DETENT POSITION HINGE FOR USE WITH CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS

Abstract

A detent hinge firmly secures the door of a containment system in an upward position, downward position, and optionally at pre-determined positions therebetween. The hinge generally includes two hinge assemblies each including a leaf and one or two knuckles, with the knuckles of both assemblies aligned end-to-end. The two hinge assemblies are independently rotatable relative to each other but share a rotational axis. The hinge is locked and the door is substantially immovable due to a spring-activated cam that impedes rotation of the hinge assemblies relative to each other. The hinge is unlocked by depressing a plunger which repositions the cam such that the hinge assemblies can freely rotate relative to each other, and the door can be raised or lowered.

Claims

1. A detent hinge including: a. An outside hinge assembly including at least one outside knuckle defining a cam divot; b. A center hinge assembly including at least one center knuckle, said center hinge assembly engaged with said outside hinge assembly, and said center knuckle defining a cam locking notch; and c. A cam positionable between said cam divot and said cam locking notch, wherein said detent hinge is in a locked position when said cam is simultaneously engaged with said cam divot and said cam locking notch.

2. The detent hinge of claim 1 wherein said detent hinge is in an unlocked position when said cam is engaged with said cam divot but not with said cam locking notch.

3. The detent hinge of claim 1 wherein said cam locking notch traverses one end of said center knuckle.

4. The detent hinge of claim 3 wherein said cam locking notch is not linear.

5. The detent hinge of claim 1 further including a plunger configured to disengage said cam from said cam locking notch.

6. The detent hinge of claim 5 wherein said plunger is configured to push said cam into said cam divot.

7. A containment system including: a. An upwardly opening door having a horizontal rotation axis; b. A hinge attachment region adjacent to said horizontal rotation axis; and c. At least one detent hinge connecting said door to said hinge attachment region, said detent hinge having a first and second detent angle.

8. The containment system of claim 7 wherein said at least one detent hinge includes a depressible plunger configured to allow free rotation of said door around said horizontal rotation axis.

9. The containment system of claim 7 wherein said first detent angle is approximately 20.

10. The containment system of claim 7 wherein said second detent angle is approximately 180.

11. The containment system of claim 7 wherein said at least one detent hinge includes: a. An outside hinge assembly including at least one outside knuckle defining a cam divot; b. A center hinge assembly including at least one center knuckle engaged with said outside hinge, said center knuckle defining at least one cam locking notch; and c. A cam positionable between said cam divot and said cam locking notch, wherein said detent hinge is in a locked position when said cam is simultaneously engaged with said cam divot and said cam locking notch.

12. The detent hinge of claim 11 wherein said detent hinge is in an unlocked position when said cam is engaged with said cam divot but not said cam locking notch.

13. The detent hinge of claim 11 wherein said cam locking notch traverses one end of said center knuckle.

14. The detent hinge of claim 13 wherein said cam locking notch is not linear.

15. A method of accessing a chamber of a containment system including the steps of: a. Depressing a plunger of a detent hinge to push a locking cam from its resting position into a cam divot; b. Raising the free edge an upwardly opening door along a horizontal rotation axis; c. Releasing pressure on the plunger to return the locking cam to its resting position; and d. Allowing the locking cam to engage with a cam locking notch to secure the door in an open position.

16. The method of accessing a chamber of a containment system according to claim 15 further including the act of restricting access to the chamber by depressing the plunger, lowering the free edge of the door, releasing pressure on the plunger and allowing the cam to engage with the cam locking notch to secure the door in a closed position.

17. The method of accessing a chamber of a containment system according to claim 16 wherein the step of allowing the locking cam to engage with the cam locking notch to secure the door in an open position, and the step of allowing the locking cam to engage with the cam locking notch to secure the door in a closed position each employ different regions of said cam locking notch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a hybrid glove box containment system, with glove port draft shield installed, of the prior art;

[0009] FIG. 2 depicts a top perspective view of a detent hinge of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a bottom perspective view of a hinge of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 depicts a top perspective view of an outside hinge assembly;

[0012] FIG. 5 depicts a top perspective view of a center hinge assembly;

[0013] FIG. 6 depicts a side perspective view of a hinge in multiple positions, with:

[0014] FIG. 6A depicting the hinge in the locked position with an approximately 180 detent angle;

[0015] FIG. 6B depicting the hinge in the unlocked position between locked positions; and

[0016] FIG. 6C depicting the hinge in the locked position with an approximately 20 detent angle;

