problem associated with removable hinge pins. The ability to remove a hinge pin from a container makes it possible for a thief to access the contents of the container, then re-assemble the hinge so that no one will notice that the container has been accessed. With the above described embodiment, the hinge pin  22  has to be destroyed to remove it, thereby making it obvious that the container  10  has been tampered with. 
     Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.