US3651540A - Encased hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect of the invention comprises a composite hinge structure, including a piano type hinge and a flexible sealing membrane on opposite sides of the hinge. Another aspect of the invention comprises two strips of flexible sealing membranes. A plurality of leaf type hinges are spaced along and between the strips. The leaves of the hinges are fixed in sealing relationship with the strips.

Description

United States Patent Rana [4 1 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] ENCASED HINGE [72] Inventor: Sudhlr N. Rana, ll6 Nob Ave., Del Mar,

' Calif. 92014 [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 76,155

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,422,486 1/1969 Thomas, Jr. ..l6/l48 2,504,635 4/1950 Bradley 16/1 37 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney-Warren H. F. Schmieding and Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht [5 7] ABSTRACT One aspect of the invention comprises a composite hinge structure, including a piano type hinge and a flexible sealing membrane on opposite sides of the hinge. Another aspect of the invention comprises two strips of flexible sealing membranes. A plurality of leaf type hinges are spaced along and between the strips. The leaves of the hinges are fixed in sealing relationship with the strips.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,540

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ATTORNEY ENCASED HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to leaf type hinges.

2. Description of the Prior Art As far as applicant is aware, the prior art does not disclose completely sealed hinges. The patent to Dodge U.S. Pat. No. 2,242,421 issued May 20, 194! discloses a rubber cover strip 25 for one side of the hinge 1, but does not disclose how the other side of the hinge could be sealed from the environment. The patent to Bradley U.S. Pat. No. 2,504,635 issued Apr. 18, I950 discloses a movable plate in sliding relationship on one side only of the hinge. The other side is not sealed from the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Each of the opposite sides of the sections of the two leaves of the hinges is fixed to a flexible sealing membrane which is looped over the arcuate sections of the leaves. The membranes have portions extending longitudinally beyond the opposite ends of the leaves of the hinges. These portions are sealed to one another at their respective ends to encase the hinges or they may be sealed to the two objects that are hinged to one another. In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of spaced leaf type hinges are sandwiched between two flexible confronting strips of sealing membranes. The sections of the leaves of the hinges, which are attached to the objects that are to be hinged to one another, are sealed to the strips of the sealing membranes.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of the drawings, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the composite hinge structure showing a piano type hinge and showing the membranes above and below the hinge, part of the upper membrane being removed to show the hinge;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the hinge leaves in aligned position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but showing the hinge leaves disposed at an angle of 90 with respect to one another;

FIG. 4 is also a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but showing the leaves of the hinge in parallel and superimposed position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of two objects which are hinged to one another by one form of the present composite hinge structure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the composite hinge structure showing aligned and spaced hinges which are covered with sealing membranes, part of the upper membranes being removed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7, showing the leaves of one of the hinges in aligned position;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7, but showing the hinge leaves disposed at an angle of 90 with respect to one another;

FIG. 10 is also a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7, but showing the hinge leaves in parallel and superimposed position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of two objects which are hinged to one another by the form of hinge structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive, the composite hinge construction 20 comprises a piano type hinge 22 which may be formed of any desired selected material, such as steel, plastic, nylon, etc. The hinge includes two leaves 24 and 26. The leaf 24 includes a section 28 for attaching the same to an object and an integral arcuately formed section 30. The other leaf 26 includes an integral section 32 and an integral arcuately formed section 34. The sections 30 and 34 are axially aligned for receiving a hinge pin in the form of a rod 36 which extends coextensively with the leaves 24 and 26.

The composite hinge structure 20 also includes two membranes 38 and 40. Membrane 38 is fixed to the upper surfaces of leaf sections 28 and 32 and membrane 40 is fixed to the under surface of those leaf sections. Preferably a loop 42 is formed midway and longitudinally in the membrane 38 and a portion 44 of membrane 40 is looped about the arcuate sections 30 and 34 of the leaves. Looping requirements of 42 and 44 of membranes 38 and 40, respectively, may be reduced if the membranes are of suitably elastic character.

These membranes are formed of any desireable flexible and/or elastic material which prevents ingress of liquids or gases into contact with the hinge. As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, when necessary, the ends of the membranes 38 and 40 are sealed to one another or to the objects which are being hinged to one another. Thus these membranes completely seal the hinge 22 from the surrounding environment.

