Hinge Structure

Abstract

A hinge structure fabricated from plastic material and comprised of two stem-like parts detachably hinged together and arranged to be mounted in and secured to related parts easily and quickly.

Description

The invention relates to improvements in hinges and is particularly concerned with a hinge structure fabricated wholly from plastic material, such as glass filled mylon, in two complemental parts each of which has novel means for securing it to a piece of material. The hinge illustrated is designed for use in model making, but can be utilized fully in connection with other products.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a hinge structure of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure that is easy to install securely.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure comprised of two pieces having a snap-fit connection.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure that can be molded and which is easily assembled.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure which is not expensive or difficult to manufacture and one that can be mounted easily and quickly and is very efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawing

In the drawings:

FIG. 1, is an enlarged elevational view of the hinge, showing it mounted.

FIG. 2 is another elevational view of the hinge, viewed on a plane 90.degree. from the plane of the FIG. 1 illustration.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail central sectional view of the hingedly connected ends of the hinge elements.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the hingedly connected end of one of the elements.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the hingedly connected end of the other element, showing it partly in section.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, the hinge structure is comprised of two hinge elements 11 and 12. Each of the elements is substantially rod-like in shape and the element 11 includes a stem portion 11a and a head portion 11b. The stem portion is preferably formed with a pointed end 13 and a series of circumferential ribs 14 spaced apart along its stem 11a.

Each of these ribs 14 defines an annular shoulder 14a facing the head portion 11b. The element 12 also includes a stem portion 12a and a head portion 12b. The stem portion 12a is preferably formed with a pointed end 15 and a series of circumferential ribs 16 spaced apart along said stem. Each of these ribs defines a shoulder 16a facing the head portion 12b.

The head portion 11b of the element 11, which is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, is circular in shape and has one-half of its diameter cut away to provide an end nose portion 17. This nose portion has a transverse axial passage 18 formed on two diameters to provide an internal shoulder 19 therein.

The head portion 12b of element 12, which is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is also circular in shape and has one-half of its diameter cut away to provide an end nose portion 21. A stud 22 projects from the flat face 23 of the head portion 12b. This stud is so located on the head portion 12b that it will enter into the passage 18 in head portion 11b when the two head portions 11b and 12b are matched as shown in FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the stud 22 includes an end portion 22a of enlarged diameter that is snap fitted through the smaller diameter of passage 18 and nests in the larger diameter behind the shoulder 19. In this manner the hinge assembly is secured and the hinge elements 11 and 12 can be separated only upon the application of force between the opposed flat faces of the respective head portions and prying them apart.

The elements 11 and 12 may be best secured firmly to the parts they are to hingedly connect, such as the members 23,24 shown in FIG. 1, by drilling a hole 25 in each member and then, after the application of glue or other adhesive to either the holes or onto the serrated stems 11a and 12a, inserting the stems into their respective holes and allowing same to set.

It should be apparent that the instant hinge, because of its stem-type mounting elements, can be mounted upon any type of article without requiring a flat mounting surface as is required by wing-type hinges.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, as details of the structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

Claims

I claim:

1. A hinge comprising a straight rod-like element rounded at one end, a longitudinal flat portion at said rounded end reducing its thickness in one direction to one-half its diameter, a companion straight rod-like element rounded at one end, a longitudinal flat portion at said rounded end reducing its thickness in one direction to one-half its diameter, an integral stud upstanding from the flat surface of one of said flat portions, the other flat portion having a dual diameter aperture defining an internal shoulder therein to receive said stud thereinto when the two flattened surfaces are arranged face to face, said stud being slightly enlarged at its free end to frictionally engage behind the shoulder in the aperture to resist its withdrawal, and a plurality of spaced apart annular shoulders on substantially the remaining portion of each rod-like element, said annular shoulders facing the respective rounded ends to resist withdrawal of the elements from apertures in articles into which they are driven so as to hingedly connect said articles together.

2. The hinge recited in claim 1, in which said elements are fabricated from resiliently compressible plastic material.

3. The hinge recited in claim 1, in which longitudinally spaced circumferential ribs are provided on the surface of each rod-like element to define said annular shoulders.