U.S. patent number 3,887,802 [Application Number 05/471,788] was granted by the patent office on 1975-06-03 for wall-mounted lighting fixture.
Invention is credited to Charles D. Goralnik.
United States Patent |
3,887,802 |
Goralnik |
June 3, 1975 |
WALL-MOUNTED LIGHTING FIXTURE
Abstract
A wall-mounted lighting fixture comprising a mounting base or
pan adapted to be secured to a wall, the mounting base having a
generally vertical front wall, an adjoining horizontal top wall,
and at least one generally horizontal slot in the front wall
adjacent the top wall. The fixture also includes lighting means
carried by the front wall, a light transmitting shade, and hinge
means mounting the shade on the mounting base for movement between
a lowered operating position and a raised position in which the
lighting means is easily accessible. The hinge means includes a
hinge member having a generally flat leg portion insertable into
the slot in the mounting base, a generally flat head portion
engageable with the front wall, and retaining means for holding the
hinge captive relative to the mounting base. The hinge member is
swingable between a first position in which it supports the shade
in its operating position and a second position in which it
supports the shade in its raised position.
Inventors: |
Goralnik; Charles D. (St. Louis
County, MO) |
Family
ID: |
23873004 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/471,788 |
Filed: |
May 20, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/282;
362/311.06; 362/311.14; 220/478 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
17/104 (20130101); F21S 8/033 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
17/10 (20060101); F21S 8/00 (20060101); F21V
17/00 (20060101); F21s 001/02 (); F21s 003/02 ();
F21s 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/73R,73LD,73QD,33,125,147 ;220/18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wintercorn; Richard A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Koenig, Senniger, Powers and
Leavitt
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wall-mounted lighting fixture comprising a mounting base
adapted to be secured to a wall, said mounting base having a
generally vertical front wall, an adjoining generally horizontal
top wall and at least one generally horizontal slot in the front
wall adjacent said top wall, said fixture further comprising
lighting means carried by the front wall of said mounting base, a
light transmitting shade, and at least one hinge means mounting
said shade on said mounting base for movement between a lowered
operating position in which said shade effectively shades said
lighting means and a raised position in which said lighting means
is readily accessible, said hinge means comprising a hinge member
having a generally flat leg portion insertable into said slot from
the back side of said mounting base, a head portion engageable with
the inner face of said front wall to prevent said hinge from
passing through said slot, and retaining means for holding the
hinge captive relative to the mounting base, said hinge member
being swingable between a first position in which the lower surface
of said leg portion is in engagement with an edge of said front
wall, said edge constituting at least a portion of the lower
surface of said slot, for supporting said shade in its operating
position and a second position in which said shade is supported in
its raised position, at least a portion of said retaining means
being on the opposite side of said front wall of said base from
said head portion.
2. A fixture as set forth in claim 1 in which said retaining means
comprises at least one tab extending from said leg portion for
holding said front wall captive betwen said head portion and said
tab, the width of said leg portion adjacent said mounting fixture
being slightly less than the width of said slot thereby to
substantially prevent horizontal movement of said hinge member.
3. A fixture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining means
comprises two spaced tabs extending generally from said leg
portion.
4. A fixture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said hinge member is
generally T-shaped and wherein the head portion is somewhat wider
than said slot.
5. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tab is struck
from both said head portion and said leg portion and extends from
said leg portion.
6. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hinge member is
resiliently deformable as said leg portion is inserted into said
slot until said tab moves clear of said front wall at which point
said hinge is held captive relative to said front wall.
7. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said slot is defined
by a generally horizontal upwardly facing surface, constituting
said edge, a downwardly ramping surface adjoining said horizontal
surface on opposite sides thereof, and an upper horizontal surface
constituting the top surface of said slot spaced above said
upwardly facing horizontal surface, said slot being generally
symmetrical about a vertical axis.
