IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0298642
(2002-11-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cude, James Russell
- Simpson, Peter E.
- Marks, Jeffrey C.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- American Standard International Inc.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A hinge assembly allows an access panel to be pivotally coupled to a cabinet, even though the cabinet includes a top cover that overlaps an upper edge of the panel. To open the access panel, a latch is actuated to first release a lower edge of the panel. The hinge assembly then allows the lower edge
A hinge assembly allows an access panel to be pivotally coupled to a cabinet, even though the cabinet includes a top cover that overlaps an upper edge of the panel. To open the access panel, a latch is actuated to first release a lower edge of the panel. The hinge assembly then allows the lower edge to be pulled out from over a base rail of the cabinet. Once the lower edge is off of the base rail, the hinge assembly allows the panel to be lowered without obstruction from the base rail. Lowering the panel then moves the panel's upper edge out from underneath the overlapping top cover. From there, the hinge assembly allows the panel to be swung open. To close the access panel, the process is reversed.
대표청구항
▼
1. An enclosure, comprising:a cabinet; an access panel being selectively moveable to a closed position, an intermediate released position, and a swung open position; and a hinge assembly pivotally coupling the access panel to the cabinet such that the access panel is pivotal about a first axis for m
1. An enclosure, comprising:a cabinet; an access panel being selectively moveable to a closed position, an intermediate released position, and a swung open position; and a hinge assembly pivotally coupling the access panel to the cabinet such that the access panel is pivotal about a first axis for moving between the closed position and the intermediate released position, and the access panel is pivotal about a second axis for moving to and from the swung open position, wherein the first axis traverses a vertical plane, the second axis traverses a horizontal plane, and the first and second axis lie at an angle to each other; wherein the access panel is moveable to a blocked open position that is lower than the swung open position, wherein the hinge assembly helps prevent the access panel at the blocked open position from freely moving to the intermediate released position and the closed position until the access panel first rises from the blocked position to the swung open position. 2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a top cover atop the cabinet, wherein the access panel tucks underneath the top cover upon moving from a ready-to-open position to the intermediate released position.3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly includes a lower hinge comprising a first lower hinge plate coupled to the cabinet and pivotally coupled to a second lower hinge plate that is coupled to the access panel, and wherein the lower hinge is able to translate relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.4. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the lower hinge is able to translate vertically relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.5. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the lower hinge is able to translate horizontally relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.6. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the lower hinge is able to translate vertically and horizontally relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.7. The enclosure of claim 3, further comprising: a bracket that couples the lower hinge to one of the cabinet and the access panel; anda cam apparatus that couples the lower hinge to the bracket, wherein the cam apparatus includes a cam element whose relative movement along a cam surface enables the lower hinge to translate relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel. 8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the cam surface is disposed on the lower hinge.9. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the cam element is fixed relative to the bracket.10. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the cam element is a pin and the cam surface is a slot defined by one of the bracket and the lower hinge.11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the slot runs horizontally and vertically.12. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the cam apparatus and one of the first lower hinge plate and the second lower hinge plate are disposed within a cavity defined by the bracket.13. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the hinge assembly includes an upper hinge above the lower hinge, wherein the upper hinge comprises a first upper hinge plate coupled to the cabinet and pivotally coupled to a second upper hinge plate that is coupled to the access panel, and wherein the upper hinge is able to translate relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.14. The enclosure of claim 13, wherein the upper hinge is able to translate vertically relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.15. The enclosure of claim 13, wherein the upper hinge is able to translate horizontally relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.16. The enclosure of claim 13, wherein the upper hinge is able to translate vertically and horizontally relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel.17. The enclosure of claim 13, further comprising: a bracket that couples the upper hinge to one of the cabinet and the access panel; anda cam apparatus that couples the upper hinge to the bracket, wherein the cam apparatus includes a cam element whose relative movement along a cam surface enables the upper hinge to translate relative to one of the cabinet and the access panel. 18. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the cam surface is disposed on the upper hinge.19. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the cam element is fixed relative to the bracket.20. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the cam element is a pin and the cam surface is a slot defined by one of the bracket and the upper hinge.21. The enclosure of claim 20, wherein the slot runs horizontally and vertically.22. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the cam apparatus and one of the first upper hinge plate and the second upper hinge plate bracket are disposed within a cavity defined by the bracket.23. The enclosure of claim 13, wherein the first upper hinge plate is able to translate relative to the second upper hinge plate to enable the access panel to move to the blocked open position that is lower than the swung open position, wherein the hinge assembly helps prevent the access panel at the blocked open position from freely moving to the intermediate released position and the closed position until the access panel first rises from the blocked position to the swung open position.24. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the first lower hinge plate is able to translate relative to the second lower hinge plate to enable the access panel to move to the blocked open position that is lower than the swung open position, wherein the hinge assembly helps prevent the access panel at the blocked open position from freely moving to the intermediate released position and the closed position until the access panel first rises from the blocked position to the swung open position.25. An enclosure, comprising:a cabinet; an access panel being selectively moveable to a closed position, an intermediate released position, and a swung open position; and a hinge assembly pivotally coupling the access panel to the cabinet such that the access panel is pivotal about a first axis for moving between the closed position and the intermediate released position, and the access panel is pivotal about a second axis for moving to and from the swung open position, wherein the first axis traverses a vertical plane, the second axis traverses a horizontal plane, and the first and second axis lie at an angle to each other; wherein the access panel is moveable from the intermediate released position to a ready-to-open position that is lower than the intermediate released position, and the access panel is moveable between the ready-to-open position and the swung open position. 26. The enclosure of claim 25, wherein the access panel is translatable between the intermediate released position and the ready-to-open position.27. The enclosure of claim 25, wherein the access panel pivots about the second axis upon moving between the ready-to-open position and the swung open position.28. The enclosure of claim 25, wherein the panel in the ready-to-open position is able to tilt between a leaning orientation and a substantially upright orientation.29. An enclosure, comprising:a cabinet; an access panel being selectively moveable to a closed position, an intermediate released position, and a swung open position; a hinge assembly pivotally coupling the access panel to the cabinet such that the access panel is pivotal about a first axis for moving between the closed position and the intermediate released position, and the access panel is pivotal about a second axis for moving to and from the swung open position, wherein the first axis traverses a vertical plane, the second axis traverses a horizontal plane, and the first and second axis lie at an angle to each other; a sheet metal hem disposed along a perimeter of the access panel; and a latch captured within the hem for sliding motion between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch engages the cabinet when the access panel is in the closed position and the latch is in the latched position, and the latch disengages the cabinet when the latch is in the unlatched position. 30. An enclosure, comprising:a cabinet; an access panel being selectively moveable to a closed position, an intermediate released position, and a swung open position; and a hinge assembly pivotally coupling the access panel to the cabinet such that the access panel is pivotal about a first axis for moving between the closed position and the intermediate released position, and the access panel is pivotal about a second axis for moving to and from the swung open position, wherein the first axis traverses a vertical plane, the second axis traverses a horizontal plane, and the first and second axis lie at an angle to each other; wherein the panel in the swung open position is able to tilt between a leaning orientation and a substantially upright orientation. 31. A method of opening an access panel of a cabinet, comprising:pivoting the access panel about a first axis that traverses a first vertical plane, thereby moving the access panel to an intermediate released position; lowering the access panel from the intermediate released position to a ready-to-open position; and after lowering the access panel to the ready-to-open position, moving the access panel to a swung open position by pivoting the access panel about a second axis that traverses a horizontal plane, wherein the first axis and the second axis are at an angle to each other. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising: pivoting the access panel about a third axis that traverses a second vertical plane to tilt the access panel between a leaning orientation and a substantially upright orientation, wherein the third axis is lower than the first axis.33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of pivoting the access panel about the third axis returns the access panel to the substantially upright orientation.34. The method of claim 31, further comprising: after pivoting the access panel about the second axis, lowering the access panel further to a blocked open position.35. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of lowering the access panel, the access panel is lowered away from a top cover of the cabinet.36. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of pivoting the access panel about the second axis, the access panel is swung out from underneath a top cover.37. The method of claim 31, wherein the access panel is in a substantially upright orientation before being pivoted about the first axis.38. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of pivoting the access panel about the first axis places the access panel in a leaning orientation.39. A method of opening an access panel comprising the steps of:releasing a vertically planar access panel from any latching constraints; slideably moving a lower end of the access panel so that the access panel is no longer vertically arranged; moving the access panel in a downward direction; moving an upper end of the access panel so that the access panel is again vertically arranged; and pivoting the access panel along a vertical end so that the access panel opens in manner akin to a door. 40. A method of closing an access panel comprising the steps of:pivoting the access panel along a vertical end so that the access panel closes in manner akin to a door; moving an upper end of the access panel so that the access panel is no longer vertically arranged; moving the access panel in an upward direction; slideably moving a lower end of the access panel so that the access panel is again vertically arranged; and engaging the vertically planar access panel with at least one latching constraint. 41. An access panel arrangement comprising:a substantially planar access panel; a first hinge plate arrangement engaged with an upper portion of the access panel; and a second hinged plate arrangement engaged with a lower portion of the access panel; wherein the first hinge plate arrangement includes a first plate engaging the access panel, a second plate for engagement with a housing, the second plate including a slot in the shape of a L rotated 180°, and a first pivot pin joint operably moveable connecting the first and second plates; and wherein the second hinge plate arrangement includes a third plate engaging the access panel, a fourth plate engaging the housing or the like, the fourth plate including a slot in the shape of a L, and a second pivot pin moveably engaging the third and fourth plates.
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