[0017] FIG. 7 depicts two perspective views of a locking cam;

[0018] FIG. 8 depicts a side perspective view of a rod;

[0019] FIG. 9 depicts an exploded view of a hinge; and

[0020] FIG. 10 depicts the hinge in multiple positions with:

[0021] FIG. 10A depicting the hinge locked in position;

[0022] FIG. 10B depicting the hinge unlocked;

[0023] FIG. 10C depicting the center hinge assembly rotating backward;

[0024] FIG. 10D depicting the center hinge assembly continuing to rotate backward;

[0025] FIG. 10E depicting the center hinge assembly almost locked in position; and

[0026] FIG. 10F depicting the hinge locked in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0028] The following structure numbers shall apply to the following structures among the various FIGS.: [0029] 10Detent hinge; [0030] 12Rotation axis; [0031] 20Outside hinge assembly; [0032] 22Outside assembly leaf; [0033] 24First outside knuckle; [0034] 25Cam divot; [0035] 27Second outside knuckle; [0036] 30Center hinge assembly; [0037] 32Center assembly leaf; [0038] 34Center knuckle; [0039] 35Cam locking notch; [0040] 36First engagement portion; [0041] 37Second engagement portion; [0042] 40Mounting apertures; [0043] 42Stabilizer; [0044] 43Mounting hardware head relief; [0045] 50Rod; [0046] 52Threaded plunger end; [0047] 54Threaded cam end; [0048] 60Plunger; [0049] 61Abutment; [0050] 62Resilient member; [0051] 63Bushing; [0052] 64Locking cam; [0053] 65Cam threads; [0054] 67Rod channel; [0055] 90Containment system; [0056] 92Door; [0057] 93Hinge attachment region; [0058] 95Conventional locking hinge system; [0059] 96Upper mating portion; [0060] 97Lower mating portion; and [0061] 99Latch clamp.

[0062] The present invention relates generally to hardware, and more particularly, to a detent position hinge for use with containment systems.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 2, detent hinge 10 includes outside hinge assembly 20 joined with center hinge assembly 30. When plunger 60 is depressed, hinge assemblies 20, 30 are able to rotate independently around rotation axis 12, but when plunger 60 is released the hinge assemblies will lock in place relative to each other at specific pre-determined positions.

[0064] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of hinge 10 showing outside hinge assembly 20 joined with center hinge assembly 30. When plunger 60 is in resting non-pressed position, resilient member 62 pushes locking cam 64 inward towards the center hinge assembly. When the locking cam engages with one of the cam locking notches of the center hinge assembly, here second engagement portion 37, hinge assemblies 20, 30 are unable to rotate relative to each other and are in a locked position. As can be conceptualized in this view, depressing plunger 60 moves locking cam 64 out of second engagement portion 37 and into cam divot 25, and compresses resilient member 62. Upon releasing pressure on plunger 60, the resilient member will expand, pushing the cam inwards towards center hinge assembly 30. If the cam is aligned with a cam locking notch when the plunger is not depressed the cam will engage with the aligned notch and the hinge will lock.

[0065] FIG. 4 depicts the top view of outside hinge assembly 20, so called because first outside knuckle 24 and second outside knuckle 27 lie outside center knuckle 34 (FIG. 2) of center hinge assembly 30. Outside hinge assembly 20 also includes outside assembly leaf 22, which defines a plurality of apertures 40. First outside knuckle 24 defines cam divot 25 which receives locking cam 64 (not shown) when plunger 60 (not shown) is depressed. When the locking cam is fully positioned within the cam divot the outside and center hinge assemblies 20, 30 freely rotate relative to each other. Stabilizers 42 strengthen the connection between outside assembly leaf 22 and knuckles 24, 27, and mounting hardware head relief 43 is a cutout to provide additional space for mounting hardware (not shown), in particular screw heads that engage with mounting apertures 40 for connecting the hinge to hinge attachment region 93. The assembly defines rod channel 67, which accepts rod 50 (not shown) for engaging other structures and providing the axis around which the hinge assemblies rotate.

[0066] FIG. 5 depicts center hinge assembly 30, so called because center knuckle 34 is between first and second outside knuckles 24, 27 (FIG. 2) when assembled. Center assembly leaf 32 defines a plurality of mounting apertures 40, and includes stabilizer 42 which is structurally and functionally analogous to the stabilizer of the outside hinge assembly. Center knuckle 34 defines cam locking notch 35 which traverses the knuckle and creates first engagement portion 36 and second engagement portion 37. The configuration depicted provides two locking positions, or detent angles, at approximately 20 and 180, but it should be understood that it is within the scope of the invention for the cam locking notch to have a single locking position or more than two locking positions. Also, the detent angles may vary, subject to the tolerances and obstructions of design.

