Abstract:
A wing or leaf-type hinge assembly for use with a thin panel or lid installation includes a manual snap assembly of its pivot pin. The pivot pin structure includes an interlock, which requires a positive release for disassembly. A backer support plate permits the sandwiching of the thin panel between one wing or leaf member of the hinge and the support plate. A detent mechanism may be included which assists in maintaining (holding) the hinge assembly in a pre-selected position. A sensor may be added to detect the hinge assembly in the open position. Mounting structures assist in the easy mounting of the hinge with fewer fasteners.

Description:
The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/348,659, filed Jan. 14, 2002, for Hinge Device with Detent Feature. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to hinges for supporting thin doors, panels, lids, and thin covers and the like. 
   Various types of hinge assemblies are known in the art and are particularly useful for securing a door, cover or the like to a frame or other hinging surface. In many cases, hinge assemblies include multiple parts that must be connected and assembled for installation. There are leaf hinges which can comprise a single piece hinge member, which itself, may consist of a group of elements. A leaf hinge typically has one “wing” plate mounted to a door panel and another wing plate mounted to a frame, thereby facilitating the door panel to swing relative to the frame. There are also adjustably provided hinges that contain elements that can be adjusted to position the hinge. The addition of the adjustment elements, while facilitating the positioning of a hinge, also increases the installation time and the production cost. 
   Generally hinges have been known to include a pair of opposite parts that are pivotally connected to one another by a pintle serving as a vertical pivot pin. For example, it is customary to provide a simple pintle consisting of a cylindrical shaft that can slide into interlocking barrels on each wing plate to hold the hinge together. The pintle can be provided with a head that engages the upper side of the uppermost hinge knuckle to hold the pintle in position. Generally, the pin is maintained by its configuration and gravity. 
   It is further known to provide a pintle of a composite construction and having a torsion spring which acts against the leaf hinges for automatically swinging the door to a closed position. When the leaf hinge is installed in the usual manner, one hinge leaf is attached to the door panel edge and the other hinge leaf is attached to the frame. Usually, this type of hinge can be concealed between the door edge and the frame, with the hinge knuckles being visible. This type of hinge, however, has the problem of being susceptible to permitting unauthorized access to an enclosure by removing the hinge pintle. Although some solutions have been provided by furnishing additional hinge components, such as the “hinge pintle retaining means”, shown by Curry, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,037, the added components make the hinge more complex, and can increase installation and production costs. 
   Such leaf hinges, as shown by Curry et al. do not solve the fundamental problem of the hinge coming loose or the hinge bending the thin panel or lid to which it is attached. Moreover, with leaf hinges, the pivot pin is usually driven into the barrel shaped bosses (Curry et al. knuckles). For thin panel and thin lid installations, this requires special care, including the use of a special tool. 
   What is needed is an easy to assemble hinge for holding an pivoting relatively flimsy or thin panels or lids. 
   What is further needed is such a hinge assembly that does not require driving a pivot pin or pintle into position. 
   What is even further needed is such a hinge assembly that includes a support or reinforcement for attachment of the leaf or wing to the relatively thin plate or lid. 
   What is also desired is a detent mechanism with the hinge assembly that assists in holding the hinge assembly in pre-selected position. 
   What is further desired is an indicator that provides a signal when the hinge is opened. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a wing or leaf-type hinge assembly that can be readily installed on a thin panel or lid. 
   Another object is to provide this hinge assembly with a backing plate for increased durability and for covering attachment parts. 
   A further object is to provide this hinge assembly with snap together locking of the pivoting leaf or wing members without the need for tools. 
   An even further object is to provide this hinge assembly with a detent mechanism that assists in holding the hinge assembly in a pre-selected position. 
   An additional object is to provide this hinge assembly with an open position sensor. 