8. A fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tab is adjacent
said leg portion and extends therefrom a distance greater than the
distance between said horizontal slot surfaces, said hinge member
being resiliently deformable as said leg portion is inserted into
said slot so that as said tab clears said front wall said tab
returns substantially to its undeformed position thereby to hold
the hinge captive relative to said front wall.
9. A fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein said top surface of
said slot adjoins said top wall.
10. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 in which said hinge member is
formed from a resilient material such as spring steel.
11. A fixture as set forth in claim 10 wherein said edge is
generally horizontal and constitutes the lower surface of said slot
and wherein said front wall has a generally horizontal downwardly
facing surface constituting the top surface of said slot spaced
above the first mentioned edge.
12. A fixture as set forth in claim 11 in which said tab extends
from said leg portion a distance greater than the height of said
slot, said mounting base and said tab interferring with one another
and causing resilient movement of said tab relative to said hinge
member as said leg portion is inserted into said slot until said
tab clears said front wall at which point said tab returns to its
undeformed position whereby the hinge is held captive relative to
said front wall.
13. A fixture as set forth in claim 1 in which said hinge member
includes an aperture in its leg portion, in which said shade has a
corresponding aperture, and in which said fixture further comprises
fastener means insertable through the aforementioned apertures for
mounting said shade on said hinge means.
14. A fixture as set forth in claim 13 wherein said shade is a
horizontally disposed channelshaped member having an upper leg, a
center web portion, and a lower leg, said shade aperture being in
said upper leg.
15. A fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting base
has two spaced horizontal slots, and wherein said shade is mounted
relative to said mounting base by means of two of said hinge means,
one for each said slot.
16. A fixture as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a
transition section between said head and leg portions, said
retaining means comprising at least one tab formed in part from
said transition section.
17. A fixture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said transition
section is generally at right angles to said head and leg sections,
said transition section being disposed generally vertically on the
outer surface of said front wall of said base when said hinge is in
its said first position.
18. A fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means
comprises a side flange extending downwardly from each lateral side
of said leg portion, each side flange extending below said lower
edge of said slot when said hinge is in its first position.
19. A fixture as set forth in clalim 18 wherein said side flange is
wedge-shaped in side elevation with said side flange being of
greatest height adjacent the front wall of said mounting base.
20. A fixture as set forth in claim 19 further comprising at least
one tab struck from said hinge and projecting upwardly from said
leg portion thereof in front of said front wall when said hinge is
inserted in said slot, said tab locating said shade relative to
said hinge.
21. A hinge as set forth in claim 20 wherein said slot has at least
a portion thereof constituting the upper edge of said slot in close
proximity to the lower edge of the slot, said slot portion being of
less height than the thickness of said leg portion adjacent the
head portion and said tab, whereby as the leg portion of said hinge
is inserted into said slot from the back side of the mounting base,
said side flanges cause said hinge to deform within said slot
thereby to permit passage of said tabs past said front wall, said
hinge returning substantially to its original position upon the
passage of said side flange past said front wall.
22. A fixture as set forth in claim 21 wherein said front wall has
means formed therein to permit passage of said tabs therepast as
the hinge is inserted into said slot.
23. A wall-mounted lighting fixture comprising a mounting base
adapted to be secured to a wall, said mounting base having a
generally vertical front wall, an adjoining generally horizontal
top wall and at least one generally horizontal slot means in the
front wall adjacent said top wall, said fixture further comprising
lighting means carried by the front wall of said mounting base, a
light transmitting shade, and at least one hinge means mounting
said shade on said mounting base for movement between a lowered
operating position in which said shade effectively shades said
lighting means and a raised position in which said lighting means
is readily accessible, said hinge means comprising a hinge member
having a leg portion insertable into said slot means, another
portion engageable with said front wall to prevent said hinge from
passing through said slot means, and retaining means for holding
the hinge captive relative to the mounting base, said retaining
means comprising at least one tab deformable as said leg means is
inserted in said slot means, said tab returning substantially to
its initial position before insertion in the slot means thereby to
hold the hinge captive relative to the mounting base, said hinge
member being swingable between a first position in which the lower
surface of said leg portion is in engagement with an edge of said
front wall, said edge constituting at least a portion of the lower
surface of said slot means, for supporting said shade in its
operating position and a second position in which said shade is
supported in its raised position, at least a portion of said
retaining means being on the opposite side of said front wall of
said base from said other portion.
