Embodiments generally relate to hinge mechanisms. Many of the hinge mechanism embodiments may be used in foldable furniture. The foldable furniture may be a foldable seat or table. The hinge mechanism may include a central cylinder with a body defining a hinge axis. The central cylinder may have rot
Embodiments generally relate to hinge mechanisms. Many of the hinge mechanism embodiments may be used in foldable furniture. The foldable furniture may be a foldable seat or table. The hinge mechanism may include a central cylinder with a body defining a hinge axis. The central cylinder may have rotate channel(s) transverse to the hinge axis and locking channels extending axially from the rotate channel(s). Collar(s) may couple with the central cylinder and may include pin(s) that protrude inwardly into the rotate channel(s) and locking channel(s) of the central cylinder. In some embodiments, an intermediate cylinder may be disposed between the central cylinder and the collar(s). The intermediate cylinder may have slots corresponding to the rotate channel(s) of the central cylinder. When pin(s) and locking channel(s) are aligned, the central lock cylinder may move axially to lock the collars in a desired angular position (e.g., a deployed or folded configuration).
대표청구항▼
1. A hinge mechanism comprising: a central cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central cylinder comprising:a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween;a second rotate
1. A hinge mechanism comprising: a central cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central cylinder comprising:a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween;a second rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the second rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween, wherein the second rotate channel is spaced an axial distance from the first rotate channel and separate from the first rotate channel;a first collar disposed about the central cylinder, the first collar comprising a first collar pin protruding inwardly from the first collar into the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;a second collar disposed about the central cylinder and spaced an axial distance from the first collar, the second collar comprising a second collar pin protruding inwardly from the second collar into the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;wherein the first collar pin of the first collar cooperates with the first rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the first collar and the central cylinder in an axial direction;wherein the first collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the first collar pin is positioned within the first rotate channel;wherein the second collar pin of the second collar cooperates with the second rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the second collar and the central cylinder in the axial direction;wherein the second collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder and independent of the rotation of the first collar about the central cylinder when the second collar pin is positioned within the second rotate channel;wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;the first configuration defined by: the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the second end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar rotated to a position where the second collar pin is at the first end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;the second configuration defined by: the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the first end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar rotated to a position where the second collar pin is at the second end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;wherein the central cylinder further comprises: a first locking channel extending from the first end of the first rotate channel in the axial direction and a second locking channel extending from the second end of the second rotate channel in the axial direction;wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the second configuration where: the first collar is rotated to the position with the first collar pin at the first end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar is rotated to the position with the second collar pin at the second end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar and the second collar to position at least a portion of the first collar pin of the first collar within the first locking channel and at least a portion of the second collar pin within the second locking channel to transition the hinge mechanism to a first locking configuration. 2. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first pin and the second pin are integrally formed with the first collar and the second collar, respectively, or wherein outer surfaces of the first pin and the second pin are at least flush with outer surfaces of the first collar and the second collar, respectively. 3. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the central cylinder further comprises: a third locking channel extending from the second end of the first rotate channel in the axial direction and a fourth locking channel extending from the first end of the second rotate channel in the axial direction. 4. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the first configuration where: the first collar is rotated to the position with the first collar pin at the second end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar is rotated to the position with the second collar pin at the first end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar and the second collar to position at least a portion of the first collar pin of the first collar within the third locking channel and at least a portion of the second collar pin within the fourth locking channel to transition the hinge mechanism to a second locking configuration. 5. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the third locking channel and the fourth locking channel extend from the first rotate channel and the second rotate channel, respectively, in an axial direction opposite an axial direction which the first locking channel and the second locking channel extend from the first rotate channel and the second rotate channel, respectively. 6. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate hinge cylinder positioned between the central cylinder and the first and second collars, the intermediate hinge cylinder comprising: a first slot opening associated with the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and wherein the first collar pin of the first collar protrudes inwardly through the first slot opening of the intermediate hinge cylinder and into the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;a second slot opening associated with the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, and wherein the second collar pin of the second collar protrudes inwardly through the second slot opening of the intermediate hinge cylinder and into the second rotate channel of the central cylinder. 7. The hinge mechanism of claim 6, wherein the intermediate hinge cylinder reduces binding of the first and second collar pins of the first and second collar on the central cylinder about the axis of the central cylinder. 8. The hinge mechanism of claim 6, wherein the first slot opening has an angular length less than or equal to an angular length of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder and wherein the second slot opening has an angular length less than or equal to an angular length of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder. 9. A folding chair comprising the hinge mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising a first flat coupled with the first collar and a second flat coupled with the second collar. 10. The folding chair of claim 9, wherein the first flat comprises a seat base and wherein the second flat comprises a seat back or a leg of the folding chair. 