   The objectives of the present invention are realized in a two-piece wing or leaf-type hinge assembly also having a backer-plate. The assembly includes a male wing member carrying a pivot pin, integral with its structure. The female wing member includes a receiving bore or barrel in which the pivot pin rides, thereby permitting the pivoting of the hinge. The two wing members can be manually snapped together when the pivot pin of the male wing member is snapped into the barrel of the female wing member. 
   The free end of the pivot pin includes a positive interlock, which resists the removal of the pivot pin structure and the disassembly of the two wing members without the release of the interlock. 
   The hinge is capable of 180 degrees of rotation. The pivot pin may have its free end shaped to receive a co-acting detent member for holding the hinge in a pre-determined rotational position. The detent member may be spring biased. The detent may also be assembled manually. 
   The backer plate provides support for a thin panel or lid to which the female wing member is mounted. In so mounting to a thin panel or lid, the thin panel or lid is sandwiched between the backer plate and the female wing member. The male wing member has a mounting hole or slot for receiving a fastener. The female wing member may also have one or more fastener holes aligned with fastener holding sockets or brackets in the backer plate. Alternately the backer plate can carry a mounting bolt on its panel or lid mounting face. Further, the backer plate can include positioning pins or dowels. 
   Through holes are required in the thin panel or lid for any positioning pins or dowels and for fasteners between the female wing member and the backer plate. The backer plate can include a cover over. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features, advantages and operation of the present invention will become readily apparent and further understood from a reading of the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hinge assembly, with the female wing member mounted to a panel and the backer plate and male wing member open; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the back of the male wing member; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the back of the male wing member of  FIG. 2  with a circular instead of a slotted fastener hole; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the front of the female wing member; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the top of the hinged backer plate in the fully open position; 
       FIG. 6  is a further perspective view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1  with the mounting fastener in place. 
       FIG. 7  is a second embodiment for the backer plate for use with the male and female wing member assemblies of  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  6 , showing positioning pins and a mounting threaded screw; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the hinge assembly of  FIGS. 1-6 , with the backer plate of  FIG. 7  attached to a panel; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of the attached assembly and backer plate of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective top view of the assembled male wing member and female wing member with two mounting holes in each member&#39;s face and with a detent box at one end of the female wing member; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the top of the female wing member of FIG.  10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective top view of the male wing member of  FIG. 10  with the detent mechanism exposed; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective back view of the male wing member of  FIGS. 11-12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the assembled male wing member and female wing member of  FIG. 10  closed upon one another; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective top view of the assembled male and female wing members of  FIG. 10 , but wherein the face of the female wing member carries counter sinks for receiving and centering fastener heads; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the top of the female wing member of  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective top view of the assembled male and female wing members closed upon one another and showing a micro-switch mounted on the female wing member; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective top view of the assemble male and female wing members of  FIG. 17  in an open position, with the micro-switch of  FIG. 17  removed; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective back view of the male wing member of  FIGS. 17-18 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective top view of the female wing member of  FIGS. 17-18 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective top view of the male and female wing member assembly of  FIG. 18 , with alternate female wing member mounting holes; 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective bottom view of an open hinged backer plate mounted on a panel; 
       FIG. 23  is a perspective bottom view of the mounted hinged backer plate of  FIG. 22  in the closed position; 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective top view of the open male wing member and female wing member assembly of  FIGS. 18 and 21  with yet another female wing member mounting fastener pattern; 
       FIG. 25  is a top view of the open male wing member and female wing member assembly of  FIG. 25 ; and 
       FIG. 26  is a perspective side edge view of the wing member hinge assembly of  FIGS. 17-25  showing the backer plate closed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a hinge assembly having leaf or wing-type plate members, this hinge assembly being suitable for mounting to a thin panel or lid and having a snap-together configuration. The hinge assembly includes a male wing plate member and a female wing plate member joined with a pivot pin for rotation with respect to one another. A backer plate forms a support member for the female wing member, which is mounted to the thin panel itself. 