24. A fixture as set forth in claim 23 wherein said leg portion is
insertable into said slot means from the front of said mounting
base.
25. A fixture as set forth in claim 24 further comprising an
intermediate portion substantially at right angles to said leg and
other portions, said intermediate portion being wider than said leg
portion and said tabs and said intermediate portion constituting
said retaining means.
26. A fixture as set forth in claim 23 wherein said slot means
comprises a pair of spaced slots, one for each said tab, said tabs
being insertable into said slots from the front of said mounting
base, said hinge means between said tabs being engageable with said
mounting base thereby substantially to prevent inward movement of
the hinge relative to the mounting base.
27. A fixture as set forth in claim 23 further comprising a second
tab substantially rigid with respect to the hinge, said rigid tab
being first insertable into said slot and then said deformable tab
being insertable into the slot, said deformable and said rigid tabs
holding said hinge captive relative to said mounting base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to lighting fixtures and more
specifically to a hinge for attaching a shade to the base of a
wall-mounted bathroom lighting fixture or the like.
Conventional bathroom lighting fixtures include a metal base for
securement to a wall with either single or multiple bulb light
sockets mounted on the outer front wall of the base. Such fixtures
typically include a generally elongate glass shade secured to the
base by means of a bracket carried by the light socket. The bracket
has a threaded stud extending therefrom and the shade has a hole
therein for reception of the stud. A cap nut threaded on the stud
secures the shade to the socket.
The hole in the shade must be drilled after forming of the shade
and after any frosting or design has been applied thereto. Due to
the concentration of mechanical stresses present in the center leg
of the glass shade after forming, the hole is difficult to drill
resulting in high breakage of the expensive finished shade. Another
disadvantage of this type of shade mounting is that to relamp the
fixture the shade must be completely removed which greatly
increases the risk of shade breakage. Also the cap nut is not
especiallly aesthetically pleasing and often degrades designs
imprinted on the shade.
Because of the drawbacks of the conventional method of attaching
shade and base, hinges have been proposed which allow the shade to
be rotated from a normal position to a raised relamping position
without the necessity of completely removing the shade. Such hinges
are typically made of molded sythetic resin, such as nylon, and fit
into slots at the top of the front wall of the base. They have
horizontally extending front arms which carry a metal threaded
insert so that the shade can be secured via a thumbscrew passing
through a hole in the upper leg of the shade. Such hinges have
several disadvantages in that two of the expensive nylon hinges are
required, the metal inserts are expensive, and the hinges are
easily dislocated from their slots upon swinging of the shade which
causes binding of the hinges upon returning the shade to its normal
position. This latter mentioned drawback causes additional strain
on the glass and could result in breakage of the shade. Reference
may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,599 illustrating a hinged glass
shade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the
provision of an improved wall mounted lighting fixture; the
provision of such a fixture which reduces the probability of shade
breakage both during manufacture of the shade and after the fixture
has been installed; the provision of such a fixture which allows
relamping of the fixture without removing the shade from the
fixture and without requiring that fasteners be removed; the
provision of such a fixture which hingedly secures the shade to the
wall-mounted pan so that only a single hinge is required to mount
the shade; and the provision of such a fixture which is simple and
economical to manufacture. Other objects and features will be in
part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Briefly, the wall-mounted lighting fixture of the present invention
includes a mounting base or pan adapted to be secured to a wall,
the base having a vertical front wall, an adjoining horizontal top
wall, and at least one generally horizontal slot in the front wall
adjacent the top wall. The fixture also includes lighting means
carried by the front wall, a light transmitting shade, and at least
one hinge means mounting the shade on the base for movement between
a lowered operating position in which the shade effectively shades
the lighting means and a raised position in which the lighting
means is readily accessible. The hinge means includes a generally
flat leg portion thinner than the height of the slot and which can
