Automatic locking hinge mechanism

Abstract

A hinge with automatic locking includes at least one rotation attachment, linked to the upper lid, capable of rotating around the stem, linked to the lower lid. Between each rotation attachment, there is, in the upper lid, at least one locking attachment facing the retaining attachment of the lower lid in the closed position of the lids, capable of rotating with the upper lid to a locking position with the lids open.

Claims

1. A hinge with automatic locking, comprising: at least one rotation attachment, being linked to an upper lid and being configured to be rotatable around a stem, the stem being linked to a lower lid; and at least one locking attachment for the at least one rotation attachment, facing a retaining attachment of the lower lid in a closed position of the upper lid and the lower lid, and being configured to be rotatable with the upper lid to a locking position with the upper lid and the lower lid in an opened position, wherein the retaining attachment is comprised of an angled end and a chamfered end so as to allow free rotation of the at least one locking attachment to the locking position, wherein a locking recess of the at least one locking attachment is configured so as to house the chamfered end, and wherein a retaining recess is configured so as to partially house the at least one locking attachment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to better understand the nature of the invention, the attached drawings show an industrial embodiment that is merely an illustrative and non-limiting example. The figures refer to an exemplary embodiment with the locking position set at an opening angle of 180.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective of the hinge mechanism with automatic locking (1) integrated in a small container together with the upper lid (2) and lower lid (3) in a closed position.

(3) FIG. 2.1 shows a section in section A-A in which the rotation attachment (2a), stem (5) and its rotation axis (4) can be seen when the upper lid (2) is closed over the lower lid (3).

(4) FIG. 2.2 shows a section in section B-B in which the locking attachment (2b) and the retaining attachment (3a) can be seen when the upper lid (2) is closed over the lower lid (3).

(5) FIG. 3 shows a section in section B-B in which the locking attachment (2b) and the retaining attachment (3a) can be seen when the upper lid (2) is in a 150 semi-open position with regard to the lower lid (3).

(6) FIG. 4 shows a section in section B-B in which the locking attachment (2b) and the retaining attachment (3a) can be seen when the upper lid (2) is in the open position 180 with regard to the lower lid (3) and in which the locking of the hinge can be seen and how the locking recess (2b1) of the locking attachment (2b) houses the chamfered end (3a2) of the retaining attachment (3a) and in turn, the retaining recess (3a3) partially houses the locking attachment (2b).

(7) The following references are indicated in these figures: 1. Hinge mechanism with automatic locking 2. Upper lid 2a. Rotation attachment 2b. Locking attachment 2b1. Locking recess 2c. Internal face of the upper lid 3. Lower lid 3a. Retaining attachment 3a1. Angled end 3a2. Chamfered end 3a3. Retaining recess 3b. Internal face of the lower lid 4. Rotation axis 5. Stem

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) In relation to the drawings and references listed above, a preferred mode of execution of the object of the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, referring to a hinge mechanism with automatic locking (1) comprising at least one rotation attachment (2a), linked to the upper lid (2) capable of rotating around the stem (5) linked to the lower lid (3), in which between each rotation attachment (2a) there is at least one locking attachment (2b) in the upper lid (2) facing the retaining attachment (3a) of the lower lid (3) in the closed position and capable of rotating with the upper lid (2) to a locking position with the upper lid (2) open with regard to the lower lid (3).

(9) The drawings illustrate the various positions that the upper lid takes from its closed position, or 0, in FIGS. 1, 2.1 and 2.2 to its locked position, or 180, in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4, passing through an intermediate or approach position depicted at 150 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3. Although the hinge mechanism is described in this embodiment with lock and retention at 180, the present invention can be applied to locking and retention at other desired angles by varying the dimensions of the retaining attachment (3a), the retaining recess (3a3) and, respectively, the locking recess (2b1).

(10) FIG. 1 shows the hinge mechanism with automatic locking (1) in a closed position in which the connection of the rotation attachment (2a) and the locking attachment (2b) to the upper lid (2) can be seen and from the retaining attachment (3a) and the stem (5) to the lower lid (3). This connection of the elements of the hinge mechanism with automatic locking (1) means that with an embodiment comprising a single piece of the upper lid (2) and a single piece in the lower lid (3), the free rotation movement of the hinge can be locked or retained, and allows the hinge to be manufactured by injection, moulding, etc. without the need to add additional parts such as independent parts of the hinge, elements for joining the hinge to the lids (6), or stems (5), thereby allowing significant savings in the manufacturing and assembly of the hinge.

(11) In this position (FIG. 2.1), the rotation attachment (2a) is assembled with the stem (5) to rotate around its rotation axis (4) in the opening movement of the upper lid (2).

(12) FIG. 2.2 shows in detail the locking attachment (2b), linked to the upper lid (2), facing the retaining attachment (3a), linked to the lower lid (3), in the 0 closed or start-of-opening position. In this position, the locking attachment (2b) is located above the angled end (3a1) of the retaining attachment (3a) without protruding from it. Thanks to this configuration, the locking attachment (2b), which could be susceptible to breakage due to impacts, is protected by the retaining attachment (3a), of dimensions correlative to the rotation attachment (2a).

(13) FIG. 3 shows an intermediate position between the closed lid and the locking position. In this exemplary embodiment, the moment the lid is opened and reaches 150 is shown. As the lid is opened, the locking attachment (2b) rotates freely with the upper lid (2) around the rotation axis (4) of the stem (5), approaching the chamfered end (3a2) of the retaining attachment (3a). This free rotation is possible thanks to the geometric configuration of the retaining attachment (3a) which allows the rotation of the locking attachment (2b) without interference with its angled end (3a1) until it makes contact with its chamfered end (3a2), by which it slides, guided by the shape of the chamfer.

(14) FIG. 4 shows the locking position (180 opening, in the exemplary embodiment for locking at 180, in which the upper lid (2) is open with regard to the lower lid (3) at 180). The locking attachment (2b) slides over the chamfered end (3a2) until, in this position shown in the figure, the chamfered end (3a2) of the retaining attachment (3a) is lodged in the locking recess (2b1) of the locking attachment (2b), whose shape and angles correspond to the shape and angles of the retaining attachment (3a).

(15) In this way, the locking attachment (2b) is partially housed in the retaining recess (3a3), allowing the automatic locking and retention of the upper lid (2) with regard to the lower lid (3) and preventing the unintentional closure of the upper lid (2) thanks to the contact of the locking attachment (2b) with the chamfered end (3a2) of the retaining attachment (3a) and the angle of the chamfered end (3a2) coinciding with the angle of the locking attachment (2b).

(16) Other possible locking executions at other closing angles would be possible by modifying the angle of the retaining attachment (3a) at its angled end (3a1) thus setting the angle at which the outer face of the retaining attachment (3a) comes into contact with the face adjacent to the upper lid (2) of the locking recess (2b1), thereby determining the maximum opening angle of the upper lid (2) with regard to the lower lid (3) and respectively modifying the locking recess (2b1) and the retaining recess (3a3), or by modifying the location of the locking attachment (2b) and respectively modifying the geometry of the retaining attachment (3a).

(17) Variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, do not alter the essentiality of this invention, and this is sufficient to proceed with its reproduction by an expert.