When the composite hinge structure is formed for universal use i.e., when one leaf can be moved substantially 360 with respect to one another, the loop portions 42 and 44 of the membranes should be of sufficient length to permit such movement. Obviously, If the degree of movement of the leaves relative to one another is less than 360", the lengths of the loops 42 and 44 need not be as long as illustrated or if membranes of elastic nature are employed. FIG. 5 shows the composite hinge structure 20 applied to two objects 46 and 48. These structures may be fixed to those objects in any desired manner, as by epoxy, screws or any type of bonding and/or fastener.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, inclusive, the composite hinge structure 50 comprises a plurality of leaf type hinges 52. Each hinge includes leaves 54 and 56. Leaf 54 includes a flat section 58 and an integral arcuately sloped section 60, and leaf 56 includes like sections 62 and 64. The sections 60 and 64 are axially aligned for receiving a hinge pin 66.

The composite hinge structure includes two membranes 68 and 70. The upper membrane 68 is fixed to the upper surfaces of leaf sections 58 and 62 and the lower membrane is fixed to the upper surfaces of leaf sections 58 and 64. The hinges 52 are spaced from one another. The upper membrane 68 is provided with an outwardly bulged or looped portion 72 and the lower membrane 70 includes a bulged or looped portion 74 which is looped about the arcuately sloped sections 60 and 64 respectively, of the leaves 54 and 56.

The hinges 52 can be formed of any desirable material, such as steel, plastic, nylon etc. The membranes 68 and 70 are formed of any desirable flexible andlor elastic material which prevents ingress of liquids or gases into contact with the hinges. As shown in FIG. 12 when necessary the ends of the membranes 68 and 70 are sealed to one another. Thus these membranes completely seal the hinges 52 from the surrounding environment.

When the composite hinge structure is formed for universal use, i.e., when one leaf can be moved substantially 360 with respect to another, the loop portions 72 and 74 of the membranes should be of sufficient length to permit such movement. Obviously, if the degrees of movement of the leaves relative to one another is less than 360 the lengths of the loops 72 and 74 need not be as longas illustrated.

FIG. 11 shows the composite hinge structure 50 applied to two objects 76 and 78. These structures may be fixed to those objects in any desired manner, as by epoxy, screws or any type of bonding and/or fastener. Since the membranes 68 and 70 are resilient, the composite hinge structure 50 is not limited to hinging objects having parallel end surfaces i.e., those end surfaces may be curved or disposed at angles whereby their uses are extending to all types of surfaces and planes.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by virtue of the present invention l have provided composite hinge structures that, in addition to encasing the hinge from the surrounding environment, those hinge structures will withstand substantial pressure differentials of fluids or liquids to which the hinge structure is subjected; they will withstand static and dynamic loading without loss of structural integrity whereby their uses are not limited either by size or various types of structural loading.

The loops 42, 44, 72 and 74 need not be as large as shown when the sealing material is elastic. Too, the sealing material can be of the type which is sprayed onto the hinges.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A composite hinge structure comprising in combination:

A. a hinge leaf including:

1. a section for attaching the leaf to an object,

2. at least one arcuately formed section extending from the first mentioned section;

B. a second hinge leaf including:

1. a section for attaching the second mentioned leaf to another object,

2. at least two arcuately formed sections extending from the first mentioned section of the second mentioned leaf, said arcuately formed sections of the leaves being substantially axially aligned, the arcuately formed section of the first mentioned leaf being intermeshed with thearcuately formed sections of the second mentioned leaf;

C. flexible sealing membrane means including:

1. a section fixed in sealing relationship with one side of each of the first mentioned sections of the leaves, said membrane section being looped over one side of the arcuate sections of the e leaves,

2. a second section fixed in sealing relationship with the opposite sides of each of the first mentioned sections of the leaves, said latter membrane section being looped over the opposite side of the arcuate section of the leaves.

2. A composite hinge structure as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the first mentioned leaf includes at least tow arcuately formed sections all of the arcuately formed sections being aligned substantially axially.