be inserted into a slot in the base, a head portion engageable with
the front wall of the mounting base, and retaining means for
holding the hinge captive relative to the mounting base. The hinge
member is swingable between a first position in which it supports
the shade in its operating position and a second position in which
it supports the shade in its raised position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a fixture of the present invention
showing its shade in its lowered position, and showing, in phantom,
that shade in its raised position;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of a base of the
fixture of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first hinge of this invention;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the hinge of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a perspective of an alternate embodiment of the hinge
used in the fixture of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a plan of an alternate embodiment of the hinge used in
the fixture of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the base of FIG. 2
showing the hinge of FIG. 7 held captive relative to the base;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a front elevation of an alternate base for the fixture
of FIG. 1 having mounting multiple light sockets and multiple
hinges;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a
hinge of this invention;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a blank from which the hinge of FIG. 11
is formed;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the hinge of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a perspective of still another embodiment of a hinge of
this invention having wedge-shaped flanges at its sides;
FIG. 16 is a front view of the hinge of FIG. 15 installed in a slot
of the mounting base;
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the hinge of FIG.
15 held captive relative to the mounting base;
FIG. 18 is a perspective of a further embodiment of a hinge of this
invention insertable into the slot from the front of the mounting
base;
FIG. 19 is a side elevation of the hinge of FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is a
plan of the hinge of FIG. 18; and
FIG. 21 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the hinge of FIG.
18 held captive relative to its mounting base.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, a wall-mounted lighting fixture of the
present invention is shown in its entirety at reference numeral 1.
This fixture includes a mounting base or pan 3 adapted to be
secured to a wall W and has a generally vertical front wall 5, an
adjoining top wall 7, and a generally horizontal slot, as indicated
generally at 9 (see FIG. 2), in front wall 5, preferably adjacent
top wall 7. The fixture also includes lighting means, comprising
one or more conventional sockets 10 and incandescent light bulbs
11, carried by front wall 5 and a light transmitting shade 13. The
shade is hingedly mounted on base 3 by at least one hinge 15 for
movement between a lowered position (shown in solid lines in FIG.
1) in which it overlays and effectively shades the lighting means
and a raised position (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) in which the
lighting means is readily accessible for relamping.
As shown in FIG. 2, slot 9 is generally butterfly-shaped and
generally symmetrical about a vertical axis. Front wall 5 has a
generally horizontal, upwardly facing surface or edge 17 which
constitutes a central portion of the lower surface of slot 9,
downwardly sloping ramp edges 19L,19R adjoining edge 17, and a
generally horizontal, downwardly facing surface or edge 21, which
constitutes the top surface of slot 9, spaced above the edges 17,
19L and 19R and adjoining top wall 7. Front wall 5 also has a
cross-shaped aperture 23 for receiving a spring-type mounting
assembly (not shown) carried by socket 10 and apertures 25 for
receiving screws 27 which hold base 3 fast against wall W.
Hinge 15, best shown in FIGS. 3-5, is a T-shaped member having a
head portion 27, a leg portion 29, and a pair of spaced tabs 31
extending from leg portion 29 adjacent its sides. Tabs 31 are
struck from both the leg portions and the head portion of hinge 15.
Hinge 15 is thinner than the height of the slot while the head
portion 27 is somewhat wider than slot 17 and leg portion 29 is of
a width slightly less than the width of the slot. As will appear
hereafter, head portion 27 prevents the hinge from passing through
the slot. Hinge 15 is shown to be a generally flat member made of
relatively thin-gauge steel or the like; however, it will be
understood that hinge 15 may be made of suitable synthetic resin
material or the like.
Tabs 31, which constitute retaining means for purposes as will
appear hereafter, are spaced from head portion 27 a distance
somewhat greater than the thickness of front wall 5 (see FIG. 4).
