Abstract:
The invention is directed to a hinge with a locking tab made up of a first hinge part having a post extending therefrom and a second hinge part having a sleeve mateable with the post, wherein the sleeve is placed over the post to assemble the hinge. Furthermore, a resilient locking tab associated with one of the first hinge part and the second hinge part is positioned to resiliently snap over the other of the first hinge part or the second hinge part when the parts are fully engaged.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/966,957, filed Aug. 31, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a hinge and, more particularly, to a two-part hinge, wherein the two parts are axially secured to one another through a locking tab. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The assembly of hinges to support two adjacent members may require inserting a hinge pin between two hinge parts. Alignment and securing such a hinge pin may be challenging. In the alternative, another type of hinge is comprised of a protruding post on a first mounting plate and a mating sleeve on a second mounting plate. The mounting sleeve is placed over the post to hang the hinge. However, the sleeve may be easily lifted from the post at any time. 
         [0006]    A hinge design is needed, wherein not only may the hinge parts be quickly assembled, but furthermore, once assembled, the hinge parts should be locked in place. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a lockable connector having a first hinge part having a sleeve with a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and a second hinge part having a post support with a post extending therefrom. The post extends along the longitudinal axis and is slidingly positioned within the bore of the sleeve. The sleeve abuts with the post support and a resilient locking tab is positioned to secure the hinge parts with respect to one another along the longitudinal axis. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a locking device for use with a first hinge part having a sleeve with a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and a second hinge part having a post support with a post extending therefrom. The post extends along the longitudinal axis and is slidingly positioned within the bore of the sleeve and the sleeve abuts with the post support. The locking device comprises a support plate with a generally planar base and a resilient tab extending from the base in an out-of-plane orientation. The plate is adapted to be positioned such that the tab interferes with the axial motion of the first hinge part relative to the second hinge part to secure the first hinge part to the second hinge part. 
         [0009]    Yet another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a furniture piece having a first member generally lying in a first member plane and a second member generally lying in a second member plane. The first hinge part is attached to the first member and the second hinge part is attached to the second member through a lockable connector. The lockable connector has a first hinge part having a sleeve with a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and a second hinge part having a post support with a post extending therefrom along the longitudinal axis. The second hinge is slidingly positioned within the bore of the sleeve and the sleeve abuts with the post support. A resilient locking tab is positioned to secure the hinge parts with respect to one another along the longitudinal axis. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the assembled hinge in accordance with the subject invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the first hinge part and the support plate; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the support plate secured to the first hinge part; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the second hinge part; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate the sequence to secure the hinge parts together; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of the subject invention, wherein the locking tab is secured to the second hinge part; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the support plate; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9B ,  9 C, and  9 D are a front, side, and top view, respectively, of the support plate. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a hinge  10 , while  FIGS. 2-4  illustrate component parts of the hinge  10 .  FIGS. 1-4  will be discussed together. 
         [0019]    The hinge  10  is comprised of a first hinge part  20  and a second hinge part  40 . The first hinge part  20  has a first mounting plate  22  ( FIG. 2 ) secured to a first member  24  using fasteners  25 A,  25 B extending through first hinge part apertures  23 A,  23 B. A sleeve  26  having a bore  28  extending therethrough and along a longitudinal axis  30  extends from the first mounting plate  22 . Secured over the first mounting plate  22  is a support plate  60  having a resilient locking tab  62  extending therefrom. The support plate  60  is secured to the first mounting plate  22  with the fasteners  25 A,  25 B extending through support plate apertures  61 A,  61 B ( FIG. 9A ), which align with the first hinge part apertures  23 A,  23 B. 
         [0020]    The support plate  60  has a generally planar base  63  and the resilient tab  62  extends from the base  63  in an out-of-plane orientation, such that the tab  62  interferes with the axial motion of the first hinge part  20  relative to the second hinge part  40  to secure the first hinge part  20  to the second hinge part  40 . 