3. A composite hinge structure as defined in claim 1, characterized in that each of the sealing sections includes a portion extending longitudinally beyond one end of the leaves said portions being in sealing relationship with one another, and further characterized in that each of the sealing sections includes a portion extending longitudinally beyond the op posite ends of thelaves, saidlatter portions being in sealing relationship with one another.

4. A compoiste hinge structure comprising in combination A. two parallel strips of flexible sealing membrane;

B. a set of hinge leaves, each of said leaves including:

1. a section fixed in sealing relationship with a side of one of the strips of sealing membranes,

2. an arcuately formed section;

C. a second set of hinge leaves, each of the latter leaves including:

1. a section fixed in sealing relationship with that side of the other strip of sealing membranes which confronts the saiside of the first mentioned strip,

2. an arcuately formed section, said arcuately formed sections of the first and second mentioned strips being aligned substantially axially.

5. A composite hinge structure as defined in claim 4, characterized in that the first mentioned section of the first mentioned set of hinge leaves are in confronting relationship with the first mentioned sections of the second mentioned set of hinge leaves.

UNITED STATES PATENT omucn QERHFICATE OF 'QORREQ'HUN Patent No. 3, 651, 540 Dated March 28, 1972 Inventor(s) Sudhir N, Rana It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 53, cancel upper" and substitute "under";

Column 3, line 33, cancel 'thearcuately and substitute --the arcuately- Column 4, line 1, cancel "the e leaves" and substitute ---the leaves-;

Column line 17, cancel 'thelaves, saidlatter" and substitute -the leaves, said latter-;

Column line 19, cancel "compoiste" and substitute --composite-;

Column 4, line 29, cancel "saiside" and substitute --said side-.

\ Si d and sealed this 12th day of September 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE! 969 0-366-381

Claims (10)

1. A composite hinge structure comprising in combination: A. a hinge leaf including: 1. a section for attaching the leaf to an object, 2. at least one arcuately formed section extending from the first mentioned section; B. a second hinge leaf including: 1. a section for attaching the second mentioned leaf to another object, 2. at least two arcuately formed sections extending from the first mentioned section of the second mentioned leaf, said arcuately formed sections of the leaves being substantially axially aligned, the arcuately formed section of the first mentioned leaf being intermeshed with the arcuately formed sections of the second mentioned leaf; C. flexible sealing membrane means including: 1. a section fixed in sealing relationship with one side of each of the first mentioned sections of the leaves, said membrane section being looped over one side of the arcuate sections of the leaves, 2. a second section fixed in sealing relationship with the opposite sides of each of the first mentioned sections of the leaves, said latter membrane section being looped over the opposite side of the arcuate section of the leaves.

2. at least one arcuately formed section extending from the first mentioned section; B. a second hinge leaf including:

2. at least two arcuately formed sections extending from the first mentioned section of the second mentioned leaf, said arcuately formed sections of the leaves being substantially axially aligned, the arcuately formed section of the first mentioned leaf being intermeshed with the arcuately formed sections of the second mentioned leaf; C. flexible sealing membrane means including:

2. a second section fixed in sealing relationship with the opposite sides of each of the first mentioned sections of the leaves, said latter membrane section being looped over the opposite side of the arcuate section of the leaves.

2. A composite hinge structure as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the first mentioned leaf includes at least two arcuately formed sections, all of the arcuately formed sections being aligned substantially axially.

2. an arcuately formed section; C. a second set of hinge leaves, each of the latter leaves including:

2. an arcuately formed section, said arcuately formed sections of the first and second mentioned strips being aligned substantially axially.

3. A composite hinge structure as defined in claim 1, characterized in that each of the sealing sections includes a portion extending longitudinally beyond one end of the leaves said portions being in sealing relationship with one another, and further characterized in that each of the sealing sections includes a portion extending longitudinally beyond the opposite ends of the leaves, said latter portions being in sealing relationship with one another.

4. A composite hinge structure comprising in combination: A. two parallel strips of flexible sealing membrane; B. a set of hinge leaves, each of said leaves including:

5. A composite hinge structure as defined in claim 4, characterized in that the first mentioned section of the first mentioned set of hinge leaves are in confronting relationship with the first mentioned sections of the second mentioned set of hinge leaves.

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