Patent ID: 7140071

Claim:
An electric hinge apparatus for rotating a movable object by a motor provided with a gear mechanism, the electric hinge apparatus comprising: a first rotating member rotatably attached to an output shaft interlocking with the gear mechanism, the first rotating member being affixed to the movable object; a second rotating member rotatably attached to the output shaft and detachably coupled through a first concavo-convex engagement part to the first rotating member; a third rotating member adapted to integrally rotate together with the output shaft at all times and detachably coupled through a second concavo-convex engagement part to the second rotating member; biasing means located between a first engagement portion provided in the second rotating member and a second engagement portion provided in the second rotating member, the biasing means being adapted to press the first engagement portion against the first rotating member and to press the second engagement portion against the third rotating member; and lock means for locking the second rotating member to the third rotating member during a stop of the motor, and for unlocking the second rotating member during activation of the motor.