         [0021]    The second hinge part  40  is comprised of a post support  46  and a post  48  extending therefrom. The post  48  extends along a longitudinal axis  50 , and is slidingly positioned within the bore  28  ( FIG. 5 ). The bore  28  of the sleeve  26  is sized to accept the post  48 . When the post  48  is inserted within the bore  28 , the sleeve  26  abuts with the post support  46 . While it is possible for the circular post  48  to rotate within the bore  28  of the sleeve  26 , such that the hinge parts  20 ,  40  pivot about the post  48  relative to one another, in one embodiment of the subject invention, the hinge  10  may be used solely to support a first member  24  relative to a second member  42  and, under those circumstances, it is not necessary for the shape of the bore  28  and the shape of the post  22  to provide rotation between the first hinge part  20  and the second hinge part  40 . Therefore, under these circumstances, the hinge parts  20 ,  40  may be non-pivotal about the post  48  relative to one another. 
         [0022]    The second hinge part  40  is comprised of a second mounting plate  42  secured to a second member  44  with fasteners  45 A,  45 B extending through second hinge part apertures  43 A,  43 B. 
         [0023]    While illustrated only as small segments, the first member  24  and the second member  44  may represent walls or other panels on a piece of furniture. 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the support plate  60  with the locking tab  62  may be a separate part from the first mounting plate  22 . However, it is entirely possible for the first mounting plate  22  to have extending therefrom a resilient locking tab (not shown), thereby eliminating the need for the support plate  60  and associated locking tab  62  as a separate part. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the support plate  60  and the first mounting plate  22  are distinct parts. 
         [0025]    Directing attention to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it is important that the locking tab  62  extends over the top  47  of the post support  46  when the second hinge part  40  is engaged with the first hinge part  20  ( FIG. 1 ). In particular and as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 , the locking tab  62  is purposely designed to interfere with the path of the post support  46 . In particular, the bore  28  of the sleeve  26  has a longitudinal axis  30  extending therefrom and the post  48  of the post support  46  has a longitudinal axis  50 . The longitudinal axis  30  of the bore  28  must be co-axial with the longitudinal axis  50  of the post  48  for the post  48  to fit within the bore  28 . The tab  62  interferes with the travel of the post support  46  as the post  48  is positioned within the bore. Directing attention to  FIG. 9B , the locking tab  62  is canted by an angle X with respect to the longitudinal axis  30  of the bore  28 . As a result, when the post  48  enters the bore  28 , the post support  46  contacts and pushes away the resilient locking tab  62  until such time as the locking tab  62  clears the post support  46 . The angle X may be between 5 degrees and 45 degrees. 
         [0026]    It should also be noted that the profile of the locking tab  62 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  9 C, is canted such that the edge  63  is urged away from the post support  46  ( FIG. 6 ) when the second hinge part  40  is placed within the first hinge part  20 . 
         [0027]    At this point, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the locking tab  62  returns to its original position and extends over a portion of the top  47  of the post support  46 , thereby locking the first hinge part  20  together with the second hinge part  40 . If necessary, the locking tab  62  can be pushed back to clear the post support  46  so that the second hinge part  40  may be removed from the first hinge part  20 . 
         [0028]    It is also possible, although not illustrated, for the tab  62  to be an integral part of the first hinge part  20 , thereby eliminating the need for the support plate  60 . Such an arrangement would be readily envisioned in light of the present disclosure by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a post  48  prior to insertion into the bore  28 . In order to make insertion of the post  48  into the bore  28  of the sleeve  26  easier, the post  48  has a beveled surface  49 . The top  28  of the sleeve  26  may also have a beveled portion (not shown) to accept the post  48 . 
         [0030]    The discussion so far has been directed to an embodiment where the locking tab  62  has been associated with the first hinge part  20 . Directing attention to  FIG. 8 , it is entirely possible for the same support plate  60  to be attached to the second hinge part  40  with the same result. Under these circumstances, the locking tab  62  will engage the bottom  32  of the sleeve  26 . Just as before, it is also possible, although not shown, for the tab  62  to be an integral part of the second hinge part  40 , thereby eliminating the need for the support plate  60 . Using this arrangement, the first hinge part  20  may be secured to the second hinge part  40 . 
         [0031]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. The presently preferred embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.