Furthermore, the tabs extend from the leg portion a distance
greater than the height of slot 9 at central edge 17, but a
distance somewhat less than the maximum height of the slot at the
ends of ramp surfaces 19L, 19R.
Hinge 15 is insertable into slot 9, leg portion 29 first, with tabs
31 extending upwardly, from the back side of the front wall of base
3. The hinge is generally flat and is preferably resiliently
deformable to enable tabs 31 to clear front wall 5. After the tabs
clear the front wall, the hinge is held captive relative to the
front wall with head portion 27 being engageable with the inner
surface of the front wall, and with the tabs being engageable with
the outer surface of the front wall. Once in its installed or
captive position, hinge 15 is swingable between a first position
(as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) in which it supports the shade 13 in
its lowered operating position and in which the lower surface of
leg portion 29 engages edge 17 of front wall 5 and the upper face
of head portion 27 is in engagement with the lower face of top wall
7, and a second position (as shown in phantom in FIG. 1) in which
it supports the shade in its raised position and in which the lower
surface of leg portion 29 remains in engagement with slot edge 17,
and in which the upper face of head portion 27 is spaced below the
lower face of top wall 7. As slot 9 is only slightly wider than leg
portion 29, substantial horizontal movement of hinge 29 in a plane
parallel to the front wall is prevented.
Shade 13 is preferably a horizontally disposed channel-shaped
member of frosted glass or the like having an upper leg 33 with an
aperture 35 therethrough, a center web portion 37, and a lower leg
39. Hinge 15 has an aperture 41 adapted to threadably receive a cap
screw 43 which passes through shade aperture 35 and engaging the
threaded aperture 41 and thus secures the shade to the hinge.
Aperture 41 is preferably formed so that the upper surface of leg
portion 29 is in the vicinity of the aperture. This insures that
the flat bottom face of shade leg 33 is in engagement with a
relatively flat hinge surface to avoid overstressing the glass
which could result in possible breakage thereof.
With shade 13 mounted on hinge 15, the shade is swingable between
its lowered operating position and its raised relamping position
(shown in phanton in FIG. 1). Thus, light bulbs 11 can be
conveniently replaced without removing shade 13 from fixture 1.
A second embodiment of the hinge is shown in FIG. 6 and is
indicated at 15A to distinguish it from hinge 15 heretofore
described. Hinge 15A has various parts such as indicated by 27A,
29A, 31A, corresponding to parts 27, 29 and 31 of hinge 15. The
main differences between hinges 15 and 15A are that tabs 31A are
struck only from leg portion 29A, and that head portion 27A is
somewhat wider than head portion 27. Because of the increased width
of head portion 27A, hinge 15A can be formed from thinner-gauge
steel than hinge 15. Insertion and operation of hinge 15A are
identical to those of hinge 15.
A third embodiment of the hinge is shown at 15B in FIGS. 7-9. Hinge
15B, similar to hinge 15, is formed from a resilient material such
as spring steel with tabs 31B, having rounded ends, struck from
only leg portion 29B. One advantage of this hinge is that only a
horizontal slot 9B (see FIG. 9) as opposed to compound slot 9, need
be formed in front wall 5B thus eliminating the requirement of the
butterfly-shaped slot 9 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 9, front
wall 7B has a generally flat, horizontal edge 17B which constitutes
the lower surface of slot 9B. Edge 21 constitutes the top surface
of the slot. Tabs 31B extend from leg portion 29B a distance
greater than the height of slot 9B so that as leg portion 29B is
inserted into slot 9B from the back side of front wall 5, mounting
base 3B and tabs 31B interfere with one another and cause the tabs
to resiliently flex relative to the base. As the tabs clear front
wall 5B, the tabs snap out from the hinge and again extend from leg
portion 29B a distance greater than the height of the slot; the
hinge thus being held captive by head portion 27B and the tabs
relative to the front wall.