   The backer member can carry one or more fastener openings in its face, which abuts the thin panel. This backer member can alternately carry one or more fasteners projecting from its face. A backer member configuration having the fastener openings can also include a cover. Positioning pins or dowels may be present on the face of the backer member for extending through the thin panel and through the face of the female wing member. Such positioning pins can eliminate the need for plural female wing member fasteners. 
   The male wing member includes a pivot pin projecting from a cylindrical structure terminating in a shoulder extending about the projecting pivot pin. The female wing member includes a receiving barrel for receiving the pivot pin. With the male wing member manually snapped into position on the female wing member the male member&#39;s cylinder end rides against the female member&#39;s barrel end. 
   The female wing member&#39;s face can include various fastener mounting openings in various configurations. 
   An interlock holds the pivot pin in the receiving barrel. This interlock can be implemented either with deformable hooks or with a spring biased engaging block and receiving slot. When this receiving slot is cylindrical indentation in the pivot pin a rotational detent function is also incorporated in conjunction with the spring biased engaging block. 
   A micro-switch sensor may be added to detect a hinge-open condition. When this micro switch is installed a trip finger is added. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the hinge assembly  31  is mounted on one side to a thin panel  33 . This assembly  31  has a female wing plate member  35  seated on the face of the panel  33  with the male wing plate member  37  pivotally connected to the female wing member  35  and opened therefrom. A backer plate  39  seats against the opposite face of the panel  33  and provides structural rigidity to the panel  33  and support for the mounting of the female wing member  35 . The female wing member can include opposite first and second end walls  41 ,  43 , respectively. The second end wall  43  can have mounting holes  45  for mounting an accessory, such as a position micro-switch, below discussed. 
   A perimeter support side wall  47  can join the first and second end walls  41 ,  43  adding to the rigidity of the female wing member  35 . The pivotal connection, of the female and male wing members  35 ,  37 , is facilitated by the abutment of two cylindrical structures  49 ,  51 , that ride against one another. The first is a barrel receiving bore  49  of the female member  35  opposite the perimeter side wall  47 . The second is a cylindrical boss-like structure  51  from which the hinge pivot pin (not shown here) extends into the receiving bore  49 . 
   The female wing member&#39;s face can include a fastener boss  53 , and two positioning bosses  55 ,  57 . Actually, only one positioning boss  55 ,  57  is needed to secure the female wing member  35  from rotation. Alternately, positioning pins, dowels or tubes  55 ,  57  may extend from the face of the backer plate  39  through drilled holes in the panel  33  and through holes in the face of the female wing member  35 . 
   The backer plate  39  has a cover  59  portion carrying a fastening knuckle  61  projecting from the face of a tab  63 . The backer plate cover  59  is connected to the backer plate body (not shown here) with a living hinge  65 . 
   The male wing member  37 ,  FIG. 2 , can have an elongate mounting slot  67  in its face for mounting to a fixed member such as a chassis, housing wall or jamb. This slot elongation compensates for any misalignment. Because the pivot pin  69  is rigidly projecting from the male wing member&#39;s cylindrical boss-like structure  51  and a flat abutment face  71  surrounds the pin  69 , the male wing member  37  and female wing member  35  are reasonably rotationally joined when the pivot pin  69  is fully seated. 
   When a micro-switch (not shown here) is added to the hinge assembly  31 , a trip finger  73  is added to extend from the end of the male wing member  37 , with this trip finger  73 ,  FIG. 2 , rotating with the male wing member and being adjacent to the mounting area defined by the mounting holes  45 , FIG.  1 . 
   For installations where misalignment is not an issue, the male wing member  37  fastener mounting hole can be round  67   a,    FIG. 3. A  pair of bayonet-type hooks  75 ,  77  extend on diametrically opposite sides of the pivot pin  69 ,  FIGS. 2-3 . These hooks  75 ,  77  have pliable flat ribbon-shaped shafts,  79 ,  81 , respectively; and their heads project beyond the outside end  83 ,  FIG. 4 , of the female members&#39; receiving barrel  49  (pivot pin boss  49 ) to engage the outside face thereof and thereby lock the pivot pin  69  in its fully seated position. These hooks act as an interlock to hold the two wing members  35 ,  37  together, once they are manually snapped into jointure with one another. The wing members  35 ,  37 , may only be disassembled from one another by depressing the heads of the hooks  75 ,  77 . 