[0067] FIG. 6 depicts the hinge with outside hinge assembly 20 stationary and center hinge assembly 30 in three different positions around rotation axis 12. FIG. 6A depicts an approximately 180 detent angle, with locking cam 64 lodged in second engagement portion 37 (not visible), thereby locking leaves 22, 32 in position. In 6B, plunger 60 is depressed, thereby withdrawing locking cam 64 (not shown) into cam divot 25 (not shown) and allowing free rotation of center hinge assembly 30 relative to outside hinge assembly 20. Note that in this view first engagement portion 36 has been rotated and cannot be seen. FIG. 6C depicts an approximately 20 detent angle, with locking cam 64 lodged in first engagement portion 36 (not visible), thereby locking leaves 22, 32 in position.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 7, locking cam 64 defines a plurality of cam threads 65 which engage with threaded cam end 54 of rod 50, as shown in FIG. 8. Also shown in FIG. 8 is threaded plunger end 52, which engages with plunger 60.

[0069] FIG. 9 depicts hinge 10 in exploded view. When center knuckle 34 of center hinge assembly 30 is fitted within first and second outside knuckles 24, 27 of outside hinge assembly 20, rod channels 67 are aligned and rod 50 is positioned within. Threaded plunger end 52 engages plunger 60 while threaded cam end 54 engages cam 64. Resilient member 62 exerts upward pressure on the cam such that the cam is not fully withdrawn into cam divot 25 unless plunger 60 is depressed or if cam divot 25 is not aligned with either first engagement portion 36 or second engagement portion 37. In FIG. 9 cam 64 is depicted within cam divot 25, meaning that the plunger would be depressed and the outside and center hinge assemblies 20, 30 could rotate relative to each other. Bushing 63 is preferably positioned between stationary end of resilient member 62 and abutment 61, and ensures that knuckle 24 remains concentric with all members along axis 12 without exerting additional forces on the leaf and stabilizers of hinge assembly 20. Abutment 61 is engaged with threaded end of rod channel 67 (not shown).

[0070] FIG. 10 depicts the hinge in multiple positions with center hinge assembly 30 rotating around stationary outside hinge assembly 20. Referring to 10A, the hinge is fully locked as evidenced by locking cam 64 within second engagement portion 37. In 10B plunger 60 is depressed and locking cam 64 has vacated second engagement portion 37 and fully entered cam divot 25, so the hinge is unlocked but not yet rotated. In 10C hinge assembly 30 is rotating backward, thereby misaligning locking cam 64 with second engagement portion 37. It is noted that in this position locking cam 64 is sliding along the edge of the center hinge assembly, and it is not necessary to maintain force on the plunger. The resilient member is maintaining pressure on the locking cam, so the locking cam will engage with cam locking notch of its own accord when locking cam and notch align. 10D depicts hinge assembly 30 continuing to rotate backward, with second engagement portion 37 almost out of visible range. In 10E first engagement portion 36 is about to align with locking cam 64. In 10F locking cam 64 is engaged with first engagement portion 36. Note that plunger 60 has returned to extended position.

[0071] In use, a detent hinge of the present invention would replace a conventional locking hinge system and a conventional latch clamp used to secure the door of a containment system in the open and closed positions, respectively. The detent hinge would be configured so that the door is held in a position fully upright and open, and fully down and closed, preferably so that the door is as flush against the containment system as possible. If desired the cam locking notch may also be configured for at least one semi-opened position. To use an operator would depress the plunger to unlock the hinge, position the door in the desired position, for example open, closed or a position therebetween, then release tension on the plunger and allow the hinge to lock, thereby securing the door in the desired position.

[0072] Certain structures and components are disclosed for purposes of describing an embodiment, and setting forth the best mode, but should not be construed as teaching the only possible embodiment. Rather, modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Examples of modifications include a ratcheting embodiment that optionally increases the number of positions. It should be understood that all specifications, unless otherwise stated or contrary to common sense, are +/10%, and that ranges of values set forth inherently include those values, as well as all increments between. Also, substantially as used herein, shall mean generally. By way of example a substantially planar surface includes surface imperfections but is generally planar.