It is noted that the leg portion of hinge 15B can be inserted into
slot 9B with the tabs extending either upwardly or downwardly. If
the leg portion 29B is inserted with the tabs extending upwardly,
the upper surface of head portion 27B, when hinge 15B is in its
first position for supporting shade 13 in the latter's operating
position, will engage the lower surface of top wall 7B. However, if
leg portion 29B is inserted with the tabs extending downwardly, the
support for shade 13 in its operating position is achieved by the
tabs engaging that portion of the front wall directly beneath slot
9A and it is optional that head portion 27B contact top wall 7.
Thus, when the leg portion is inserted with the tabs extending
downwardly, slot 9B can be located at any position in the front
wall and the slot need not be adjacent top wall 7.
A fourth and preferred embodiment of the hinge of this invention is
shown in its entirety at 15C in FIGS. 11-14. Hinge 15C is
preferably made of sheet metal, such as 0.020 in. (0.5 mm.) steel,
but it may be fabricated from synthetic resin or the like. As shown
best in FIGS. 11 and 14, hinge 15C is stepped and has a generally
flat head portion 27C and a generally flat leg portion 29C with a
transition portion 45 therebetween. Tabs 31C constituting retaining
means are struck from the sides of the hinge adjacent transition
portion 45 and extend outwardly therefrom a distance greater than
the width of leg portion 29C. Recesses 47 are formed behind the
tabs, the tabs upon being forced inwardly are received within these
recesses. As shown in FIG. 12, hinge 15C is bent up along a bend
line 49 and bent down along a second bend line 51 to form
transition portion 45. Hinge 15C is adapted to be inserted into a
generally rectangular slot (not shown) in the front wall, this slot
being generally similar to slot 9B heretofore described. Leg
portion 27C of hinge 15C is insertable into its respective slot
from the back side of base 3. Upon insertion of the leg portion,
the hinge is rotated so that transition portion 45 extends through
the slot whereby tabs 31C are compressed into recesses 47. Upon
attaining its installed position, tabs 31C spring back to their
extended position thereby locking the hinge in place.
Referring now to FIGS. 15-17, still another embodiment of the hinge
of this invention is indicated in its entirety at 15D. Like the
previously described embodiments of the hinge of this invention,
hinge 15D includes an enlarged head portion 27D and a leg portion
29D extending from the leg portion. At each side of the leg
portion, a generally triangular or wedge-shaped side flange 53
extends downwardly therefrom. Each side flange has a rear edge 55
extending generally vertically and is adapted to be spaced in front
of front wall 5D of mounting base 3D, these side flanges being of
greatest height at edge 55. Hinge 15D further includes a pair of
tabs 57 struck from the hinge projecting upwardly from leg portion
29D. These tabs constitute means for locating glass shade 13
relative to the hinge and for protecting the glass shade from
contacting mounting base 3D as the shade is swung between its
opened and closed positions.
As shown in FIG. 16, slot 9D is shown to be somewhat similar to
slot 9 as shown in FIG. 2, but inverted. The bottom edge of slot 9D
has a flat surface, as indicated at 17D, and a top central edge 21D
spaced in relatively close proximity to the lower edge 17D a
distance somewhat less than the thickness of head portion 27D and
tabs 57. Transition edges 59L,59R slope upwardly from the outer
ends of edge 21D and thus form enlarged outer ends of the slot.
Edges 59L and 59R have notches 61L, 61R formed therein for
receiving tabs 57 upon insertion of the hinge in the slot.