11. A hinge mechanism comprising: a central cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central cylinder comprising:a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween;a second rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the second rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween, wherein the second rotate channel is spaced an axial distance from the first rotate channel;a first collar disposed about the central cylinder, the first collar comprising a first collar pin protruding inwardly from the first collar into the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;a second collar disposed about the central cylinder and spaced an axial distance from the first collar, the second collar comprising a second collar pin protruding inwardly from the second collar into the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;a first flat coupled with the first collar;a second flat coupled with the second collar;wherein the first collar pin of the first collar cooperates with the first rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the first collar and the central cylinder in an axial direction;wherein the first collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the first collar pin is positioned within the first rotate channel;wherein the second collar pin of the second collar cooperates with the second rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the second collar and the central cylinder in the axial direction;wherein the second collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the second collar pin is positioned within the second rotate channel;wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a folded configuration and an open configuration;the folded configuration defined by: the first collar rotated to a folded position where the first collar pin is at the second end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, the second collar rotated to a folded position where the second collar pin is at the first end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, and where the first flat extends in the same direction as the second flat;the open configuration defined by: the first collar rotated to an open position where the first collar pin is at the first end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, the second collar rotated to an open position where the second collar pin is at the second end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, and where the first flat is positioned at an angle with the second flat;wherein the central cylinder further comprises: a first locking channel extending from the first end of the first rotate channel in the axial direction and a second locking channel extending from the second end of the second rotate channel in the axial direction;wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the open configuration where: the first collar is rotated to the position with the first collar in at the first end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar is rotated to the position with the second collar in at the second end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar and the second collar to position at least a portion of the first collar in of the first collar within the first locking channel and at least a portion of the second collar in within the second locking channel to transition the hinge mechanism to a first locking configuration. 12. The hinge mechanism of claim 11, wherein the first collar pin and the second collar pin are integrally formed with the first collar and the second collar respectively. 13. The hinge mechanism of claim 11, wherein the first collar includes an opening extending between an outer surface of the first collar and an inner surface of the first collar, wherein the opening is configured to receive the first collar pin therethrough; wherein the second collar includes an opening extending between an outer surface of the second collar and an inner surface of the second collar, wherein the opening is configured to receive the second collar pin therethrough;wherein the first collar pin includes an outer surface, wherein the outer surface corresponds with the outer surface of the first collar such that the outer surface of the first collar pin is flush with the outer surface of the first collar when the opening of the first collar receives the first collar pin therethrough;wherein the second collar pin includes an outer surface, wherein the outer surface corresponds with the outer surface of the second collar such that the outer surface of the second collar pin is flush with the outer surface of the second collar when the opening of the second collar receives the second collar pin therethrough. 14. The hinge mechanism of claim 13, wherein the outer surface of the first collar pin is curved to match a curvature of the outer surface of the first collar, and wherein the outer surface of the second collar pin is curved to match a curvature of the outer surface of the second collar. 15. A hinge mechanism comprising: a central cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central cylinder comprising:a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween;a first locking channel extending from the first end or second end of the first rotate channel in an axial direction;a second rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the second rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween, wherein the second rotate channel is spaced an axial distance from the first rotate channel;a second locking channel extending from the first or second end of the second rotate channel in the axial direction;a first collar disposed about the central cylinder, the first collar comprising a first collar pin protruding inwardly from the first collar into the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;a second collar disposed about the central cylinder and spaced an axial distance from the first collar, the second collar comprising a second collar pin protruding inwardly from the second collar into the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;wherein the first collar pin of the first collar cooperates with the first rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the first collar and the central cylinder in an axial direction;wherein the first collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the first collar pin is positioned within the first rotate channel;wherein the second collar pin of the second collar cooperates with the second rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the second collar and the central cylinder in the axial direction;wherein the second collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central cylinder when the second collar pin is positioned within the second rotate channel;wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;the first configuration defined by: the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the second end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar rotated to a position where the second collar pin is at the first end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;the second configuration defined by: the first collar rotated to a position where the first collar pin is at the first end of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and the second collar rotated to a position where the second collar pin is at the second end of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the first configuration and the first locking channel extends from the second end of the first rotate channel and the second locking channel extends from the first end of the second rotate channel, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar and the second collar to position at least a portion of the first collar pin of the first collar within the first locking channel and at least a portion of the second collar pin within the second locking channel to transition the hinge mechanism to a first locking configuration;wherein, when the hinge mechanism is in the second configuration and the first locking channel extends from the first end of the first rotate channel and the second locking channel extends from the second end of the second rotate channel, the central cylinder is moveable in the axial direction relative to the first collar and the second collar to position at least a portion of the first collar pin of the first collar within the first locking channel and at least a portion of the second collar pin within the second locking channel to transition the hinge mechanism to a second locking configuration. 16. The hinge mechanism of claim 15, further comprising an intermediate hinge cylinder positioned between the central cylinder and the first and second collars, the intermediate hinge cylinder comprising: a first slot opening associated with the first rotate channel of the central cylinder, and wherein the first collar pin of the first collar protrudes inwardly through the first slot opening of the intermediate hinge cylinder and into the first rotate channel of the central cylinder;a second slot opening associated with the second rotate channel of the central cylinder, and wherein the second collar pin of the second collar protrudes inwardly through the second slot opening of the intermediate hinge cylinder and into the second rotate channel of the central cylinder;wherein the intermediate hinge cylinder reduces binding of the first and second collar pins of the first and second collar on the central cylinder about the axis of the central cylinder. 17. The hinge mechanism of claim 16, wherein the first slot opening has an angular length less than or equal to an angular length of the first rotate channel of the central cylinder and wherein the second slot opening has an angular length less than or equal to an angular length of the second rotate channel of the central cylinder. 18. The hinge mechanism of claim 15, wherein the first and second collars have a diameter, and wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises a plurality of flats coupled with the central cylinder and rotatable about the axis of the central cylinder, and wherein a combined thickness of the plurality of flats is equal to or greater than the diameter of the first and second collars.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Idler Richard L. (Denver CO), Cam actuated self-locking hinge.
Reuter Robert (Stony Brook NY) Bullwinkle Wallace C. (Norristown PA) Hoff Larry L. (East Greenville PA) Anderson Robert E. (Palm PA) Golynsky Arkady (Allentown PA) Schmidt Al (Reinholds PA), Overhead cabinet with rotating door.
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