Patent Abstract:
A hinge for use in a billboard framing system comprising a stationary plate and a rotating plate. The hinge has a curved recess and motion limiting track in the stationary plate that retain a mating feature on the rotating plate. A load distribution feature on the first plate conforms to and contacts an exterior surface on the rotating plate in the open position.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates, in exemplary embodiments, to hinges. Exemplary embodiments relate to hinges that form a tension joint for holding and maintaining an item, such as a billboard frame, in an open or closed configuration. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Advertising billboard or commercial signage comprising display sheets in the form of printed words, photographs, or drawings on flexible semi-translucent media, such as vinyl, polyethylene, or polypropylene sheets attached to or stretched over a metal or wooden substrate, have been in use for many years. In some instances, the display sheets are attached to the substrate, which forms the billboard face, by an apparatus, such as a cable tensioning system attached to either the front or the back the substrate. When frontal attachment is used, a decorative trim is mounted to create a picture frame. 
         [0003]    Unlike a picture frame, there is a gap of several inches between the trim and the frame. The gap may be noticeable up close and create an undesirable distraction. Moreover, the gap between the trim and the substrate billboard may directly expose the cable tensioning system to debris accumulation and weather deterioration. A recent example of a frame mechanism is disclosed in US Application Publication No. 201210159823 (commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference) attempts to solve this problem by providing a closed trim to conceal the cable tensioning system. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to have a hinge system that could hold the plates of a billboard frame in open and closed positions, with interfacing recesses and protrusions having closely configured complementary geometry which will minimize or eliminate undesirable extraneous movement within the hinge interface. It is further desirable to have a hinge system with contacting surfaces inside of and outside of the hinge recess to minimize or eliminate movement within the hinge in both the open and closed positions and excess movement or “play” in the hinge during movement between the positions. It would further be desirable to have a hinge system with a load relief surface to provide load and stress distribution outside of the hinge recess when the hinge is in the open position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below. 
         [0006]    Generally described, the present disclosure provides in a first exemplary embodiment a hinge comprising a receiver having a curved interior recess and a motion limiting track located between a proximal and a distal end of the curved interior recess, a mating feature having a curved shape and rounded distal end with a protrusion located proximate to the rounded distal end, and a joint formed between the receiver and the mating feature. The mating feature is shaped to translate along the curved interior recess of the receiver. The protrusion is configured to translate along the motion limiting track. The rounded distal end contacts the distal end of the curved interior recess and the protrusion contacts a distal end of the motion reducing track in an opened position. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect, a hinge system for use in a billboard frame comprises a stationary plate having a receiver with an interior curved recess, a face plate configured to rotate about the stationary plate having a mating feature that extends into the receiver to form a hinge, and a load distribution feature having a curved surface adjacent the receiver on the stationary plate. The curved surface of the load distribution feature supports an adjacent exterior surface of the face plate and is in continuous contact with the adjacent exterior surface when the hinge is in an open position. 
         [0008]    In another exemplary embodiment, a hinge for use in a billboard frame is provided comprising a stationary plate having a distal receiver with an interior curved recess including a motion limiting track, and a load distribution surface proximal to the distal receiver. The hinge includes a face plate having a proximal exterior surface and a distal mating end that has a distal rounded end and a protrusion extending proximal to the distal rounded end, the face plate forms a joint with the distal receiver end, the joint configured to allow movement of the face plate between opened and closed positions, and means for preventing further movement in the opening direction when the face plate is in the opened position so that force and load are distributed at multiple points between the stationary plate and the face plate. In some embodiments, the means for preventing further movement comprises contact between the receiver recess and the distal rounded end, contact between the protrusion and a distal end of motion limiting track, and contact between the load distribution surface and an exterior face surface of the face plate. 
         [0009]    In exemplary embodiments, a hinge is provided, comprising a receiver having a curved interior recess and a motion limiting track located between a proximal and a distal end of the curved interior recess; a mating feature having a curved shape and rounded distal end with a protrusion located proximate to the rounded distal end; and a joint formed between the receiver and the mating feature, wherein the mating feature is shaped to translate along the curved interior recess of the receiver and the protrusion is configured to translate along the motion limiting track so that the rounded distal end contacts the distal end of the curved interior recess and the protrusion contacts a distal end of the motion reducing track in an opened position. 
         [0010]    Other features will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings disclose exemplary embodiments in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a hinge assembly according to one exemplary embodiment integrated into extruded walls of a billboard frame system in an open configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a stationary plate of the hinge of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a close-up view of the distal end of the stationary plate of  FIG. 2  taken at A; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a face plate of the hinge of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a close up view of the distal end of the face plate of  FIG. 3  taken at B; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the hinge of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration; and, 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the hinge of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (for example, cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, or the like) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, “upper” and “lower” as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (for example, “horizontally”, “upwardly”, or the like), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
         [0021]    In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a hinge or joint that may be used, for example, to form a frame for a tension billboard frame.  FIG. 1  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure showing a hinge  8  taking the form of a frame with a joint  10  formed by the end of two plates  12 ,  14 . Distal end of stationary plate  12  receives distal end of face plate  14 , or rotating plate, to form the joint  10 . Plates  12 ,  14  may be extruded, stamped, bent, shaped or formed sections and may be made from suitable polymers, plastic, metal, alloy, ceramic, or combinations thereof. It is to be understood that plates  12 ,  14  can be any length or segment of any generally rigid or semi-rigid material. 