Like the other hinges previously disclosed, hinge 15D is insertable
in its slot 9D, leg portion first, from the back side of mounting
base 3D. As the hinge is inserted into the slot, the lower tapered
edges of side flanges 53 ride on lower edge 17D and top edge 21D
engages the center portion of the hinge. Continued insertion of the
hinge in the slot causes the slot to bow or flex with the center
portion of the hinge held down by slot edge 21D. Notches 61L,61R
permit tabs 57 to pass by the front wall as the hinge is inserted
in the slot. Upon the rear edge 55 of side flange 53 clearing front
wall 5D, the hinge snaps back to its original, generally flat
position and the hinge is held captive on the wall by means of head
portion 27D and side flanges 53. The close proximity of slot upper
surface 21D to the lower slot surface 17D prevents removal of the
hinge once it is in its installed position. Upon swinging the shade
13 from its lowered to its raised position, hinge 15D rocks on
lower slot surface 17D to permit upward swinging movement of the
hinge. With the shade in its lowered position, hinge 15D is
supported on slot edge 17D and the ends of the side flanges, as
indicated at 55, engage the front face of front wall 5D thereby to
prevent further downward movement of the shade.
Referring now to FIGS. 18-21, still another embodiment of the hinge
of this invention, indicated in its entirety at 15E, is shown to be
insertable into a slot 9E from the front of mounting base 3E. This
hinge has a head portion 27E, a leg portion 29E insertable into the
slot from the front thereof, and an intermediate section 63 between
the leg and head portions generally at right angles thereto.
More particularly, head portion 27E is substantially wider than leg
portion 29E and slot 9E and intermediate portion 63 is somewhat
narrower than the slot. Leg portion 29E has a forward portion 65
insertable into slot 9E, this forward portion being somewhat
shorter than the horizontal length of slot 9E. The leg portion has
outwardly projecting side edges 67 tapering outwardly from front
edge 65 toward intermediate portion 63, these side edges being
somewhat wider at their inner ends than the width of slot 9E
whereby upon insertion of the leg portion into the slot, side edges
67 engage the sides of the slot. More particularly, leg portion 27E
is constituted by a pair of tabs 69 having side edges 67 at their
outer edges. These tabs, upon insertion of the leg portion into
slot 9E, are resiliently forced inwardly as the side edges engage
the ends of slot 9E. As the inner ends of side edges 67 clear front
wall 5E of the mounting base, tabs 69 return substantially to their
original position and thereby constitute locking tabs which hold
hinge 15E captive relative to its mounting base. The leg portion
adjacent intermediate portion 63 is sized to prevent substantial
lateral movement of the hinge relative to the mounting base and the
additional width intermediate section 63 is substantially wider
than slot 9E so as to prevent inward movement of the hinge relative
to mounting base 3E upon swinging shade 13 to its raised position.
Head portion 27E has a screw hole 41 for receiving a cap screw 43
thereby to secure shade 13 thereto in a manner as heretofore
described.
It will be understood that two spaced slots (not shown) could be
used in place of slot 9E with each of these spaced slots receiving
a respective tab 69. In this case, the portion of the hinge between
tabs 69 would engage the portion of base 3E between the slots
thereby preventing inward movement of the hinge upon swinging the
shade to its raised position.
It will be further understood that only one of the tabs 69 need be
resiliently deformable upon insertion into slot 9E. More
particularly, one of the tabs may be substantially rigid relative
to the remainder of the hinge. Upon insertion into slot 9E, the
rigid tab is inserted first with the hinge at an angle with respect
to the mounting base and then the resilient tab is inserted
thereinafter, causing it to deform. It is again understood that
either one long slot or two separate shorter slots can be
perforated into the front wall 5E of the mounting base to receive
the hinge tabs herein described.
With leg portion 29E of hinge 15E inserted in slot 9E of mounting
base 3E from the front thereof and with shade 13 secured to head
portion 27E of the hinge, the shade may be swung upwardly from its
lowered operating position to its raised position on the hinge. The
hinge pivots on the lower edge of slot 9E and the outwardly
projecting side edges 67 of leg portion 29E prevent removal of the
hinge from the slot.
The previous descriptions concerned a relatively short shade that
could be supported by a single hinge of this invention. As shown in
FIG. 10, two or more slots 9, with corresponding hinges 15, can be
provided when it is desirable to mount a longer or heavier
shade.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of
the invention are achieved and other advantageous results
attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all
matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
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