Patent ID: 7386918

Claim:
A hinge device comprising: a first hinge member and a second hinge member rotatably connected to each other about a turning axis, a first movable member mounted non-turnably about the turning axis with respect to the first hinge member but movably in a direction of the turning axis on an end part of the first hinge member facing the second hinge member, a second movable member supported non-turnably about the turning axis with respect to the second hinge member at an end part of the second hinge member facing the first hinge member, and biasing means for biasing at least one of said first and second movable members toward the other along said turning axis, wherein one of said first and second movable members is provided at a confronting surface thereof with a projection part projecting toward a confronting surface of the other movable member and is pressed against the confronting surface of the other movable member by said biasing means, wherein the other movable member being is provided at the confronting surface with a long recess and a short recess, wherein the short recess is shorter than said long recess in length in a peripheral direction formed on a circumference about said turning axis, wherein said long recess is provided at one end part thereof in the peripheral direction with a first cam face that, when abutted with said projection part, converts a biasing force of said biasing means to a turn biasing force in one direction about said turning axis, wherein said long recess is provided at the other end part thereof with a second cam face that, when abutted with said projection part, converts the biasing force of said biasing means to a turn biasing force in a direction opposite to the one direction, wherein said short recess is provided at both end parts thereof in a peripheral direction of the confronting surface of the other movable member with a pair of lock faces which are abutted with both side parts of said projection part to prohibit said first and second movable members from making a relative turn with force of a predetermined magnitude, and wherein said first and second cam faces being symmetrically arranged with respect to a straight line orthogonal to said turning axis and passing through a center in a peripheral direction between said pair of lock faces.