Patent ID: 8806716

Claim:
A quick assembly hinge mechanism joining first and second panel members having top and bottom surfaces, the hinge mechanism comprising: a generally u-shaped first wing portion having a central spine and securable to a first edge of the first panel member, said first wing portion further having opposed side portions, one of said side portions received over the top surface of the first panel member and the other one of said side portions received over the bottom surface of the first panel member; a second generally u-shaped wing portion having a central spine and securable to a first edge of the second panel member, said second wing portion further having opposed side portions, one of said side portions received over the top surface of the second panel member and the other one of said side portions received over the bottom surface of the second panel member; a pin member mounted to said first wing portion, said pin member generally parallel to the first edge of the first panel member when said first wing portion is secured thereto; a hook member mounted to said second wing portion, when said second wing portion secured to the second panel member the opening of the bowl of said hook member directed generally downwardly toward the plane of the bottom surface of the second panel member, the outer edges of said hook bowl chamfered; when said first and second panel members generally co-planar with said respective first edges adjacent to one another said hook member receivable over at least a portion of said pin member, such that (i) when the first panel member is rotated upwardly to form a generally a right angle with the second panel member said pin member rotatable within said hook bowl and limiting the lateral and vertical displacement of the first and second edges of the panel members, and (ii) at least a portion of said central spine of said first wing portion contacting said side portion of said second wing portion that is received over the upper surface of the second panel member thereby distributing the load of the first panel member to said second wing portion without distributing the load of the first panel member to said pin member.