   The receiving barrel (pivot pin boss)  49  of the female wing member  35  has a squared-off face  85 ,  FIG. 4 , which rides against the face  71  of the male wing member  37 . 
   The backer plate  39  is shown in detail in FIG.  5 . Easily seen is the living hinge  65  which joins the cover  59  to the body portion  87 . A fastener hole  89  is positioned to align with the fastener boss  53  hole,  FIG. 1 , when the alignment dowels  55 ,  57  extend through the panel  33  and the respective positioning holes  91 ,  93 ,  FIG. 4 , in the face of the female wing member  35 . A rectangular receiving hole  95  at the far end of the body portion of the backer plate  39 , receives the knuckle  61  projection to hold the cover  59  closed against the body. The cover  39  is domed to permit a clearance for any fastener nut or head projecting from the back face of the backer plate body  87 . 
     FIG. 6 , shows the assembled hinge assembly  31  mounted on the panel  33 , with the male wing member  37  rotated  180  degrees from the female wing member  35 . The interlock hooks  75 ,  77  can be seen engaging the far end  83  of the female wing member receiving barrel  49 . A bolt  97  extends through the hole in the mounting boss  53  and is held fast with a nut  99 . 
   The backer plate  39 ,  FIG. 5 , can take other shapes equally as well, such as a rectangular box-like structure  39   a,  FIG.  7 . This box-like structure eliminates the need for a cover  59 ,  FIG. 5 , but requires a fixed threaded stud  101  to be mounted to the face of this backer plate  39   a.  This box-like backer plate  39   a  includes a perimeter wall  103  of uniform height for rigidity. A treaded receiving bore  104  is formed in the face of the backer plate  39   a,    FIG. 7 , for receiving and holding the stud  101 . Mounting brackets  105 ,  107 , hold the positioning pins, dowels or tubes  55 ,  57 , respectively. These members,  55 ,  57  may be glued, welded, press fit or threaded engagement to the mounting brackets at the election of the manufacturer. 
   The assembled hinge  31 , with its box-shaped backer plate  39   a  (not shown here) is shown mounted to a panel  33 , FIG.  8 . In this mounting, the stud  101  replaces the bolt  97  of  FIG. 6. A  tie-down nut  99  is used.  FIG. 9  shows the back of the assembly of FIG.  8 . 
   When the deformable hooks  75 ,  77 , used as the pivot pin  69  interlock are replaced with an engaging block and receiving slot interlock, the female wing member  35   a,    FIGS. 10-11  includes a interlock housing  109 , adjacent the outside free end  83  of the female wing members&#39; receiving barrel  49 . The female wing member  39   a  and the male wing member  37   a  each carry a pair of fastener mounting holes  111 , separated by a reinforcing rib  114 ,  116 , respectively. In this assembly the micro-switch is not to be included, and therefore, the mounting holes  45 , and trip finger  73  need not be present. 
   Positioned within the interlock housing  109  is a biasing spring  113  forcing an engaging block  115  against a mating indentation  117  in the pivot pin  69   a.  This indentation is spaced inwardly from the end of the pivot pin  69   a  to leave an enlarged area or shoulder  119  at the end of the pin. This shoulder  119  and the inward face  121  of the indentation  117  form a “catch” for the mating face of the engaging block  115 . When the block  115  is seated in the undercut section or indentation  117  because of the force of the spring  113  asserted against it, a portion of the block remains in the housing  109 , therefore the pivot pin  69   a  is locked from removal from the receiving barrel or pivot boss  49 . 
