Patent ID: 7275285

Claim:
A deployment hinge, for deploying an appendage affixed to a stationary body, comprising: a movable hinge portion coupled to said appendage, said movable hinge portion comprising: an inner axle; a key affixed to a first end of said inner axle; trigger means affixed to a second end of said inner axle obverse to said first end; and an outer axle; a stationary hinge portion coupled to said stationary body, said stationary hinge portion comprising: a housing configured to receive said inner axle upon which said movable hinge portion moves, said housing comprising: a keyhole; and an assist spring configured to push said key in an unlocked position into said keyhole; wherein, in a non-deployed state, said outer axle of said movable hinge portion is mechanically engaged with said housing of said stationary hinge portion about an axis defined by said inner axle, thereby transferring a mechanical load to said stationary hinge portion from said movable hinge portion; and wherein, when deployed, said trigger means initiates a rotation of said inner axle such that said key aligns with said keyhole permitting said assist spring to push said inner axle, thereby mechanically disengaging said outer axle from said housing and removing said mechanical load from said stationary hinge portion.