         [0022]    As seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-2A , stationary plate  12  is L-shaped and includes a proximal end  17  having, in one exemplary embodiment of a hinge for a billboard system, a flat surface  18  and an S-shaped distal end  20 . In between the proximal end  17  and distal end  20  may, in exemplary embodiments, be a plurality of brackets  22  located interior and exterior to the plate  12 . Optional brackets  22  on the interior side are configured to support components mounted within the frame such as a display sheet and cable tensioning system for a billboard (not shown). Brackets  22  may also be configured to mount the frame to an exterior component (not shown) by accommodating bolts or other fasteners. 
         [0023]    Distal end  20  defines a receiver  24  at A and a face plate load distribution feature  26  (see  FIG. 4 ) providing a surface for face plate  14  to rest on in the open position as further described below with respect to  FIG. 4 . Receiver  24  has a curved interior recess  28  opposite a smaller exterior recess  30 . Curved interior recess  28  includes motion limiting track  32  therein that is a groove further recessed into and extending along a portion of the curved recess  28 . The motion limiting track  32  has a proximal end  34  and a distal end  36  and is shorter than the length of the curved recess  28 . Proximal end  34  and distal end  36  of the motion limiting track  32  lie between a proximal  38  and distal end  40  of the curved recess  28 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3-3A  illustrate an exemplary face plate  14  having a proximal end  42 , a distal end mating feature  44  at B, and an arm  46  that lies between the proximal and distal ends  44 ,  42  and extends at an angle to the proximal and distal ends  44 ,  42 . Face plate  14  has a front surface  45  that, in exemplary embodiments, faces the viewer when installed on a billboard, and provides an uninterrupted smooth frame-type trim extending between the proximal end  42  and mating feature  44 . Mating feature  44  is a curved arm with a rounded end  48  and a protrusion  50  extending from a convex surface  51  of the curved arm prior to and adjacent the rounded end  48 . Rounded end  48  of mating feature  44  is formed to not be larger than the cross sectional width “w” of the curved arm of the mating feature  44  as seen in  FIG. 3A . The protrusion  50  has a uniform symmetric geometry, for instance flat topped with curved sidewalls as shown. Mating feature  44  is configured to translate and rotate within the receiver  24  as discussed in further detail below. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 4-5  show an exemplary embodiment of a hinge system or frame  8  in the closed ( FIG. 4 ) and open ( FIG. 5 ) positions that are freely maintained without additional support or force. In this embodiment the mating feature  44  is shown inserted in the corresponding curved recess  28 . In some embodiments, the mating feature  44  and the curved recess  28  are dimensioned so that at least a portion of the mating feature  44  remains in contact with the curved recess  28  during translation between the opened and closed positions. In some embodiments, the mating feature  44  and the curved recess  28  are dimensioned so that at least a portion of the protrusion  50  and another portion of the mating feature  44  remains in contact with the curved recess  28  during translation between the opened and closed positions. The hinge system  8  may further optionally include a tension spring  52 , such as a leaf spring mounted between exterior recess  30  of the receiver  24  and the arm  46  of the face plate  14  in a compressed state, reducing excess movement within and at the joint  10  and biasing the hinge system  8  in the closed configuration. 
         [0026]    In the open position, the rounded end  48  of the mating feature  44  is in contact with the distal end  40  of curved recess  28 . Protrusion  50  also contacts distal end  36  of the motion limiting track  32  further limiting any movement of the face plate  14  within the curved recess  28 . In the open position, front surface  45  of face plate  14  rests on load distribution surface  26  so that the face plate  14  is further prevented from excess movement, and further movement in the opening direction, and so that the system freely maintains the open position. In the open position the face plate  14  contacts and distributes stress at the rounded end  48  and the protrusion  50  of the mating feature  44  as well as the front surface  45  that lies proximal to the mating feature  44 . As illustrated, the hinge  8  is configured so that the face plate  14  comes to rest in the open position in  FIG. 4  approximately 90 degrees from the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The face plate  14  in the open position is approximately perpendicular to the proximal end  17  of the stationary plate  12  to allow unobstructed access to the interior of the frame  8 . 
         [0027]    In the closed position in  FIG. 5 , proximal end  42  of face plate  14  contacts flat surface  18  of stationary plate  12 . A display sheet (not shown) may extend between the proximal end  42  of face plate and the flat surface  18  of the stationary plate  12 . In the closed configuration, the mating feature  44  is still inserted in the corresponding curved recess  28 , but has rotated and translated to a proximate position in the curved recess  28 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , mating feature rounded end  48  does not contact with distal end  40  of curved recess. Protrusion  50  contacts motion limiting track proximal end  34  to maintain a portion of the mating feature  44  in the curved recess  28 . Mating feature  44  has an interior concave curved surface  53  located on a surface of the mating feature opposite the surface of the protrusion  50 . Concave curved surface  53  is shaped to conform to an exterior convex curved surface  54  of the receiver  24  so that the concave curved surface  53  is in continuous contact with the exterior curved surface  54  in the closed position. 
         [0028]    In addition, the stationary plate and face plate can be modified for different applications other than billboard frames, such as, but not limited to, for joining any two objects in which a hinge providing relative rotation (e.g., ninety degrees) of two objects may be required. 
         [0029]    Although only a number of exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. 
         [0030]    It should further be noted that any patents, applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4