   The biasing spring  113  is a coil type compression spring which seats at one end against the back inside face of the interlock housing  109  (not shown here) and the abutting face  123  of the engaging block  115 . The cross-section of the engaging block can be of any shape, including circular and rectangular as shown in FIG.  12 . The pivot pin  69   a  indentation  117  abutment face of the of the engaging block  115  includes a curved face  125  forming a claw-like member. This claw  125  engages the shaped indentation  117  to establish the detent function that holds the hinge male and female wing members  37   a,    35   a  at a predetermined angle under the force of the spring  113 . 
   The perspective view of the male wing member  37   a  from the back, shows that the pivot pin  69   a  indentation  117  has two steps, a first upper step  127  forming a first shoulder and a second inner step  129  forming a second shoulder. The total rotation of the indentation  117  is to be equal to or greater than the permitted rotation of the female and male wing members  35   a,    37   a  to each other. Typically this is 180 degrees. The upper step  127  assures the interlock function is always maintained. The inner step  129  operates with the curved face  125  of the engaging block for the detent function. 
     FIG. 14  shows the closed female and male wing members  35   a,    37   a,  where the male member faceplate clears the female wing member interlock housing. 
   As previously stated, the mounting holes for the female wing member and male wing member can take many forms.  FIGS. 15-16  show counter sink structures  131  formed on the face of the female wing member  35   b,  about the fastener holes  111 .  FIG. 15  shows the female and male wing members  35   b,    37   a  assembled together, while  FIG. 16  shows just the female wing member  35   b  alone. When counter sinks  131  are present the female wing member support rib is cross-shaped  114   a.    
     FIG. 17  shows a back view of the closed female and male wing members  35   b ,  37   a,  closed upon one another. Also shown in this  FIG. 17  is a micro-switch  133  mounted at the mounting holes  45  and adjacent to the trip finger  73 . The trip finger  73  rotates as the male wing member  37   a  rotates. When a flat face  135  on the trip finger  73  rotates beyond a contact  137  on the micro-switch  133 , the body of the trip finger forces the contact  137  to close and the micro-switch  133  to send a signal. 
     FIG. 18  illustrates the closed wing member structure of  FIG. 17  in the open position.  FIG. 19  shows a back view of the male wing member  37   a,  of  FIGS. 14 ,  17 - 18  with the trip finger  73  present. Easily seen is the pivot pin  69   a  indentation  117  and upper and inner steps  127 ,  127  respectively. An elongate rib  137  extends along the shaft of the pivot pin  69   a.  This is an orientation rib  137  which orientates the assembly of the male wing member  37   a,    FIG. 19 , on the female wing member  35   b,  FIG.  20 . The female wing member&#39;s receiving bore  49  includes an arc-shaped undercut  139  in a portion of its inside wall. This undercut  139  accommodates the projection of the rib  137 . This undercut has shoulders  141 ,  143  at each end of its are which act as stops for the counter-clockwise and clock-wise rotation, respectively, of the male wing member  37   a  with respect to the female wing member  35   b.    
     FIG. 21  shows a further variation for the mounting of the female wing member  35   c  and backer plate  39   b  to the panel  33 . A compression snap button extends from the body of the backer plate  39   b  through one of the holes in the panel  33  and through a mounting hole in the female wing member  35   c.  A bolt  97  and nut  99  or a stud  101  and nut  99  secure the other mounting hole as previously described. 
     FIG. 22  illustrates the back of the backer plate  39   b  when a compression snap button  145  and a bolt  97  are used.  FIG. 23  illustrates the backer plate  39 ,  39   b  with the cover  59  in the closed position. 
     FIGS. 24-25  show the female wing member  35   d  with yet another mounting configuration, this being a center circular boss  53  for a bolt or stud, and rectangular side openings for a rectangular rib, bayonet or other like structure.  FIGS. 20 and 26  show the access port  149  through which the biasing spring  113  and engaging block  115  are inserted into the interior of the interlock housing prior to the insertion of the pivot pin  69   a  into the receiving bore  49 . 
   Many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made while still being with the scope of the appended claims.